CHICOPEE — When Diana Varypatakis started running 41 years ago, she never imagined that she would run one marathon, never mind 45 marathons. But that’s the amazing milestone she recently accomplished.
“I knew I had to find something I could do for myself,” said Varypatakis, who owns the Greek restaurant Le Greque in Springfield with her husband. “I was a very busy mother. I had just had my third child and I had to work full time, but I knew one thing I could do is get up a little early while everyone was sleeping.”
And so, she began. Each morning getting up and running for 10 to 15 minutes, less than a half mile in the beginning. Little by little she built her distance and increased the time she spent.
“It was really helping me more mentally than physically,” recalled Varypatakis. “I realized that deep inside my heart I wanted to run a marathon, especially the original marathon in Greece.”
As time passed and Varypatakis built up her endurance and had one more child, she started to run in 5K races and then 10K races and, “after a long time” according to her, finally made it to the level of running a marathon. After decades of running, Varypatakis has stories of cold and rainy marathons, too-hot marathons, just-perfect marathons and thousands of meaningful moments within each of them.
Varypatakis did make it to the original, the Athens Classic Marathon, and to the first marathon on her home island of Crete in Greece.
“My kids were born here, but my daughter lives there and she called me in March to let me know that the island was having its first-ever marathon in May,” recalled Varypatakis. “I thought I wouldn’t be prepared, but my daughter said I know you can do it.”
As the route went by Varypatakis’ house, all the neighbors and cousins came out to cheer her on adding tremendous sentimental value to that race.
“They had never seen me run before,” noted Varypatakis.
The third race Varypatakis ran in Greece was the Olympus Marathon, roughly 1.7 miles up and down Mt. Olympus, and over 27 miles in total distance.
“It’s one of the hardest in the world, but I hoped maybe a god would help me,” joked Varypatakis. “I really enjoy the challenge. Up to a certain point you enjoy yourself [while running], but then you don’t. I’m not a good runner. I’m not fast, so each one is an accomplishment. Each time I say I’m going to try to do better. It’s exciting to see how far my body goes.”
Varypatakis loves to challenge herself. She’s run all across the region and country, including the Chicago and New York City marathons, and signed up to run seven virtual marathons in just 11 weeks.
“At different times in my life I was running for different reasons, for time for myself or to challenge myself,” recalled Varypatakis. “One of my favorite parts is singing the national anthem at the beginning of the race with thousands of people ready to start their journey. It’s a moment of calm and very meaningful.”
Having so many miles behind her makes facing the physical and mental challenge of running a marathon easier, but it also helps Varypatakis face other challenges that come up in her life.
“Anything you do that’s tough on your body helps you mentally. It builds mental and physical toughness,” explained Varypatakis. “I say to myself that it’s very tough but I think I can do it because I did the marathon.”
Varypatakis hopes that when people read about her story they can take that lesson of building toughness and apply it to their own lives. Recently, her 23-year-old grandson ran his first marathon in her honor, saying she had inspired him. Varypatakis went to New York to see him, the first time she had cheered on someone in a marathon.
“There are a lot of people facing things in their lives. For me, running is a natural way to heal myself,” said Varypatakis. “Nothing comes easy. We try to do our best with whatever we can. Don’t be afraid to do something a little out of the ordinary.”
These days, running gives Varypatakis time to think and meditate and pray and plan her day. Self-described as someone who can’t just sit, running offers Varypatakis time to take a deep breath and moments of contemplation. Even after 45 marathons, Varypatakis remains humble about the tremendous accomplishment.
“If I can do it, then I’m sure it’s not that hard,” joked Varypatakis.
