Pain into Passion: 

Training to Run 140 Miles in 90 Hours 

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Victoria Buker, founder of the 140 over 90 Run and severe postpartum preeclampsia and partial HELLP survivor (plus had an infection that was trending septic), realized she wanted to do something to raise funds for the Preeclampsia Foundation. Being an RRCA Certified Run Coach and group fitness instructor and having the knowledge that preeclampsia survivors are 3-4x more likely to have a cardiac disease in their lifetime, she wanted to do something active, “fun”, and quirky-- like her. 

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Just like that, the 140 over 90 Run was born. 

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I am a severe preeclampsia survivor and try every day to advocate for other moms and their babes, so that no mom has to self-advocate to receive the necessary care to save her life and/or her babies, the way I had to at 9 days post-partum.

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I had worked in Non-Profit Development for over 15 years and was eager to get back to work after Madison was born. So eager, that I was in the office less than a week after I was hospitalized (Enneagram 3, if anyone follows that!). My life wasn't physically in immediate danger anymore, but I didn't realize just how many health issues I would have until the weeks started to unfold.

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Liver disease, kidney issues, pre-diabetic, high blood pressure that was regulated by medication, broken foot & nerve damage from the rapid 30 lbs of swelling in less than 9 days postpartum, and I finally sought help from a counselor and was diagnosed with postpartum anxiety and PTSD.

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I resigned from my position as the Director of Development and Marketing around 6 months postpartum. I needed to be there for our daughter and making sure that her mama was healthy, was my #1 goal.

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This would be the best and hardest decision I have ever made and the fact that I was able to do so, is not lost on me.

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I am sitting here at a year postpartum and was just able to stop blood pressure medication and all my labs came back clear after a year of hard work and quarterly check-ups- I have now graduated to every 6 months of lab work, and I became a Duke Trained Integrative Health Coach so that I can work with women like me in their health vision and journey.

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My story is not unique. And that is why I run-- I run for the mamas who lost their babies. For the families who lost the moms. And for the moms who are struggle every day with lifelong issues due to preeclampsia. 

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I am the proud wife of my wicked smart & handsome husband who loves adventure as much as I do. We have a beautiful daughter and love watching her grow every day. She sure is a little spitfire that loves playing in the dirt while wearing a big ole bow or being around all the big kids while trying to keep up. As a family, we love to be weekend warriors and explore new trails and spending time outside.

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Below are my credentials, but feel free to visit my website: www.victoriabuker.com

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FITNESS CREDENTIALS

• RRCA Certified Run Coach​

• • coaching over 100 athletes from 5k to half marathon (in-person and online). Currently accepting online clients.

• Schwinn Spin Instructor​

• Certified Personal Trainer

• NESTA Group Fitness Instructor

• Fit4Mom Stroller Strides Instructor

• CPR/First Aid Certified

• WSI Certified

• 6 years Summer Swim Coach

• Best Playlist Creator (self-proclaimed)

 

EDUCATION + WORK

• Duke Integrative Medicine's Health Coaching Program (Training and Certification) 

• MBA, Georgia Southern University

• B.S. in Biology, Mary Baldwin University

  • Duke University, Marine Lab (Semester on Marine Invertebrates)​

  • Internship at Reef Relief, Key West (FL) for a year

• "Science of Well-Being" Certificate, Yale University

• "Food, Nutrition, and Health" Certificate, Kennesaw State University

• Business Development/Fundraising – Developed and implemented strategies to maximize outreach while ensuring brand, relationships, and mission stay intact during my 15 year career in non-profit development and corporate sales. Successfully raised over $15 million dollars during my tenure to help further missions and brought in over $100 million impact back to Savannah in tourism dollars.

• Founded 'Elf on the Run', non-profit in Savannah (GA) that collected over 100,000 items for local charities and had a collective impact of over $250,000 of budget relieving dollars over 6 years. 

 

VOLUNTEER WORK

• Preeclampsia Foundation-- yay! 140 over 90 Run!

• The Empowerment Center

• Performance Initiatives

• United Way of Coastal Empire, Santa Cruz County, and Northern Nevada

• Camp Ukandu

• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

• Habitat for Humanity

• Various Run events-- love to help with packet pick up and on-course support

• Emmaus House

• Have a project, would love to learn more!

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