The Roadrunner - March 2020

THE ROADRUNNER A Publication of the Memphis Runners Track Club www. memphisrunners. com

March 2020 • Vol. 40, No. 2

Spring training starts March 21.

Registration is open! (see page 4)

THE ROADRUNNER

In This Issue From the Editor’s Desk

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Message from the President (by Steve Spakes)

A publication of the Memphis Runners Track Club March 2020 Vol. 40, No. 2

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Kids - Ready to run? (by Dayna Lytle)

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Nutrition on the Run (by Ashley Ludlow)

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Roadrunner reading (by Rachel Ragan) What Runners Need to Know (by Joel Lyons) Unexpected lesson (by Tony Ludlow)

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From front to back (by Rob Rayder) Marathon Results (compiled by Millie Jackson) Group runs

Race Calendar

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27 28

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On the cover

MRTC Kids! is back for spring 2020 See page 4.

PR Event Management

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The Fast & The Furriest 5K Run / Walk

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8

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Brent Manley Roadrunner Editor brentmanley@yahoo.com 901-246-6477 The Roadrunner is published monthly except January/February and July/August, which are combined issues.

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MRTC Board of Directors 2018-2019 OFFICERS President/ Sponsorship Director Steve Spakes stevemrtc@gmail.com Vice President Suzie Hicks-Hurt 901-496-1377 s_hickshurt@bellsouth.net Treasurer Charles Flanigan Jr. mrtc.treasurer@gmail.com DIRECTORS Past President / Special Projects/Results John Payne 901-494-8266 johncharlespayne@gmail.com

Past President/Special Projects/Legal Matters George F. Higgs 901-528-1111 ghiggs@stonehiggsdrexler.com Volunteer Director Nancy Brewton volunteeringwithnancy@ gmail.com 901-237-4758 Finish Line Director/ Equipment Lane Purser 901-483-8929 lpurser350@aol.com Timing/Results Rich Tutko 901-481-0498 rtutko@hotmail.com

Past President/ Roadrunner Editor Brent Manley 901-383-8782 brentmanley@yahoo.com

Women Run/Walk Memphis Director Allison Andrassy 901-409-6620 allison.mrtc@gmail.com

Past President/ Course Measurement Rob Hunter 901-246-1565 robhunter33@comcast.net

Director Kent Smith kent824@bellsouth.net

Past President/ New Race Coordinator Wain Rubenstein 901-278-1792 wrubenstei@aol.com

Director Dennese Black

For information about MRTC or running in the Memphis area, contact any board member or visit www.memphisrunners.com Administrative Secretary/Scheduler April Flanigan 901-574-8908 aflanigan@memphisrunners.com Magazine Services Printing and mailing services provided by Paulsen Printing 901-363-5988

From the Editor’s Desk Brent Manley Gold medals aren’t really made of gold.

They’re made of sweat, determination and a hard-to-find alloy called guts.

smiling, but they weren’t frowning either. If the rain hadn’t been coming down so hard, I would have stopped and offered a handshake of respect to those warriors who defied Mother Nature’s attempt to spoil a good run.

I wondered if any of the people I saw out there were streakers – runners who run at least a mile a day no matter what’s going on with the weather. I’ve met a few streakers. Some years ago, I wrote a profile of a Memphis man – a retired dentist – who had logged enough consecutive days running at least a mile to get himself into the top ranks of streakers in the United States.

For all I know, of course, the men and women I saw running in the rain and cold were just determined to get in a run. I’m not as intrepid as the runners I saw today, but I understand them. When I occasionally feel a bit out of sorts, my first thought to break out of the funk is usually to find a way to get out on the street or into the gym for a run. It always makes me feel better. I have started many a run not feeling good, but I have ended all of those runs glad I made the effort and feeling renewed.

Steve Barry, the friend I run with the most, lives in Davies Plantation. On days that Steve has to go to work, we schedule our runs at 6 a.m., which means I have to wake up about 5 a.m., not my favorite time to crawl out of bed. I keep getting up to go run with Steve because I always feel better when we finish. It’s a good way to start the day, I don’t know what motivated the runners I saw today, but I’m grateful they decided to get out there and do it. They reminded me that I should worry less about the conditions and just do it. As a runner, I should have been out there today, possibly inspiring someone else to just do what runners do.

­— Dan Gable – College wrestling star and all-time winningest coach at the University of Iowa

On the third Saturday in January (today, as I write this), I had several errands to run, and I had hoped to do a bit of real running – that is, using my feet instead of my car – before I started on the errands.

My plans for regular running went out the window when I opened the garage door to see the rain coming down. It was not a drizzle or mist, and the farther I drove, the heavier it got. So much for my plans for exercise.

Before I got home after picking up this and that and getting rid of some things that needed to be recycled, I was ashamed of myself for giving up on running.

As I made my rounds, I was surprised to see several runners braving the downpour as they made their way on the sidewalks of the streets I was driving.

None of them – the runners were about half-and-half men and women – looked especially pleased to be making their way in the less-than-optimum conditions, but each displayed a determination to get in a run no matter the conditions. They weren’t necessarily

I'm not as intrepid as the runners I saw today ...

Renew your MRTC membership at www.memphisrunners.com 1

2

A Message from the President

By Steve Spakes the Hill and Dale 8 miler that took place in Shelby Forest on Saturday, Jan. 4. The volunteer and participant support this year was extraordinary! The race had over 600 entries and well over 500 finishers. The Hill and Dale started in 1979 and was one of the original four races of the Tennessee State Parks Running Tour. Proceeds benefit Friends of the Forest.

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a public work relief organization from 1933 to 1942 for unemployed, unmarried men. It was designed to provide jobs for young men and to relieve families who had difficulty finding jobs during the Great Depression. In 1938, a CCC camp in the area began construction of what was to become T.O. Fuller State Park in 1938. It was the first State Park east of the Mississippi River designated for African Americans.

Dr. Thomas O. Fuller, for whom the park was named, served as principal of Howe Institute, a precursor to Lemoyne-Owen and did many great things for the city. This same group also discovered Chucalissa Village during the initial development in 1939.

So, why the history lesson? MRTC is proud to host the T.O. Fuller State Park 7K/14K trail race (one or two loops) Saturday March 28 at 8 a.m. This event will take you through scenic, gently rolling hills. Hope to see you there!

I must start this month’s message with a huge thank you to April and Charles Flanigan, Race Directors of

The “chefs” who helped provide food for runners at the Hill and Dale 8-Miler in Shelby Forest State Park: Benno Capshaw, Ryan Wallace and Peter Mellen.

The Hill & Dale “Voluntold” committee, so named by April Flanigan (far left), who “told” friends to show up to help at the 8-Miler.

April and Charles Flanigan (next to April) were race directors for the event. With them, from left, are Robin Wallace, Ryan Wallace, Peter Mellen and Kacie Mellen. At far left in front is Evelyn, daughter of April and Charles. (continued on next page) 3

Finally, the MRTC shout out goes to Kevin Rainey and Charles Flanigan! If it weren’t for the two MRTC volunteers, the Winter OffRoad Series 3K would not have taken place. The day before the event, these two came up with a reroute, got in there with chainsaws, an axe and a tow rope to clear the trails and the streets so that the race could happen. We had 589 finishers!

