For more than 40 years, Fran Drozdz has been a dedicated TOPS member, making what began as a short-term goal into a lifelong journey with new reasons to keep challenging herself.
Fran joined TOPS in 1979 with one goal in mind: lose weight, run a marathon in Hawaii and then move on from TOPS. Soon after joining, she accomplished that goal by running the Honolulu Marathon. She even told her husband afterward that she never wanted to run another one again. But instead of leaving TOPS, Fran stayed.
More than four decades later, Fran has been a KOPS for 44 consecutive years. She continues to take pride in maintaining her healthy lifestyle and encouraging the people around her to work toward their own goals.
What began with a single marathon in Hawaii eventually grew into a challenge to run a marathon in every state. Fran became the 149th woman to complete the 50-state challenge through the 50 State Marathon Club.
Now in her 80s, she is preparing to run her 96th marathon in Flagstaff, Arizona, with a new goal of eventually completing a second marathon in every state.
For Fran, the finish line has never been the only point. When asked to describe TOPS in one word, Fran immediately answered, “Focus.” For her, focus means understanding why you are working toward a goal and keeping that reason alive.
“Keep your why alive,” Fran said. “Why are you doing this? Keep that alive.”
Fran says your “why” doesn't have to stay the same forever. When she joined TOPS, her daughter was just 5 years old. Today, her daughter is a nurse practitioner and married with two adult sons. As life has changed, so has Fran’s motivation.
“And every time I start to get lazy as a KOPS, I say, ‘Why am I doing this?’” Fran said. “And it changes every year.”
“I love the people,” Fran said when asked what keeps her engaged with TOPS. “That’s the bottom line.”
For Fran, that sense of community has kept TOPS meaningful for more than four decades. She has attended more than 55 TOPS retreats, including spring retreats she calls her “Spring Cleaning” and fall retreats that help her prepare for holiday stress.
“We’re the heart and soul of TOPS,” she said.
From the weight-loss goal that first brought her to TOPS, to a marathon in Hawaii, to completing a marathon in all 50 states and now working toward a second round across the country, Fran has kept finding new reasons to challenge herself.
“What I won’t do for a T-shirt!” Fran joked.
Her journey is about staying focused, finding your why and continuing to move forward, even when that why changes along the way. At more than four decades as a KOPS, Fran is still setting new goals, showing up and cheering others on to do the same.
Do you know a TOPS member who inspires others through their positive attitude, dedication or personal progress? Or maybe that member is you! Learn more and nominate a member here.