The Roadrunner - November 2018

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

November 2018 • Vol. 38, No. 9

Follow the crowd and run for the Children of St. Jude Saturday, Dec. 1

THE ROADRUNNER

In This Issue From the Editor’s Desk

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Message from the President (by John Payne) Nutrition on the Run (by Ashley Holloway) A publication of the Memphis Runners Track Club November 2018 Vol. 38, No. 9

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Run for the children of St. Jude

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Laura Mathews: On her way up (by Brent Manley)

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Tribute to Valerie French (by Steven Ross and Barbara Zoccola) 10 You can go home again (by Rob Rayder)

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My important milestone (by Colleen Johnson)

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Faces in the Crowd

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Marathon Results (compiled by Millie Jackson)

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Group runs

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Race Calendar

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Advertisements

On the cover

Hustle for the House 4-mile walk/run

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PR Event Management / Events

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Zaka Bowl

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Sprouts Farmers Market

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Scentsy 14 Grivet Outdoors

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Timothy R. Creager Memorial 5K Run / 1 Mile Walk

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Nationwide 21 BioLife Plasma Services Start2Finish Event Management

St. Jude Memphis MarathonÂŽ Weekend - Saturday, Dec. 1 See page 6.

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Run the Park 10 Miler / 5K

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Blair Parker Design

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Eyewear Gallery

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Race for Grace 5K

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Sugar Run 5K

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Fleet Feet

Inside Front Cover

Overton Park Five Mile Classic

Inside Back Cover

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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.

You can join the MRTC or renew your membership online at www.memphisrunners.com.

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MRTC Board of Directors 2018 OFFICERS President/ Special Projects/Results John Payne 901-494-8266 johncharlespayne@comcast.net

Volunteer Director Nancy Brewton volunteeringwithnancy@ gmail.com 901-237-4758

Vice President / Sponsorship Director Steve Spakes stevemrtc@gmail.com

Finish Line Director/ Equipment Lane Purser 901-483-8929 lpurser350@aol.com

Treasurer Lorrie Williams brianbwilliamsmrtc@gmail.com

DIRECTORS Past President/ Roadrunner Editor Brent Manley 901-383-8782 brentmanley@yahoo.com Past President/ Course Measurement Rob Hunter 901-246-1565 robhunter33@comcast.net Past President/ New Race Coordinator Wain Rubenstein 901-278-1792 wrubenstei@aol.com Past President/Special Projects/Legal Matters George F. Higgs 901-528-1111 ghiggs@stonehiggsdrexler.com

Timing/Results Rich Tutko 901-481-0498 rtutko@hotmail.com Women Run/Walk Memphis Director Allison Andrassy 901-409-6620 allison.mrtc@gmail.com Director Kent Smith kent824@bellsouth.net Director Suzie Hicks-Hurt 901-496-1377 s_hickshurt@bellsouth.net Director Peter Mercredi 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 I admire runners older than I – They are now my heroes. I want to be like them as I grow older.

— Frank Shorter

When I started the Faces in the Crowd feature for this magazine four years ago, I did so on a hunch – that runners in this club would be interested in other members. I was right. I got a lot of positive feedback on Faces and have worked hard to keep it going. A variety of factors have combined to squeeze Faces out of the Roadrunner in the past few months, but it returns in this issue (see page 23).

As I always do while editing the Faces entries, I pay particular attention to the responses to the third entry: Why I like running.

Most people mention health and fitness or a chance for “me” time they achieve on solo runs. Even more mention the camaraderie of group runs and/or the friends they have made as a member of MRTC. Another popular response is that running is an excellent way to relieve stress.

Every now and then I get a response like the one you will see in this issue. It’s from Lisa Smith: “I really don’t like running, but I do love that feeling of what I just accomplished when I cross that finish line.”

I have never filled out a Faces form, but I have my reasons for enjoying our sport. I do enjoy the feeling of accomplishment I experience on just about any run – long, short or in between.

Many of the workouts – hill repeats or speed work, for example – are difficult, but if everything about running was easy, why bother?

Another reason I like running is that you have opportunities to help raise money for worthy causes.

