CityView Magazine

L Lora Lewis A ll of us strive to be a good example for our families and we all talk the talk even if we sometimes fail to walk the walk. But Lora Lewis does more than just walk – she runs, bikes and swims that example for her family. This busy housewife/coach/homeschool mom/director gave us a look into her average daily routine. On a regimented schedule like this, it's actually easy to see how she accom- plishes so much! 5 to 5:30 a.m. — Get up; morning workout (swim, bike or run); kids go to running group on Thursday mornings 8 a.m. to noon — Home, shower, breakfast; get laundry started; plan dinner; check to make sure kids have started school lessons; teach and grade lessons. Noon to 3 p.m. — Phone, email, and/or appointments for Girls on the Run; finish school lessons; house cleaning chores 3 to 6 p.m. — Take kids to sports practices; errands, gro- cery shop, etc.; make training plans or send workout group emails; cook dinner; prepare for evening workout (M & W). Aſter dinner — Finish laundry, cleaning, etc.; more GOTR admin; workout M & W; grade any schoolwork not finished earlier. As a coach of Fort Bragg's Men's Army 10-miler team, Lora inspires others and knows how to train them for success. It had been 27 years in the race's history and the Fort Bragg team had never won the Commander's Cup trophy. Then, in walked Lora Lewis. She went through Fort Bragg's Morale, Welfare, and Rec- reation department in June and offered to volunteer to coach the team, just until they found someone else, mind you. But pretty soon she had worked herself into the job and helped lead not just the men's, but the women's and masters teams as well, to victory. All three teams brought home their division trophies this year. "The men were very hardworking, dedicated, and had great team spirit, encouraging each other through the hard workouts in the heat and humidity of Fort Bragg summers," Lora said. "The win was especially rewarding because it rep- resented the whole team giving it everything they had." Before Lora was a coach, she was an athlete and she said that experience helps her better understand those whom she coaches. Lora has completed three Ironman triathlons, one in North Carolina and two in Florida. She has also competed at two Triathlon World Championships in 2005 in Denmark and in 2007 in France. Endurance sports have been a part of the Lewis family from their early days of homeschooling. When she first began running, Lora would take the kids to an exercise track on the base where they were living and let them play while she ran. By the age of 7 or 8, each of her seven children were swim- ming, cycling, and running. The activity served as physical education for our homeschooling, and is still something they like to do together. Her children attend some of her workout groups each week, and have even led such groups in her ab- sence. Her children have all completed triathlons, running races, swim meets, and bike rides. "Like many women, I'm wired for "multi-tasking", and there is very little wasted time in my life. We also emphasize teamwork at home, and do not allow the phrase, 'that's not my job'," Lora said. With such a large household Lora came up with a menu system 10 years ago that greatly simplified the planning and executing of grocery shopping and meal preparation. She has six monthly menus that the family rotates through, twice per year. "When all seven children lived at home, each was assigned specific days to make breakfast and/or lunch, and to help with meal cleanup. As we are emptying the nest, the younger boys and I take turns with breakfast and lunch preparation, and I usually make all the dinners — and do a lot of crockpot meals," said Lewis. "Normal household chores are divided up and assigned specific days, floors Monday, bathrooms Tues- day, etc." Outside of her own family, Lora has found a worthwhile organization to dedicate (what remains) of her time and tal- ents: Girls on the Run. As the Director for our area, this non- profit organization is dedicated to educating and preparing girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living, using a creative, experienced-based curriculum led by mentoring coaches in an aſter school setting. In the fall Fayetteville had four locations with just over 60 girls and volunteer coaches that ran the 5k Turkey Trot in Southern Pines. The program will take place at area schools again in the spring. CityViewNC.com | 65

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