Thank you, Kevin and Charles.

Kevin Rainey and Charles Flanigan in action to help save the Winter Off-Road Series 3K.

It’s Spring Time.

Calling all Kids!

It’s Time to Have Some Fun, Get Healthy and Run

By Dayna Lytle

The MRTC Kids! run program focuses on children in the community and teaches them a sport we all love – running!

I am the MRTC Kids! Race Director and Mom of two teenagers!

Along with a team of highly qualified, creative, fun and kid-friendly coaches, I am ready to train your kids of all ages and ensure your whole family has a great running experience!

Training is based on the children’s ages and abilities. In the training program, the kids learn to maintain proper form when running and to complete their assigned distances.

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MRTC Kids! centers on four core values: NAPS

The kids will be grouped into appropriate age and skill-level groups. We will have skilled coaches for each group.

1) Nutrition 2) Activity 3) Perseverance 4) Self-esteem

Training Sessions:

11 a.m. to noon in the open field south of the Showplace Arena at the Agricenter Saturday, March 21, 2020 Saturday, March 28, 2020 Saturday, April 4, 2020 No training the week of April 11.

Saturday, April 18, 2020

MRTC Kids! uses RRCA’s Kids Run the Nation Program Guide. Children are taught that proper nutrition and hydration are important in daily actions.

In addition, our coaches give instruction on how to run safely, the importance of a warmup and cool down, stretching, running etiquette and how to have fun while you exercise.

Training culminates in their own kids-only race. They will get to participate in their races, receive medals for jobs well done, and eat a great meal by the famous MRTC cookers.

The one-hour training programs are held on Saturdays in the spring and fall at the field south of the Agricenter on Germantown Road.

Registration for the races begins at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 26. (Races will start at 2:30 p.m.) at Christian Brothers High School unless otherwise communicated.

The Races:

2:30 p.m. at Christian Brothers High School (subject to change) Saturday, April 26, 2020 Registration opens at 1:45 pm Includes refreshments and finisher items Distances by Age: 4 and younger – 100-yard dash 5-6 - ¼ mile 7-8 - ½ mile 9-10 - 1 mile 11-13 - 2 miles Entry Fee: $25 per child Please note: • Awards and finisher items must be picked up race day. Training goodies must be picked up on the day distributed.

• In case of inclement weather, we will not be planning make up sessions.

• If you are interested in coaching or helping out

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saturday, march 21st, 2020 935 farm rd. memphis, tn 38134

www.memphishumane.org contact kayla hill with questions at khill@memphishumane.org or 901.937.3917 6

MRTC Kids! (continued from page 5) with the MRTC Kids! run training sessions, please contact Dayna Lytle at sunflday@me.com.

No qualifications are required.

Volunteering for MRTC Kids! Run is a great way to give back to MRTC. You will always receive rewarding smiles and leaps of joy from the kids as they finish their races!

COACHES

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Did you know?

Runners who average more than 80 km (50 miles) per week are twice as likely to suffer from respiratory illnesses.

Those who run 20-30 km (12.4-18.6 miles) a week have a stronger immune system and are less prone to colds.

Regular running training is good for improving the long-term stability of bones. Researchers at the University of Michigan came to the conclusion that 12-20 minutes of running three times a week can increase bone mineral density.

The French ultramarathon runner Serge Girard holds the world record for the longest distance run in 365 days. He ran every day for a year, crossed a total of 25 countries and covered a total distance of 27,011 kilometers (16,783 miles).

Researchers have found that the majority of runners will straighten up when an attractive runner of the opposite sex is coming towards them.

The German Markus Jürgens holds the marathon world record in backward running. At the 2017 Hannover Marathon, he crossed the finish line in a time of 3 hours, 38 minutes and 27 seconds.

In contrast to men, women usually run the second half of a marathon faster than the first. They tend to hang back more than men at the start, but continue to increase speed and finish strong in the second half of the race.

This is what Professor Eric Allen and Patricia Dechow found when they analyzed 300,000 results from the Chicago Marathon.

Thanks to Sprouts for supporting the 2019 Road Race Series and the 2020 Winter Off-Road Series.

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Ashley Holloway It’s Sabotage!

MS, RD, CSG, ACE-CHC, LDN, FAND two scoops of pasta when using a 10-inch plate versus three scoops on a 12-inch plate, resulting in an extra 60 calories. If you eat off of big plates every day, three meals a day, those extra unwanted and un-noticed calories will add up fast!

The remedy: Use small dishes to eat from. You will serve yourself less and not even know it!

Now that the new year is here, it is the perfect time to pick up a few healthy habits. There are many small, simple changes that we can make to help us to live a healthier lifestyle. Being fit and at healthy weight for our individual body should not require calorie counting, obsessing over food labels or exercising so hard or for so long that we injure ourselves.

Surprisingly, we often sabotage our efforts to eat less and move more without even realizing it. Here are four ways we sabotage ourselves and some simple remedies to help you eat less and move more.

The sabotage: Keeping food on the kitchen counters and dining room table. Remember the old adage … out of sight, out of mind? Well, it holds true!

Did you know that what you keep out on your counters may roughly predict just how much you weigh?

We tend to eat what we can see. Dr. Wansick determined that women who kept potato chips visible on their kitchen counter weighed 9 pounds more on average than those who didn’t.

And those who had even one box of breakfast cereal in plain sight on the counter weighed 21 pounds more!

If you see it, you are more likely to eat it. According to the study, you are also three times more likely to eat the first food you see in the cupboard or the refrigerator than the fifth thing you see.

The remedy: To keep your weight from creeping up, keep healthy snacks visible on the counter and keep the foods with empty calories stored in the cupboard or cabinet. Out of sight, out of mind, and out of your mouth!

The sabotage: Using large bowls and plates. If you use a giant bowl for your cereal, you are likely

eating quite a bit more than you think. Our eyes can trick us into thinking we are eating less than we think. That giant bowl of cereal you are eating has on average at least 22% or more cereal in it than if you had poured the cereal into a smaller bowl.

The visual effects on our children are even worse. If your kids are eating out of these big bowls, they are likely to serve themselves up to 43% more because they are even more influenced by the visual appearance of food. An interesting study by Dr. Wansink, of Cornell University, and author of Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think (Bantam Books), found that people serve themselves 9

The sabotage: Eating “family style.” Eating together as a family has definite benefits. It creates lasting bonds, inspires togetherness and teaches values. But serving food from bowls and platters

just increases the temptation to overeat. You don’t even have to get up to go for seconds or thirds.

Serving meals family style is even harder on the guys. Men typically eat fast and often wind up eating more just to fill the time waiting for the other family members to finish eating. Not the best weight-loss strategy.

The remedy: Keep the serving bowls and dishes in the kitchen. Then you actually have to get up to get more. Research found that just moving serving dishes to a side counter six feet away reduced how much people ate. Women eat about 9 percent less (since they’re less likely to eat additional portions to begin with) but men ate less by a whopping 29%!