Last fall, I ran the Chicago Marathon as a St. Jude Hero. It was my first run as a Hero but not my last. As I made my way on the marathon course, I was surprised at how often I heard shouts from spectators thanking me

for running as a Hero (I had on a special St. Jude shirt).

It made me proud to know that so many people support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and that they know about the important work done there. In Chicago, I met two others running for St. Jude and have kept in touch with them since returning to Memphis.

Earlier this year, I ran in the Run the R Word Out of Town 5K in Arlington. The race was organized to raise awareness of the needs of students with intellectual and developmental difficulties. Proceeds from the race went to Best Buddies, a non-profit organization that provides one-on-one friendships for those who need them. It felt good to help, even in a small way, with that cause.

My start in running was not auspicious, mostly because I had no idea what I was doing. Discovering MRTC and joining the club changed everything. I found out about all the races going on, signed up for the road race series and eventually decided to run a marathon. I did the training and ran 26.2 miles for the first time in 1996. Four years ago, I completed the Maui Marathon in Hawaii and achieved my goal of running a marathon in every state.

Along the way, I met some really interesting people and learned a lot about myself and what I can achieve with hard work and determination.

A significant benefit of adding Faces in the Crowd to the magazine is the number of story ideas that have come from members’ answers to the questions. I did not start the feature for that purpose. It has just happened every now and then.

I’m never going to be more than an average runner with an occasional good moment. I just like to do it and I really enjoy the chance to meet and get to know people who love the sport as I do. Runners are good people and I’m lucky to have had the chance to get to know a lot of them.

I do enjoy the feeling of accomplishment I experience on just about any run ...

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A Message from the President

By John Payne After a few warm weeks, it looks like fall has finally arrived. Well, maybe winter. I’m not a huge fan of the cold weather but I know most runners are. I hope everyone is enjoying the drop in temps and getting out on the streets or trails.

I am writing this the week of the second 10-Miler and with the change in temps, the weather looks just about perfect. For a lot of runners, the 10-Miler is the most loved and hated race at the same time. The hills are such a challenge but the course is so beautiful. I hope everyone is enjoying the RRS so far. By the time you read this, we will have only two races left and hopefully we can get some good weather for those as well. If you aren’t running you should think about coming out to volunteer. We are always looking for more and more volunteers as the races get longer. The longer they are the more support they require. If you would like to volunteer for the RRS email Julianne Tutko (mrtc.rrs.volunteers@ gmail.com) and she will find you a spot to help out.

We just wrapped up our fall session of the MRTC Kids! run, and what a great session and year it was.

We had a rainy graduation day, but the kids looked like they still had a wonderful time running their various

distances. Fall and spring were both record years, thanks to the efforts of Dayna Lytle. She has worked hard to do more than just grow the program. She has worked to improve upon all the hard work of the previous directors of the program. As I wrote last month, they were given a grant from RRCA Kids Run the Nation, and we are working on a few more grants currently with the help of Peter Mercredi, one of our newest board members.

Excellent job by Dayna and all the volunteer coaches who have made this program such a success in helping introduce running to the future of MRTC. Speaking of directors and board members doing a great job, I wanted to give a shout out to Suzie Hicks-Hurt. She has done a superior job with MRTC merchandise. She and her husband, Sid, really work hard to help with the running club in general but she has done a fantastic job with merchandise and really getting the MRTC brand out there. Our entire board works hard to make MRTC one of the largest and best clubs in the nation and I can’t think all of them enough for all the hard work they do.

This time of year I also see a ton of runners out on the street early in the morning and late and night, getting in their miles for the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend, coming up Dec. 1. Whatever distance they are running, they are out there training hard and a lot of them are helping raise money for St. Jude. The marathon weekend helps raise more than $10 million for the hospital. If you aren’t running and you would still like to give back, you can sign up to volunteer. Head over to stjudemarathon.org and find a place to help volunteer and support this great race. If you have never been involved in this race, you should really consider it. It’s a great event and something all runners should find a way to support.

I feel like I write this next section every year, but it is just so important I will continue to include it. Fall brings shorter days and more people running in the dark. There are some key things to (continued on page 31)

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Ashley Holloway

MS, RD, CSG, ACE-CHC, LDN, FAND The truth about running and weight gain

I have frustrating news for you: If you are training for a half marathon or a marathon, you just might gain a few pounds!

