Running has become Kate Meise's escape, her chance to just be Kate, not mom to six young children. It's also led to a dramatic transformation.
Meise, 37, described her life a year ago as being in a general state of "miserableness." She was approaching 230 pounds and on the verge of needing size 22 clothes. She was unhappy with the way she looked and felt.
"You know you're unhealthy," she recalled. "It's a horrible way to be. I couldn't be this big and take care of all these children."
Meise, 37, joined Weight Watchers in June 2008, focused on healthy eating and began consistently training with Nikki Davis' Runwell Training in January. Over the last 18 months, she shed nearly 90 pounds, and she's rediscovered her 5-10, 140-pound self.
Running helps Meise cope with the rigors of caring for Ben, 7, Cal, 2, and Mia, Jack, Ellie and Lizzie, her surviving sextuplets, who are 4. Jack is severely handicapped and requires 24-hour nursing care.
"I'm in awe of her," Davis said. "You have to change your life to make it work. People find all sorts of excuses to not get healthy. Kate still shows up."
Facing life's challenges, day by day, has been the only way Kate and David Meise have survived the chaos that ensued after a September 2004 sonogram revealed sextuplets. Ben was nearly 2, their 2,500-square-foot Tudor home in Old East Dallas was organized, and life seemed idyllic.
"That's when our world changed," said Kate, who was seeking a second pregnancy using a fertility treatment that had worked so well the first time. "They found six sacks and six heartbeats. It's indescribable."
Matthew died in utero. The five others were born in February 2005, days shy of 28 weeks.
The three girls spent four months in the neonatal intensive care unit and underwent several surgeries before coming home with feeding tubes. They began eating real food after their third birthdays.
Liam lived 7 ½ months but didn't survive emergency bowel surgery. Jack left the NICU after 10 months but spent six weeks in a care facility as his parents learned how to manage his tracheotomy and ventilator.
His weak heart and lungs led to an April 2006 incident that caused brain damage.
"There was not time to pause too much," Kate Meise said. "You just kept getting up. There wasn't a lot of sleeping. I don't know how we did it."
Then Cal was born in June 2007, after the Meises learned they could get pregnant on their own.
"Every time you think you're comfortable, something happens, and you have to readjust," Meise said. "Our life isn't harder. It's just crazier."
There was a sense of calm amid the constant commotion at the Meises on a recent visit. The children played in the cozy den, already decorated for Christmas with the tree and the family's 10 stockings hung on the mantel, including ones in memory of Liam and Matthew.
Meise had a rare morning to herself to shop and prepare dinner while Ben was at school and his sisters were at preschool. Cal spent the morning with Meise's parents, who along with her sister live nearby and frequently help.
"I'm always busy, picking up, making food, cleaning up food," Meise said.
As dinner time approached, his sisters and Cal colored at the preschool-sized table between the kitchen and laundry room.
Meise served dinner for the kids and David. She visited until it was time to change for her weekly Wednesday night group run at the Katy Trail.
David said he looks forward to his time with the kids on Wednesday nights. David, an architect, works a second job two evenings a week and plays soccer on Friday nights.
"It's hard," said David, who gets everyone bathed and put to bed. "Running is important to Kate. It's become my time with the kids."
Meise decided she would run a 5K when she dropped to 160 pounds. She hadn't been able to motivate herself to stick to any exercise routines.
In December 2008, she contacted Nikki Davis of Runwell Training after reading about her program. Davis reassured her by e-mail that Meise could successfully train to run a 5K as long as she regularly attended practices.
Davis then checked out Meise's blog, www.surviving six.blogspot.com, which was mentioned in her e-mail.
"I thought, 'There's no way she's going to stick around,' " Davis said. "She has six good reasons not to run. But a month later, she was still there. She proved me wrong."
Consistency has been the key, Davis said. Meise also credits the group camaraderie.
"I couldn't motivate myself," Meise said. "I needed the group."
Meise adjusted her schedule and says she's learned to get up at ungodly hours. She typically trains four days a week. Her longest run in advance of the half marathon was 14 miles.
"I couldn't run more than a minute in January, and now I can run around White Rock Lake without stopping," Meise said. "I cannot believe I'm the same person."Sunday's forecast: Cool conditions
As race day nears, the forecasted high has begun to drop, which should lower finish times. According to the National Weather Service's forecast, Sunday's high should be 59 degrees with sunny skies. CHAT about Sunday's Dallas White Rock Marathon with Debbie Fetterman and race director Marcus Grunewald at 11 a.m. Thursday. dallasnews.com/sports
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