2020 Roadrunner deadlines (subject to change) April issue May issue June issue July-August Sept. issue Oct. issue Nov. issue Dec. issue Jan.-Feb. 2021

Jan. 28 March 10 May 5 June 2 Aug. 4 Sept. 8 Oct. 6 Nov. 10 Dec. 8

If you have questions about advertising or article contributions, write to the editor: brentmanley@yahoo.com

The sabotage: Parking as close as you can to the front door of every place you visit such as your work, the grocery store, the dentist, etc. Taking very few steps in a day decreases our metabolism, decreases our heart health, and decreases our fitness levels.

The remedy: For an easy boost to all aspects of your health, practice parking much farther away than you are used to so that you can get in extra steps.

Trying parking in the farthest spot away, or even a block away if you can. Those small bursts of exercise can really add up over the course of a day, burning extra calories and increasing our fitness level.

Attention: Fellow Runners!

Do you have some unusual experiences as a runner, or some thoughts about our sport you would like to share?

Don’t keep it to yourself – share with your fellow runners.

You can contact the editor at any time to discuss potential contributions: brentmanley@yahoo.com or 901-246-6477.

This is your publication. Be an active part of it.

Brent Manley, Editor

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Stories, Stories and more Stories!

By Rachel Ragan

So, there I was; it was mid-December, and there they were (the stack of Roadrunners for 2019), and there I was, glaring at them, thinking, “no no no, I don’t want to read all of these stories again!” Every year, I must do this and every year, I think that I’m not going to do it any more … but I must do it this time, because it’s too late to find someone else to do it…. and then, just like always, by the time I am through re-reading the stories, I think it’s the most wonderful thing I could have done and I want to do it again next year.

I have been running, consistently, for 35 years. It all started when I lived in Clarksville, Tennessee, working in my uncle’s fitness center. There was an indoor track that was a tenth of a mile long; around and around I’d go. I would go in early every morning, before we opened, turn the music up and run on that track.

This went on for six months until I felt brave enough to go outside and tackle that long hill up Madison Avenue. This seemed to be the route of the running community and I now felt a part of that group.

This was really a big deal to me because at the time, I lacked selfconfidence and all the things that go with it. Now, I felt slightly confident for the first time.

Why? Because I was doing something that MRTC is proud to be a member was all mine. No of the one gave it to me; American Trail Running Association. I had to work

for it. So now, in my life, I had finally accomplished something and it felt good. Of course, at the time, I did not know this; I just knew I was doing something a little hard but fun; I was making new friends and feeling empowered. Something was driving me, and to this day, it still is.

I have been running the Road Race Series for 33 years. After the final half marathon, I like to take a break every year. During this break, I run only two or three times a week, and only three or four miles each time. If I want to take a complete week or two off, I do and do not feel guilty.

The only downside to this is that I become a little lazy and the food demon won’t stop knocking at my door.

For some reason, I keep having a birthday every year. I was talking to my doctor once, asking him why my muscles are so stiff and why things hurt so much these days, and that was his answer – birthdays.

I really do think there is more to it than that, and so I am still searching and trying new things.

So, those Roadrunner magazines – I am still staring at them, feeling unmotivated, thinking that running is too hard to do; everything hurts – I’m so slow these days – it’s just not fun anymore.

So I begin reading. I read and read … days and days of reading … trying to get through one issue per day… I read about someone’s thoughts during a race, how they pushed through and overcame the odds …

I read of someone’s mental or physical upsets and how running helped them deal with it … and then there is the one story that speaks right to me … I connect with that person and live their story as if it were mine.

So now, it is mid-January 2020. I have just done

... I felt slightly confident for the first time.

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my first race of the year, I am back on track, eating right, trying out new things for this stiff, achy body.

Thank you to all who submitted their running stories in 2019. You help more people than you will ever know. RRR 1/14/2020

You can still run a WORS race

Story Writing Contest Winners for 2019

It’s too late to sign up for the entire Winter Off-Road Series, but you can still purchase a single entry to run in the 8K, set for Feb. 9, at Nesbit Park (Stanky Creek Trail), or the 10K (Feb. 23 at Shelby Farms Park). Race times are 2 p.m. Purchase entries at the race venue. More information is available at memphisrunners.com

First Place – “Running in the Middle of the Pack”

by Robert Rayder (Dec.)

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Third Place – “How I spent my unplanned 3-year-long break”

by Becky Heineke (March)

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By Joel Lyons, PT, OCS All About Dynamic Stretching

are typically movements of a muscle that simulate a running action, or take you through a good range of motion in a way that prepares a group of muscles for the next exercise that you want to perform.

There are many good dynamic stretches. I present five of them in the table. You can see that each targets a specific muscle or group of muscles. While performing each, you could do it with no hesitation at all, or you could hold one of the positions for 5 to 10 seconds before alternating to the opposite extremity.

For example, in the knee-to-chest walk, start by standing, and bring your right knee up to your chest, grabbing it with your hands for a second. Then walk forward and grab the left knee. The other method would have you hold the hug for 5 to 10 seconds before you alternate.

This procedure could apply to the rest of the stretches in the table too. I’d recommend you do each of the stretches for 60 seconds. If you want, you could do each for only 30 seconds but then start over and repeat each for another 30 seconds.

Take your time getting comfortable with each stretch. Though you should feel a moderate pull on the muscle, don’t pull or push to the point of pain. It’s still a good idea to ease into your run as part of your warm-up.

Static stretches may have their place. Just think of the millions of people who do yoga and hold static stretches regularly. I believe yoga is a great activity for runners, just do it at some time other than right before your run.

By Joel Lyons Dynamic stretching is a method of stretching while moving, as opposed to static stretching, which, of course, is done while holding a stretch steady for a set length of time. Many coaches and healthcare professionals advocate dynamic stretches over static ones when preparing for a run. While it is difficult to prove whether either type of stretch, when done before a run, will make you more flexible, prevent injuries, or make your speed any better, I do believe that dynamic stretching before a run is a good idea.

When done correctly, dynamic stretches can activate your neuromuscular system in a way that may help you get into your run easier. While both types of stretches can increase range of motion in a joint, static stretches have been shown to be detrimental to strength measurements. The cause of this stretch-induced strength loss is unclear, but some believe it may be due to a neurogenic or mechanical reason.

In contrast, dynamic stretching has been shown to improve dynamometer-measured power as well as jumping and running performance.

Years ago I was warned against doing “ballistic” stretches. Ballistic stretches are typically done by taking the muscle to its end range and then doing small bounces in effort to gain more range. This is still not a good thing to do and it is not what I am referring to with “dynamic stretch.” Ballistic stretches can cause microor even macro-tears in your muscles. Dynamic stretches

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Life Calling

By Tony Ludlow Ph.D. Candidate, Health and Human Performance

One of the greatest wide receivers to ever play football was Lynn Swann, from Alcoa, Tennessee.

Swann was drafted by the Steelers in the first round of the 1974 NFL draft. With the Steelers, Swann won four Super Bowls, was selected to three Pro Bowls, and was named MVP of Super Bowl X. Swann was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.

