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Running Journal • December 2013
Women’s Running
A Running Birthday Celebration By the time you are reading this article I should be done with step one of my birthday celebration. The end of November yours truly hits the "magic" age of social security and Medicare. I will celebrate my 65th birthday and I thought that 65 is one of those milestone birthdays that deserves a truly unique celebration. I know the day is being celebrated with a catered "surprise party" being orchestrated by my Daddy's wife in beautiful Daytona Beach Shores, FL. But to celebrate my running and continued good health, I decided an appropriate celebration should last the entire year. Thus I decided to run a marathon a month to commemorate the occasion. Not one to hesitate I am running the Space Coast marathon two days after my birthday. I ran it last year in late November and fortunately for me it moved to December this year. It is the oldest marathon in Florida as this is the 42nd annual. Over the years the promoters have created quite an event (it sold out in July). The course follows the breathtaking Indian River and it is flat with only a couple of bumps. I watched dolphins frolicking last year as I ran. The Expo is at the Kennedy Space Center and all of the aid stations are space themed. The BIG BANG Series honors the NASA's Shuttle Program with an awesome space shuttle medal for each shuttle's inaugural flight (2013 - Columbia; 2014 - Challenger; 2015 - Discovery; 2016- Endeavour; 2017- Atlantis). Believe me these are huge medals and besides the tech shirt you get a beach towel instead of the mylar blanket at the finish and a food bonanza second to none. It seems the appropriate way to launch my adventure! In planning out my year I realized that this was going to be a pricey endeavor. I attempted with no luck to find a sponsor. So I took expenses into account and am fortunate to be a member of the Darkside Running Club. Members are provided three free marathons a year and this definitely helped the budget as I only have to overnight in Peachtree City to get my New Years Day (January), Memorial Day (May) and Labor Day (September) marathons. My eternal thanks go to Scott Ludwig and the Darksiders for this bene-
By Carolyn Mather, RN, PhD.
fit!! February will find me back in my old stomping grounds where I truly began my running life at Florida State University for the 40th annual Tallahassee Marathon. Nancy Stedman and Jay Silvanima direct an incredible event that utilizes the rail trail for a flat and calming course that also takes in the huge sports complex at FSU. Their aid stations are second to none and their volunteers have every thing any runner could want. The pottery awards are very special. The finish on the Mike Long track reminds me of many workouts there. March will take me back to Albany, GA, for the Snickers Marathon. This is another well-run event that boasts being a "top 10 Boston Marathon qualifier." The course winds through scenic Albany and is fairly flat. I debated for months on my April marathon. After arguing with myself I will return to another familiar area to run the 118th Boston Marathon. I go to Boston every year to cover the race for Running Journal but after the events of last year I convinced myself to run with 36,000 participants to honor those fallen last year at the finish line. As I have become more age challenged I find I like my marathons smaller and not the crazy crowds of the big city marathons. But this one is special for so many reasons so I will run Boston this year to show we are not intimidated as runners and are always Boston Strong. If you follow my column at all you know that June could never be anything but Grandmas Marathon in Duluth, MN. This will be my 20th year to return to Duluth to what is without a doubt my very favorite marathon. The marathon weekend is a very special tradition and this 38th year will see a new executive
www.running.net director and new race director. I will go early to work on the hospitality committee for a week but I plan to get a little more rest than in the past so I am not so tired at the start after working all week. July will take me to a very hilly venue but a spectacularly scenic marathon as I take on the Wipro San Francisco Marathon. The city is our favorite so I figured Steve should get some fun out of my adventure. The course goes over the Golden Gate Bridge and back through varied areas of the city. It will be a gorgeous tour. I have yet to confirm but am leaning towards the Leading Ladies Marathon in South Dakota for my August marathon. It is an all ladies marathon through Spearfish Canyon which is a trip through the mystical Black Hills. I have always wanted to do this one with guys in tuxedos handing out chocolates at an aid station. If the budget cooperates this should be the August fun. Again I have not committed to October but I am seriously considering the Twin Cities marathon which is the national masters championship. I have gone the last few years and have helped out in hospitality. My only concern is the size of the race but I suspect this is a serious contender for October. November is a toss up right now. I could run the New York City Marathon but it really is too big for me and I have done it. If Rock and Roll Savannah is not the weekend of New York I am thinking that is a real possibility as is the Soldier Marathon in Columbus, GA. But I may actually return to where my adventure started as Space Coast may be back in November. I have a bit of time to decide on the August, October, and November marathons but I expect to firm them up soon. If any of my readers have suggestions for August, October, and November, send them my way. I am always open to good recommendations. I hope to figure out how to blog so I can keep anyone interested in my journey apprised of my progress. Please wish me a safe journey free of injury. As runners it is always so much fun to discover new ways to do things and stay motivated. As the New Year approaches take some time to make some awesome plans for your running future. Have a very happy holiday season.
“I've been running for over three decades and I spent 15 of those years running past a nursing home that was around the corner from my home. On sunny days, the residents would sit out front and many of them would wave at me and smile as I passed by. I often thought about how I would feel when my legs would no longer carry me. It would break my heart but I know that I would be a wonderful cheerleader. I would probably beg my family to take me to local events so that I could cheer loudly from the sides.” Cherie Titus McCafferty , Anderson Creek, NC “Volunteer. As a runner you know better than anyone what it takes to finish a race. Being the leader of the volunteers would be a great way to give back to the sport that you loved. Having just finished a half marathon on a hilly course, there was one volunteer at the top of a hill cheering all of us on. He started encouraging us while we were at the bottom and continued until we reached the top!” Lisa K. Radak Rosche, Halifax, VA “I fully enjoy the sport of running by walking (fast) the races. I have volunteered, but as long as I am upright I will be out there proving I can move. Being a part of the Mangum Track Club community helps me enjoy life in general.” Irene Russell, 67 Southern Pines, NC So, as we enter the season of giving, consider giving your time, knowledge, expertise, support or simple presence to the sport that helped you move miles and allowed you to make merry memories. There are still memories to be made and experiences to be shared. Whether you are a runner, a walker, a roller, a race director, a coach, a cheerleader, or a spectator, spend your time being an integral part of the miles being traveled. Offer others the gifts that yesterday's miles gave to you. Giving is receiving, and when it comes to gifts…the more the merrier!
Carolyn Mather, R.N., PhD. lives and runs in north Georgia and is a member of the adidas elite team of the Atlanta Track Club Competitive Team. She can be reached at carolynmather@tds.net.
Mary Marcia Brown is a Writer, Runner, Race Director, Certified Personal Trainer and Founder of Bib Stickers. Reach her at marymarciabrown@yahoo.com or by visiting www.bibstickers.com
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