HER Health

In mid-November, runners (and walkers) will be off their marks, headed down Convention Boulevard and on their way toward West Mountain past Bathhouse Row. After conquering the summit and looping back downtown, the hardiest sprinters will find their way up toward the observation tower on Hot Springs Mountain before trekking downward again for the finish line, making one big 13.1-mile circle. A lot of people would call a half-marathon a challenge; Lisa Reilly calls it fun.

Locally known as the co-founder of Family Care Chiropractic Center in Hot Springs, Reilly is trained in nutrition and exercise and holds an Associate of Science degree. She is also a decorated athlete and received the title Runner of the Year with the Arkansas Grand Prix, a 20-race series that tours all over the state (the Spa Running Festival is included in the AGP).

Reilly is a past president of the Spa Pacer’s Running Club, and past director of the Mountain Valley 10K State Championship. She also maintains an active relationship with the Spa Pacers.

Surprisingly, Reilly wasn’t always running laps with her peers.

“I didn’t do my first marathon until I was 37,” Reilly said with a smile. “And, I had four kids.”

Reilly said she started getting into the more active and healthy lifestyle in the late ’70s after reading a book, “Running for Health & Beauty,” by Kathryn Lance, which has motivated her to keep moving ever since.

Reilly says she is convinced the key to graceful aging is an even balance between staying active and eating healthier. “The older I get … I feel like those things keep me on an even keel, making life simpler,” she said.

She also attributes her running consistency to her husband and number one fan, Dr. Brian Reilly. As a chiropractor, he understands sports injuries and just what a person needs to keep them on their feet.

“We both love to do day hiking and overnight backpacking,” Reilly said. “We have backpacked all of the Ouachita Trail the Ozark Highland Trails. We have also hiked the Cossatot Trail and a small portion of the Pacific Crest Trail.”

Family is important to Reilly, and sharing moments training or participating in running events with them are indescribably special to her. As her four children lived in various parts of the country, she usually tried to take any opportunity to visit with them and turn the trip into a marathon adventure. Besides making memories, her goal was usually to get a pretty snazzy shirt for her collection.

“We have done a lot of traveling over the years,” she said.” “I am always looking for a race to participate in on our journeys.”

This year she will be participating in the running Spa Running Festival with her children, and six grandchildren will be running in the Spa Squirt Race.

As a Spa Pacer, she promotes health, fitness and fun through group activities focusing on running, jogging, and walking to make a positive contribution to the greater Hot Springs community. As a personal goal, she’d like to run a marathon in all 50 states, having completed 20 before putting her energy into being a grandma she is thinking maybe a half-marathon will do for the rest.

It’s like she always says, “Everyone progresses at their own pace. Remember, ‘Pace for the Race.’”

"Everyone progresses at their own pace. Remember, 'Pace for the Race'.

Lisa Rilley on West Mountain.

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