But there was another thing Lynn Swann was famous for. He took ballet for years as a means to be more athletic and agile. He even appeared on “Mister Roger’s Neighborhood” to talk about his love for ballet. Since then, hundreds of NFL players have augmented their athleticism with the movements of ballet, tap, and other forms of physical movement requiring agilities beyond those you would normally expect from a football player.

Exercise science has identified 5 different aspects or elements of physical fitness: 1. Muscle strength and stamina 2. Cardiorespiratory/cardiovascular strength and stamina 3. Flexibility 4. Balance and ...

5. Agility Every backpacking trip my wife Ashley and I have taken challenged each of those elements. Some trips more than others. In late December we backpacked 33 miles in southern Virginia climbing and descending the 3 highest peaks in the state. All 5 elements were thoroughly taxed and necessary.

I can’t tell you the number of times we’ve relied on our agility training on the trail not to fall. Last week, we hiked in the snow on top of Mt. Lemmon near Tucson, covering a section of the Arizona Trail. Without that agility training, we’d have gone down! A lot!

A friend and member of our boot camp family was on a business trip and had to check in to his Hampton Inn hotel room carrying all of his luggage and gear. He didn’t want to set anything down in front of his room door and opted to contort himself into a pretzel, to slide his keycard into the slot while holding onto everything.

How many of us do this? (Me, raising my hand!) Of 15

course, he had trouble doing it. We all do. The card is upside down and you get the red light. Or the card is turned the wrong way and you get the red light.

Finally, after a couple of tries, and while still holding onto all of his stuff in some odd-looking yoga pose, he managed to get in the door, doing a spin move that would make Lamar Jackson proud.

But in the process, the long strap from his clothing bag got tangled in his feet and he found himself doing one of our agility moves I call The Huntsville Hop. By this time he’d managed to get into the room and close enough to the bed to throw himself on it, luggage and all. No harm, no foul. Face-plant and a trip to the minor emergency clinic averted.

The other day, I was unloading the groceries from the truck to take them into the house. And of course, I’m NOT going to take two trips! (And neither are you!) So, I hung those flimsy plastic bags from every limb of my body and involved every finger on both hands. It had been raining and the steps to the porch and front door were wet and I slipped going up the steps, but the move I did would have made Lynn Swann proud. However, once inside and safe and with only one bag in my hands, I managed to drop the carton of eggs on the floor. Four broke. Guess what I had for dinner while Ashley was still in Tucson? That’s right, scrambled eggs!

Fitness is much much more than running, or lifting weights, or cycling, or swimming. It’s being fit for life and living.

Being healthy means not being sick or at risk.

Being fit, however, means working at and practicing those five components regularly, if not daily. Being fit speaks to our quality of life. It won’t make us immortal, but it ensures we live our lives with as few physical restrictions as possible. When life calls, I like to say “HELL, YEAH!” Don't you?

Running the Different Roads of the Series

By Robert “the Lone Runner” Rayder

We don’t get harmony when everybody sings the same note.

Only notes that are different can harmonize.

pit oneself against another competitor to take a coveted spot on the podium. After all, most of the world’s most popular sports have a clear winner and a clear loser. The motivation is totally obvious. The whole idea is to win.

But for the vast majority of foot-race participants, winning is the last thing on their minds. The competitive runners who have completed the requisite training and developed the immense talent necessary to earn a trip to the top of the podium constitute the thinnest slice of the proverbial racing pie. For most runners, the motivations to run are far more personalized and complex.

To convey the reasons that motivate people to run requires an individualized story, and those diverse stories can almost never be boiled down to a quick and easy answer sought by those who ask us “why.”

Instead, when a person answers the question of why he runs, something unique and personal is shared.

A runner’s story might paint a picture of an individual journey filled with a thousand small details outlining a path to the starting line. In the process the listener gets to learn something extraordinary about the runner. It is part of the reason I find runners so interesting. No two stories are exactly the same, and each is a tale told in many chapters.

Further, the tenor and tone of those stories change depending on where a runner is in “the pack.” The stories from the front, middle and back of any particular race are very different, although they all share the same passion, sacrifice and dedication no matter what time the clock reads when the finish line is crossed.

My family has been blessed with runners of many different talent levels, and our stories are especially diverse. Despite their obvious differences, the tales still share that common thread familiar to all runners. Some things transcend the simple concept of “speed.”

­— Steve Goodier

I was once asked by one of my non-running friends to explain the appeal of participating in weekend foot races. He was amazed, and more than a little confused, when I told him that I had absolutely no hope or ambition whatsoever to win the race outright. It was a concept that was totally foreign to him.

“You mean there are no winners or losers?” he asked with legitimate wonder.

I smiled. “Of course, there are. My son Christopher is running in the same race and he has a decent shot at the top spot. There are also things called age groups where a runner might place in the top three when compared to others of the same gender and similar age range. However, this particular race is way too popular for me to have a shot at one of those awards.”

My friend made a face of intentionally exaggerated consternation. It made him look like he just swallowed a very bitter pill. “You mean you are going to do this painful thing even though you are absolutely guaranteed to lose?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “I don’t consider the concept of not having the fastest time as the definition of “losing,” not in road racing anyway. You can be a winner and still not win the race.”

He laughed in one of those gruff chuckles that showed me he still didn’t get it, but he wasn’t going to push the issue any further. “OK, Confucius. I give up!

You keep on running those crazy running things you do.

As for me, give me a good old-fashioned baseball game where at least I know what the score is!”

We live in a world where sports are filled either with winners or losers. It is easy to see the draw of high school, college or professional running races, where everyone, in theory anyway, has enough talent to win or at least to place well. People intuitively understand the quest for glory found in absolute victory, the need to

The Front

Chris pored over the list of participants to size up the competition. He knew most of the names of the better local runners by heart, and, of course, was not surprised at all to see many of their names listed there.

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This was the MRTC Road Race Series after all, and the popularity and sheer size of these races would serve as an irresistible beacon for many of the area’s most talented runners. Chris’ eyes rapidly flickered from one name to the next.

“This guy has had some solid performances,” he would tell me. “But he just hasn’t been running a lot lately.”

Chris’ focus would change to another name. “This guy has been injured for a while. I wonder if he has had time to heal and train?”

Chris finally came across a name he was very familiar with, and it made him take pause. “There he is, the greatest threat in the whole field.” Chris was talking about a former series champion, and a fierce competitor, who has gone toe to toe with my son many times over the years. “I will have to bring my ‘A’ game if I’m going to win this thing.”

Winning that series was Chris’ goal. While he had won a number of individual events in past years, Chris

he would have to skip. Other competitors could pick and choose races based on weather conditions or they could potentially re-run a race that they did particularly poorly at two weeks before. Chris would be at a distinct disadvantage.

But he had no other choice, and he was determined to try to win the race series title that had eluded him for so many years.

“Well,” he said, obviously attempting to cover over his growing uncertainty with a halfhearted laugh. “I guess I better get to training.”

The Middle

The Series always starts in the dead of summer, just as the heat and humidity levels in Memphis are their most fierce. Summer racing is always challenging, especially for a bigger guy like me. My times universally suffer. Still, I do my best to train for these conditions. If you are a runner in the South in summertime, there is no way to race outdoors and not deal with the unforgiving summer weather.

