IT'S A BIRD, it's a plane, it's superwoman Lynn Doyle.
This wife, mother, soon-to-be grandmother, lifetime fitness enthusiast, philanthropist and host of CN8's Emmy-winning show "It's Your Call," literally does it all. But how?
Recently, I chatted with the 49-year-old broadcast journalist (who's also married to Michael Doyle, president of Comcast's Eastern Division and the founder of CN8) about her career, family, girlfriends and her latest labor of love - training for the "Breast Cancer 3-Day" walk, which begins tomorrow. (Find out more about the walk at www.the3day.org.)
Q. Lynn, where are you from originally?
A. Baltimore.
Q. What's your background, and what led you to pursue a career in broadcast journalism?
A. I always wanted to be a reporter, and I actually began my career at 17 as a newspaper stringer [part-time reporter]. I spent seven years at [the now-defunct Essex Times in Maryland] a newspaper, and eventually became the editor.
In my capacity as a newspaper editor, I built relationships with the community leaders. One of the community leaders bought a cable television show, and that's how I got into the cable industry. I also went to school for mass communications because I always wanted to be a reporter.
Q. So when did you officially join the cable industry?
A. Back in 1982. It's been a long time.
Q. Talk about being prepared when opportunity knocks. What has inspired you to train for the breast-cancer walk?
A. It was the idea of my co-executive producer, Tess Kelly, who's also one of my best friends. Every year, eight of my best friends [ages 37 to 57] and I go on a trip. We always do a fall trip, and Tess suggested instead of going on a trip... doing this breast-cancer walk. That was last year.
She gave us the skinny on it, and we all thought it would be really cool. It would be a physical challenge as well as an opportunity to fund-raise and support a good cause. We'd train together as a team and spend the weekend together for the event. I was in right away because my mother is a breast-cancer survivor. All of us have been touched by it.
Q. My mother is a breast-cancer survivor, too. The disease is pervasive. So that was your inspiration?
A. Yes, we began training New Year's Day 2006.
Q. What was your training routine?
A. The three-day walk has a training program. Essentially you walk four days a week, building your mileage over time, and they advise you to cross-train. Last week, we walked 18 miles. It's a lot of walking. We do about four miles in an hour.
Q. That's a huge commitment, but it is great exercise and an opportunity to bond with your girlfriends. Where do you typically train?
A. I know everything about these girls now. I thought I knew them before! Well, we have talked about everything under the sun. That's a long time to be walking. We train at Pennypack Park, Tyler State Park, Washington Crossing [State Park] canal and a variety of training walks. We walked uphill, flat, in the rain. We're prepared.
Q. What's the location of the actual event?
A. It begins at the Willow Grove Park mall, the second day in historic Philadelphia, and the third day in a rural area. The first day we walk 24 to 26 miles, the second day 22 miles, and 16 to 18 miles on the third day. We will also camp out at night in 8-by-8 [-foot] tents.
Q. You're really courageous. You're kidding, right? Camping out in tents! You mean you can't stay at the Four Seasons?
A. No, we won't be at the Four Seasons. There will be no electricity, no hair stylist, and no glamour-pusses out there. That doesn't bother me at all. I've been camping as a kid.
Q. Wow, talk about building character - whew. I've been camping [hated it]. I'm all for the walking, but not for sleeping in tents. By the way, how much money have you raised?
A. You have to commit to $2,200, and we have all raised well beyond that. So far, the group has raised $40,000. Right now I'm the second-highest as individual [fund-raiser] in Philadelphia at $16,000, but my goal is to raise $20,000.
Q. Awesome. All of you ladies are really something. I guess there's been some weight loss throughout this journey?
A. Yeah, one of my girlfriends has lost close to 20 pounds. She's in the best cardio condition of her life. We've also been committed to eating healthy and nutritious meals.
Q. What were you doing for fitness prior to the walk? It's obvious that you maintain a fitness lifestyle. What do you personally do to stay fit?
A. Staying fit has always been a part of my daily routine. Since I was a girl. I was a varsity athlete in college, a high-impact-aerobics devotee, and took up tennis competitively in my 30s, winning a few national singles-title competitions. I've always worked out either in a gym or with a trainer. Recently I've added yoga, Pilates and spinning to my routine. I've always done something to maintain my fitness.
Q. When you're not training for the walk, how much time do you invest in your personal fitness?
A. I shoot for 90 minutes a day. Doing 45 to an hour of cardio, plus weight training.
Q. What are your three best nutrition tips?
A. Concentrate on getting more water. Eat breakfast. Eat small, frequent meals.
Q. By the way, congratulations on your recent Emmy.
A. Thank you. The show's been on for 10 years and that's our sixth Emmy [for interview/discussion program or special]. It's a testament to a lot of hard work. We're all really proud.
Q. What's your next big project?
A. Living through the walk.
No, seriously, I have a holiday special coming up, Election Day, and the birth of my grandsons [her daughter is expecting twins]. I'm going to take time off to help my daughter with the boys, and then it's my 50th birthday celebration in January. *