Coni Bowen credits sea level and 6,300 women supporting her, as why she completed the More Magazine/Fitness Magazine Women’s Half-Marathon last month in New York City.

But she had an underlying motivation – to raise money for the Liver Foundation of Canada.

As her charity of choice, it is close to her heart. Bowen lost a friend to liver disease when they couldn’t get a transplant in time. So, with the generous support of mostly Jasper residents, Bowen raised more than her minimum amount of money needed, collecting nearly $4,000 for the Liver Foundation, and completing the 21 kilometre race.

Bowen and five others from across Canada participated in the half marathon, representing the Liver Foundation of Canada. But when Bowen was asked by her friend running the liver foundation in Calgary, she hadn’t run anything since a 10 kilometre race in 1996.

She says she used to be a runner, but doesn’t train anymore.

“Not for running, just walking. I used to be (a runner), I co-owned the Fitness Network here for 25 years; aerobics and stuff. I hike, I walk a lot, but I ran there, I tell you – sea level, it’s wonderful! It is easier, I think that’s why I was surprised, and I ran it (most of it). Especially when you have 6,300 women around you giving you a lot of support,” she says.

On the Friday before the race Bowen got up early and went to the CBS Good Morning show, where crowds stand outside and the hosts  come out and interview them.

“We were out there in our ‘Giver for Liver’ jackets, for three hours, and the guys came out and interviewed us for a little bit – I think we were on for about 20 seconds. We stood there for three hours, hoping to shout about our cause,” she says.

Bowen says the race was a great thing to be a part of, and she would do it again.

“I really enjoyed it, and of course if you enjoy it, you want to keep doing it,” adding “Its an amazing city, it’s like another planet. It was an awesome time,” she said.

The race went around Central Park twice, and was completed by a marathon runner in under an hour and 15 minutes. Two women in their 80’s also did the race.

As for Bowen, she says she had tremendous support from Jasper. 

“I raised nearly $4,000, mostly from the people of Jasper. It’s really amazing, I got tremendous support.”

The race also set a new record, with 6,360 female finishers.