I looked around and saw many familiar faces in the vast crowd. I had been running in this series for many years, and I’d learned a lot about my fellow runners in that time. We’d all been here before, and it was likely that we would be there in the future, waiting together under the golden rays of the early morning sun.

I took a glance at the volunteers staffing the registration, intently studying the mystifying electronics of the start and finish area, filling cups with water, and doing the hundreds of tasks needed to pull off a race of this size. I knew many of them, sometimes by name, and sometimes only by face.

Others were strangers to me.

In either case, I felt a genuine debt of gratitude.

Every one of these series of races present a virtual mountain of logistical challenges. I’m always amazed at how these selfless heroes manage to pull all that off with such apparent ease race after race after race.

had never taken home the overall series award. This was in part due to the logistics of getting to the start line of at least one of the two races held each month. He needed to be in Memphis for one of the 5Ks, one of the five milers, one of the 10Ks, one of the 10-milers, and, finally, one of the Half Marathons.

This was no easy task to complete while attending a full-time college all the way at the opposite end of the state. Exam schedules, paper due dates, and mandatory study groups would dictate which weekends Chris could come back to Memphis for and which 17

18

I settled in the second coral and watched the swiftest runners, including Chris, dart off over the horizon. I was envious of how effortless those most talented runners make things look, even though I knew from Chris how hard they are actually working. These are men and women of regular flesh and bone who suffer and struggle just like the rest of us. The illusion of their lack of strain is just that, an illusion.

As for me, I ran with all the grace of a Mack Truck.

Sweat drenched me even before I started actually running and it literally poured over me like a salty ocean wave before I reached the end of first mile. I marveled at myself that I could find this totally normal. Runners are different from the air-conditioned masses who smartly seek shelter from such oppressive conditions. We actually pay our hard-earned cash for the privilege of running in the worst conditions mother nature can throw at us.

I settled in and targeted some of my fellow runners to hang with in the hope that they would drag me

along with them, at least mentally. Sometimes I passed them, sometimes I fell back, and sometimes I just maintained our distance. It was a long game of cat and mouse that ate up the miles before, at last, the finish line came into view.

I mustered whatever strength I had and sprinted toward the finish. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one with that idea as whole groups of runners jostled with one another to pick up or lose a spot or two in the final rankings.

After crossing the line, I was bent over, breathless. Chris was off in the distance doing his cool down after outlasting the competition to finish first overall by the slimmest of margins.

After I recovered, Chris and I turned back and jogged along the course in the opposite direction to support my wife, Christina, and daughter Rebecca. Along the way I tried to encourage everyone I saw still struggling along the super-heated course. I have always believed that runners are unique among athletes since they are often moved to encourage all the other competitors in the race, no matter if they are in front or back. It’s part of what makes our sport so special.

As for me, I ran with all the grace of a Mack Truck.

19

The Back

Christina, my wife, and Rebecca, my eldest daughter, settled themselves in the last corral. They looked around them and saw the familiar faces of other regular runners.

It took them both a long time to believe that the term “runner” actually applied to them, even though they both now use the descriptor without a second thought. There is a notion circulating among the nonrunning community that erroneously claims that there is something called a “jogger.”

When you ask people who use that term to be more specific about the difference between the two groups, they say things like, “Runners wear expensive sports gear and custom shoes. Joggers wear sweatpants and hoodies. Runners win medals and set records.

Joggers slog around the local park in an endless quest for something called “fitness.” Runners are athletes.

Joggers are everybody else.”

Of course, the truth is there really no such thing as a jogger. There are only runners of different ability levels.

Speed has nothing to do with being a runner, nor does body type, clothing, shoes, awards, or any other arbitrary thing that someone randomly considers important to the sport. Consider those who race in wheelchairs. They are runners. Working legs aren’t a requirement to enter the runners’ club.

Being a runner has more to do with the spirit needed to brave a course powered by nothing but what each person was born with and braving a sweltering summer’s day to do the most basic of human activities, to run.

Runners have no bikes or motorized form of locomotion to assist them. They move across a course in the same way that they move in their everyday lives, while in the office or at school or at home. It is the purest of all sports. In ancient Greece, runners raced around in the buff, literally taking nothing with them to the competition other than themselves.

While I don’t recommend that route today (police really need to focus on traffic control rather than enforcing indecent exposure laws) it is a beautiful illustration of the essence of a runner. At the very core of it, we compete only with those tools we were born with and with the skills we have sharpened with our training and experience. Some would argue that humans were born to run, and runners are only doing what comes naturally.

The term “runner” makes for a big and inclusive tent, which encompasses anyone willing to move themselves over the miles. There is no room, however, for terms like “jogger” that artificially segregate and divide based on misguided arbitrary standards.

Rebecca and Christina both knew the starting line drill well. The corrals set off one by one until, at last, the last grouping was set free with the familiar threesecond countdown blared over a megaphone.

Their adrenaline pushed them forward for a while, but Christina soon tired and the pair slowed down and walked together for a while.

Rebecca is the more fit of the two, but she rarely runs these races on her own. She loves to talk to her mother or to another running friend to pass the time.

Christina, on the other hand, is all business on the run. She enjoys Rebecca’s company as a distraction to the inevitable struggles faced during a run, but usually she only contributes a few breathless words here and there to the general conversation. She runs for her health, and for the comradery she feels with so many members of the Memphis running community. When she runs, however, she devotes herself body and soul to the endeavor.

The two women covered the course in their predictable time. They are amazingly consistent in their finishing times no matter the course or the weather conditions.

Their legs just seem programmed to a particular cadence race after race.

Chris and I joined them over the last half mile and chimed into the conversation Rebecca had started.

I’ve learned not to be overly enthusiastic during these reunions because, for some inexplicable reason, that annoys my wife.

Instead, I use my well-practiced subdued words of support and encouragement and do my best to distract her from the task at hand.

Chris and I peeled off just before the finish line and watched the girls complete their race together. They raised their hands in celebration, and the two smiled at their shared accomplishment, a joy shared by all the other runners around them as they, too, finish their races.

The finish line of a race must be one of the most joyous places on earth. Chris and I couldn’t help but smile with them.

Being a runner has more to do with the spirit needed ...

20

Back to the Front

together and rally later in the race?

The uncertainty was a little unnerving, but Chris had to push all that out of his head and focus on the task at hand. He was definitely slower than last year, but that was to be expected. He still had to put as much distance as possible between himself and whoever was behind him. The miles rolled by.

At long last Chris approached the finish line and he took a quick look back. He was all alone, and knew his victory was secured. He also knew the series title was most likely his as well. He was minutes ahead in this race, and those minutes would be added to his previous lead times to give him a cushion going into the half marathon that was nearly unbeatable.

Chris let himself smile for just a second before his attention turned to a more pressing issue. There are certain advantages to finishing first, chief among them at that moment was that the porta-potties were available for use.

It was the last 10 miler and Chris knew that the series would be decided here. Chris had edged out his main competitor for the series title in each of the last three race distances by the slimmest of margins. His lead in the series amounted to only a minute or two, and his training was suffering due to an unusually heavy school schedule. The junior year of college is a tough time for many students, and Chris was no exception.

He was nervous. He felt undertrained and knew a repeat of the course record setting performance at last year’s ten-mile race was unlikely. Back then he had come home to Memphis several weekends prior to the race in order to put in some hard training on those famous switchbacks. This year that kind of “on course” training was totally impossible.

He found himself lined up at the familiar start line in Shelby Forest nervously pacing back and forth trying to find that magic spot in his head that would drive away all his doubts. Focus is key to a great performance, and doubts left unsubdued tend to eat away at a runner’s confidence as the miles mount.

The race started and Chris was surprised not to see his competitor sitting on his shoulder. Was he hanging back, biding his time, hoping for Chris to collapse?

Was he just having a bad start? Could he pull things

Back to the Middle

Conditions were as good as they could be for a half marathon. The temperatures were comfortable, the winds gentle and the course familiar. I had no excuses.

The time was ripe for definitive action. I decided to go after that elusive sub-two-hour mark.

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21

22

I knew the drill. In my younger days, running 13.1 miles in 120 minutes was no challenge at all. I knew the times I had to keep mile after mile. I knew the cadence, the fueling schedule, and all the millions of small details whose knowledge had been bought with countless half marathon races run across more than a dozen years.

My older, heavier body, however, had something to say about my goal. All my joints had more than a half century of wear and tear on them. Muscles atrophy with age. Extra weight has found its way to my waistline.

Knowledge is valuable but is not always enough by itself to overcome the physical realities that come with time.

This race would literally be a battle between the body and the mind. The results were far from certain.

After the race started, I forced myself into that familiar goal pace. At first, I felt like I was straining my limits. But after a few minutes I settled down and did my best to keep myself distracted from all the things my body was complaining about. Fortunately, I found that balance quickly and quieted those voices in the back of my head that wondered if I could maintain this pace for the duration.

At the half-way point, things were still uncertain. I was a minute or so behind the time I needed, so I would have to negative-split the race if I was to meet my goal.

I would have to run the second half of the race faster than the first half, a rare event for me.

Here was where my experience would help me. I knew this course well and I knew it was an out-and-back course with a net uphill for the first half. What comes up must come down. The second half goes sharply down after mile eight, and I love running downhill.

I pushed myself at the start of that downward slope and never relented until things levelled out at mile ten.

My efforts were rewarded and for the first time I had a little cushion on my goal. Now I had to face the last 5K and the theme there would be about holding onto those precious moments of hard-won time.

It wasn’t easy. Nausea swept over me. My legs wobbled uncertainly with every uphill and I was forced to pick things up on the downhills. I counted down the miles as my fatigue grew.

At last, I passed a greatly anticipated landmark, a hill-top church that marked the final homestretch of the race. The nausea that had bedeviled me for so long was finally gone, left me alone at last. There was an unstoppable desire to finish this thing, and that energy propelled me forward with an ever-increasing sense of urgency.

The finish-line clock came into view and I sprinted toward it, spending whatever reserves I had left. Each second on the clock face slowly ticked away like some kind of sadistic slow-motion movie. My mind was focused on one thing, that first digit on the clock. To my utter surprise it still read “1” as I passed under the MRTC arch that marked the finish line.

I’d done it! Against all odds I pushed my body to just one more sub-two-hour finish.

Sometimes mind can still win out over matter.

I went over to a fine-looking patch of dormant grass and laid myself out on the ground for a welldeserved rest. I was totally at peace with myself for the first time in a long time. I could lie down knowing I had accomplished something beyond what should have been possible. I wanted to savor that magic moment forever. I wanted to remember every small detail, the light breeze, the cheering spectators, the thud of other runners’ strides as they struck the asphalt. I relished the warm embrace of the fall sun as it sent its golden rays through the crystal blue sky onto my broadly smiling face.

Back to the Back

There is something about the power of numbers to most runners. They hold some kind of deeper meaning to us even when they are nothing but random coincidences.

For example, my wife knew the power of wearing the number 40 as her road race series bib number during the MRTC’s 40th anniversary year. It placed an extra special responsibility on her to be a finisher of the series, even though that meant conquering a half marathon for which she was woefully undertrained.

She had had good intentions at the start. The RRS was supposed to motivate her to keep in shape and develop some kind of a training plan that would improve her fitness. But somehow there was always something that seemed to conspire against her good intentions.

Truth be told, some excuses were more legitimate than others. And there was always tomorrow – until one day there were no more tomorrows. The days that had once amply spread out before the half marathon evaporated away like snowballs on a warm summer’s day. Half marathon day arrived in what seemed like no time at all to her, and her training had added up to almost nothing.

Ready or not, she was now facing her day of reckoning. Despite the obvious hardship facing her, she was determined to run the 13.1 miles by any

www.memphisrunners.com 23

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means possible. She walked with my daughter Rebecca away from the starting line toward the back-most corral to await her fate.

She was filled with no small amount of trepidation and self-doubt. But my wife is nothing if not driven.

When she sets her mind to doing something, even if it is not such a great idea, nothing better stand in her way.

The siren sounded and she was off. She was doing this race all alone because our daughter Rebecca was running with one of her friends to help pace her through the miles. Rebecca was also cruising toward her third consecutive year as a Road Warrior, a finisher of all 10 RRS distances. That’s no small accomplishment (and one her father has never been close to accomplishing, although her mother has a Road Warrior trophy of her very own.)

The first few miles are always a struggle for my wife. She suffers greatly with the various aches and pains that unused muscles scream about as they start to work out, and she is mentally intimidated by so many miles lying in front of her.

After a few miles, however, she settles into her pace and things get a little easier. Her pace seems a little brisker at that point and her walk breaks become less and less frequent.

After what seemed like an unbelievably short period of time, she saw Chris on his inbound leg, bounding over the course with his long, lanky gait. She called out to him and he briefly looked up and waved (sort of) before quickly settling back into his mind, attempting to battle the demons of the late race. My wife wished him well and refocused on her own task.

A few other runners noticed the interaction and asked Christina if that was her son. After she answered in the affirmative, a few said they recognized him from other races and commended his running talent.

Christina smiled and humbly expressed her pride in her son’s accomplishments. At some level, however, this was just her son, plain old Chris, doing what Chris does. It all seems so normal to everyone in the family, even though, at some level, we all know it’s extraordinary.

Much later, she saw me on the opposite side of the road struggling through my second half of the Half.

I looked up and called out to her. She bellowed her own words of encouragement right back at me before moving on.

At last, she made her turn-around and headed back toward the finish line. She was halfway there! Soon thereafter, she saw Rebecca and her friend heading toward the turn-around.

The miles were getting long and the weather was

25

warming up. Christina had to walk more and more.

“This is where that missed training might have been useful,” she chided herself. She was in pain, but she was in really familiar territory. She had learned well the agony of those last long miles of a half marathon.

This particular pain, however, was really no worse than many other races. Long experience had taught her that she could finish if she could just keep her focus.

Others around her would run, then walk, then run again in an endless cycle of moving humanity.

She would pass someone, only to be passed later, and then to pass them again. She lost herself in the familiar rhythm of the race. The pain soon faded to the background.

Eventually, she reached the finish-line area, and made herself pick up the pace. She was close to her regular finish time despite her poor training and she wanted to make as good a showing as possible.

She poured everything she had left in her into that finishing sprint. Many of her fellow runners fell back, unable to match her new pace. She slumped over in exhaustion after crossing the line. She couldn’t believe she had finished that fast. It was exhilarating, but she was totally spent. “I’ll train next year,” she promised to herself.

She was only a few minutes in front of Rebecca and her friend. They crossed the line side by side, looking no worse for the wear. It’s good to be young.

Soon the family was reunited and we all made our way toward the car together. It was quite a collection: A newly christened RRS champion, a sub two-hour miracle, a three-peat Road Warrior and a race-hardened veteran of the half marathon.

We had all seen the race from different perspectives, and we all shared stories of what it was like for us.

For an outsider, it might seem strange that our stories were so similar. Our struggles, our determination, our agonies, our uncertainties, and our victories all mirrored one another.

We are so different in our abilities. We each sing our own notes, so to speak. Yet, we are singing the same song, and when sung together we make the song fuller, the emotion deeper, and the experience stronger for everyone.

For a runner, victory is not only about having the loudest or softest notes. It’s about doing the best that you can wherever you stand in the spectrum. And when those notes are sung together, our voices harmonize, making something new. That something is vastly different and better than any noise we could make on our own. We turn a lonely tune into a song rendered by an entire choir … and that is music to everyone’s ears.

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MARATHON RESULTS

Thoughts on marathon running “You’re running on guts. On fumes. Your muscles twitch. You throw up. You’re delirious. But you keep running because there’s no way out of this hell you’re in, because there’s no way you’re not crossing the finish line. It’s a misery that non-runners don’t understand.”

– Martine Costello “The more you frame the marathon as a stressful experience, the more negative messages you’ll receive. But it’s just as easy to frame it as a positively challenging journey.”

– Jeff Galloway, U.S. Olympian, running writer, and coach “The marathon never ceases to be a race of joy, a race of wonder.”

– Hal Higdon, running writer and coach

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“So many people crossing the finish line of a marathon look as happy as when I won. They have tears in their eyes. The sport is full of winners.”

– Gary Muhrcke, winner of the first NYC marathon “I love the fact that not many people can say ‘Oh, I went out and ran 20 miles today.’ I love how much dedication it takes and how much you learn a lot about yourself, your physical and mental limits. There’s just something about it.”

– Shalane Flanagan, 2012 U.S. Olympic Marathoner “Toeing the starting line of a marathon, regardless of the language you speak, the God you worship or the color of your skin, we all stand as equal. Perhaps the world would be a better place if more people ran.”

– Dean Karnazes “The reason people want to run the marathon is because the challenge, physically, is you. The distance – how you get there – is all up to you and how hard you work. That’s why people want to do it.”

– Meb Keflezighi, winner 2009 NYC Marathon and 2014 Boston Marathon “It is difficult to train for a marathon; but it is even more difficult to not be able to train for a marathon.”

– Aaron Douglas Trimble 27

Wildwood Trail Marathon Wildwood, MO December 8, 2019 Mike Samuelson Lakeland, TN

5:25:12

Rocket City Marathon Huntsville, AL December 14, 2019 Marvin King Oxford, MS Karl Studtmann Jackson, TN Justin Keeton Memphis, TN Karl Porter Olive Branch, MS Cheri Sulzberger Tupelo, MS Anna Young Tupelo, MS Cosby Arnold Memphis, TN Greta Bailey Oxford, MS Leslie Studtmann Jackson, TN Terry Greer Olive Branch, MS

3:12:11 3:19:21 3:24:43 3:31:54 3:48:03 3:59:36 4:03:51 4:37:56 5:21:24 5:28:14

Dallas Marathon Dallas, TX December 15, 2019 Anntriniece Napper Memphis, TN

6:30:46

3 Bridges Marathon Little Rock, AR December 28, 2019 Melissa Bourque Germantown, TN,

4:28:58

Run with a Group Do you need some help in finding a running group or are you interested in starting your own group? Contact MRTC Coordinator of Running Groups, DJ Watson: djw@virtualmvp.com.

Sunday morning

Monday afternoon

Tuesday morning

Run: Germantown

Run: Fleet Feet Coed Fun Run Time: 6 p.m.

Place: Fleet Feet, 4530 Poplar Ave. (Laurelwood Shopping Center) Distance: 3, 5 and 7 miles Contact: Eric Flanders, 901-761-0078

Run: Fitness Plus Lunch Run Time: 11:45 a.m.

Place: Fitness Plus, 2598 Corporate Ave. off Nonconnah between Millbranch and Democrat Distance: 7 miles Contact: Rick Ellis, 901-345-1036 Showers and extras available. Access to Fitness Plus facilities free to runners on group run day

Thoroughbreds

Time: 6:30 a.m. - (June thru Sept.); 7 a.m. - (Oct. thru May) Place: Panera Bread 7850 Poplar Avenue, Germantown Distance: 4, 7, 12.5 (or more) miles Contact: Charles Hurst 901-491-2096 or churst9676@gmail.com Water stops provided on the course.

Big fun group with all paces.

Run: Cool Runnings Time: 7 a.m.

Place: Shelby Farms Visitor Center, lower parking lot Distance: 10+ miles Contact: bostonbear13@gmail.com Run: iMARG: Indian Memphis

Association Runners Group

Time: 7 a.m. on weekends (mostly Sunday) Place: Johnson Park, Collierville Distance: 3.1 to 20 miles Contact: Sheshu Belde, 901-413-4456 Facebook page: https://www.facebook. com/indianmemphis.runnersgroup

Run: Southaven Striders Time: 6 p.m.

Place: Central Park (Tchulahoma entrance, east side of park) Distance: 3-5 mi. (9- to 12-min. miles) Contact: Kyle McCoy, 901-299-8630 or Kalmac220@gmail.com Angie McCoy, 901-233-0168 or anggail09@gmail.com Run: Sea Isle Park Runners Time: 5:30 p.m.

Place: McWherter Senior Center 1355 Estate Drive Distance: 1 mile-5K Contact: Sea Isle Park Runners Facebook group Notes: One mile loop around Sea Isle Park and two miles of hills in wooded neighborhood east of the park. Beautiful and safe course!

Monday morning

Run: Salty Dogs of

Run: FIT4MOM Run Club Time: 9:30 a.m.

Location: Visitor Center at Shelby Farms Park (6903 Great View Drive North) Distance: 5K training Contact: Amy Earnest amykearnest@gmail.com or visit www.memphis.fit4mom.com 8-wk session March 19th - May 12th

Time: 7 p.m.

Place: Bardog Tavern, 73 Monroe Ave., downtown Distance: 3-5 miles run through historic downtown Memphis and afterward enjoy food, drink and camaraderie.

Contact: Miles Durfey 901-387-7475

Bardog Tavern

Tuesday afternoon Run: Track House Workout Time: 6 p.m.

Place: U of M Old Field House Track Distance: Various workouts Contact: Paul Sax, 901-276-5758 Run: Black Men Run Memphis Time: 6 p.m.

Place: Varies. Check https:// www.facebook.com/ groups/425282507588975/ for location Distance: Usually five miles Contact: Shannon Chisenga, 215-834-4687 or shannon.chisenga@blkmenrun.com

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Wednesday morning

Thursday afternoon

Wednesday afternoon

Run: Sea Isle Park Runners Time: 6 p.m.

Place: McWherter Senior Center 1355 Estate Drive Distance: 1 mile-5K Contact: Sea Isle Park Runners Facebook group Notes: One mile loop around Sea Isle Park and two miles of hills in wooded neighborhood east of the park.

Beautiful and safe course!

Run: Fleet Feet Run: Southaven Striders Time: 6 p.m.

Time: 6 a.m.

Fleet Feet hosts individualized Place: Central Park in Southaven speedwork sessions including track (Tchulahoma ent., east side of park) and tempo workouts for runners Distance: 3-5 miles (9- 12-minute miles) who want to get a little quicker.

Contact: Kyle McCoy, 901-299-8630 or No fees. kalmac220@gmail.com Contact: Feb at 901-761-0078 or lovetorun@fleetfeetmemphis.com Run: Breakaway Running Time: 6 p.m.

Place: Wolf River Store 1223 Germantown Pkwy.

Contact: Barry, 901-722-8797 or 901-754-8254 Run: Midtown Run Time: 6 p.m.

Place: Corner of Madison and Tucker, across from Huey’s Distance: 6 miles

Saturday morning

Run: Bartlett UMC Run: Breakaway Running Time: 6 p.m.

Breakaway’s Marathon and Place: Bartlett United Methodist Church, Half Marathon Training Group 5676 Stage Road; group meets in meets each Saturday morning the gym lobby through December to help Distance: Varies prepare our friends for the Contact: Sam Thompson, St. Jude Memphis Marathon.

901-386-2724 or Check website or Facebook page sthompson@bartlettumc.org for location and time. Join us!

901-722-8797 for more info.

Run: Bartlett Run Time: 6:30 p.m.

Run: Black Men Run Memphis Place: W.J. Freeman Park, Time: 6 a.m.

2629 Bartlett Blvd.

Place: Code Enforcement, Distance: 4-6 miles Farm Road at Mullins Station Contact: Paul “Spunky” Ireland Distance: Varies h. 901-388-5009 c. 901-826-7496 Contact: Shannon Chisenga, or paulireland@att.net 215-834-4687 or shannon.chisenga@blkmenrun.com

Thursday afternoon Run: Breakaway Running Time: 6 p.m. Beginners group Place: Breakaway Midtown 2109 Madison Contact: Barry, 901-722-8797 or 901-754-8254

Run: FIT4MOM Run Club Time and day of week: 8-week sessions.

Location: Shelby Farms Park Distance: All distances Contact: Amy Earnest memphis@fit4mom.com or visit www.memphis.fit4mom.com 29

Note: This information is provided as a courtesy in an effort to help MRTC members enhance their running experiences. MRTC encourages members to run with groups of their choice, but the listed running groups/group runs are independent and not affiliated with, nor endorsed by, the MRTC. The club makes no representation that the information provided is accurate. Persons who wish to participate in activities with these groups should contact the individuals listed for further information and participate at their own risk.

Run: Run & Play Time and Place: meet the first Saturday of the month at 9 a.m. at various locations in town (see website for each month’s location) This group is geared for moms with strollers and/or toddlers.

Info: www.seemommyrun.com/tn/ Run: Mommies on the Move Time: 9 a.m.

Place: Shelby Farms Visitors Center Details: For mothers with strollers and toddlers Contact: www.seemommyrun.com/tn Run: DAC Fitness Collierville Time: 9:30 a.m.

Distance: from 5K beginner to half marathon training at various paces Contact: Heather Nichols 651-1065 or Brandy Heckmann 443-653-0385

Various Days Run: Tipton County Road Dawgs Time: Friend us on Facebook under Road Dawgs and check posting of upcoming runs, usually on Sat. a.m.

Place: Check Facebook Distance: All distances, all ages, all paces. Runs are in Tipton County and north Shelby County Contact: djroaddawg@yahoo.com

Race Calendar Date & Time: Saturday, Feb. 1, 9 a.m.

Race name: Mike Cody 4-Miler Location: Rhodes College Contact: www.racesonline.com Date & Time: Race name: Location:

Contact:

Date & Time: Race name: Location: Contact:

Brad Baker Race for Sight 5K Shelby Farms Park See ad on page 26.

Date & Time: Saturday, March 7, 8.a.m.

Race name: Margie Dowell Race for Unity

in Our Community Location: Bellevue Middle School

575 S. Bellevue Contact: www.racesonline.com

Saturday, Feb. 8, 9 a.m.

D E L L NCE

St. Valentine's Run Bartlett Baptist Church 3465 Kirby Whitten Pkwy.

See ad on facing page.

CA

Date & Time: Sunday, Feb. 9, 2 p.m.

Race name: Winter Off-Road Series 8K Location: Nesbit Park (Stanky Creek Trails)

5760 Yale Rd. Contact: www.memphisrunners.com Date & Time: Race name: Location: Contact:

Saturday, Feb. 29, 9 a.m.

Date & Time: Sunday, March 15, time TBA Race name: Ghost River St. Patrick’s 5K Location: TBA Contact: www.racesonline.com

Saturday, Feb. 22, 9 a.m.

Date & Time: Race name: Location: Contact:

Civitan Frosty 5K Overton Park See ad on page 24.

Saturday, March 21, time TBA

The Fast & The Furriest 5K Run/Walk 935 Farm Road See ad on page 6.

Date & Time: Sunday, Feb. 23, 2 p.m.

Race name: Winter Off-Road Series 10K Location: Shelby Farms Park Contact: www.memphisrunners.com

Date & Time: Saturday, March 28, 8 a.m.

Race name: T.O. Fuller 7K and 14K Location: T.O. Fuller State Park

1500 W. Mitchell Road Contact: www.racesonline.com

MRTC bad-weather policy

Date & Time: Saturday, April 4, time TBA Race name: Grizzlies 5K Location: TBA Contact: www.racesonline.com

MRTC contracts to provide finish-line services at local races. When there is inclement weather, the race director has the option to postpone or cancel the race and is responsible for notifying the MRTC and participants. In the event of a cancellation, rescheduling is unlikely because of the number of races already on the MRTC calendar.

For MRTC races (the Road Race Series, the Winter Cross Country Race Series and the Hill & Dale 8-miler), the policy is that the race will go on, rain or shine. The start of a race may be delayed to let bad weather pass, but scheduled races will be run.

Renew your MRTC membership at www.memphisrunners.com 30

31

Memphis Runners Track Club P.O. Box 17981 Memphis, TN 38187-0981

Coming Soon ...

The T.O. Fuller State Park 7K and 14K Trail Race (one or two loops).

Watch for notices from MRTC about the race, scheduled for March 28.

For more information, see page 3.

Non-Profit Org U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

MEMPHIS, TN Permit No. 960