If you have ever trained for a long race, increased your mileage, or added several more running days to your schedule, you may already have experienced this strange phenomenon.

It is frustrating, I know! It has happened to me over and over again.

We all would like to think that putting in some serious miles would make gaining weight impossible, but often that extra mileage has the opposite effect on our scales.

Here are five factors that can account for the added pounds: 1. Our bodies like balance. Have you even noticed that after a super-tough workout or extra-long run, you seem hungrier? Or after a half marathon you are more likely to nap or lie around on the couch catching up on the latest Netflix show? When you burn extra calories during heavy intensity, your body wants to compensate for those extra expended calories. It turns on hormones and signals telling you to eat more. And because your body has burned a bunch of extra calories, it tells us we need to rest. It’s trickery! Our bodies are smart, quite smart, indeed!

2. We overestimate our exercise. I am not the best with math, but I am far from alone. Research shows that we often overestimate how many calories we burn during exercise and significantly underestimate how many calories we are taking in. How many of us have run 5 miles then had a nice, sit-down Southern breakfast afterwards? Those 5 miles burned only about 500 calories. That is not a lot considering how many calories we burn over the course of a day with just our hearts beating and our lungs breathing, working and doing chores, and even sleeping. We can burn anywhere from 1,800 to 2,800 calories on average. Those exercise miles are a small drop in the buckets far as calorie burn goes!

3. We underestimate how much we eat. This one is

a key player in the weight loss/weight gain cycle.

Apparently, we are all horrible guessers when it comes to trying to guess how many calories that Southern breakfast had in it. On average, we consume about 50% more calories than we think we do! Over time, these additional calories add up to more weight.

4. We want a reward. We logged our 10 miles this morning. What better way to celebrate than some delicious biscuit beignets, some bacon and eggs and a cafe mocha. We’ve earned it, right? Not so fast. Running and exercise shouldn’t equate to eating more every time. We can’t out-exercise an unhealthy diet. Running and exercise is best done to be healthy, not as permission to chow down at the breakfast buffet.

5. We are on a never-ending merry-go-round. I know I have done this, so maybe you have as well … I overindulged at a get together, so the next day I ramped up my exercise to try to burn off the extra calories I took in the night before. Doing this every once in a while is okay. But what we want to make sure to avoid is making this a recurring cycle of over-eating then over-exercising, then over-eating, then over-exercising, and so on. You get on the merry-go-round of punishing your body with unhealthy habits. We should avoid using exercise as a way to compensate for our food intake. Most often, after a night of over-eating, if you go back to your normal food intake and exercise habits, your body will work to find that balance again.

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Running and other forms of exercise are meant to be positive and healthy experiences, not ways to punish ourselves or to be used as a reason to reward ourselves afterwards with large amounts of food. Finding a balance for yourself is key. Gaining a few pounds with half or full marathon training is normal. The good news is that as soon as the half marathon or marathon is over, those few extra pounds are likely to go away. Our bodies, after all, do like to stay in balance.

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The races that mean so much

By St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

vital funds to help ensure families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.

One such St. Jude Hero is Manda True. Years ago, after she learned of a boy in her hometown, Clarksdale MS, facing osteosarcoma, True was deeply moved and inspired to start her own fundraising team, Team Chase, for the 2015 St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon. True and her team held a variety of successful fundraising events, so it was no surprise that she was named the top individual fundraiser for the race that year.

Since then, True has participated in numerous fitness events while fundraising for St. Jude, which eventually led her to cross paths with a patient named

Saturday, Dec. 1 marks the 17th annual St. Jude Memphis Marathon® Weekend presented by Juice Plus+®. As the largest single-day fundraising event for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, more than $10.3 million was raised last year alone. The hospital aims to surpass that benchmark this year in order to give every child a fighting chance.

Although registration fees help put on a great race, fundraising is the best way to make an impact on the lives of patients Manda True battling childhood cancer and other lifethreatening diseases.

This year’s event is expected to draw 25,000 runners to Memphis, and many of them will fundraise for St. Jude while they train for their races. These dedicated participants, called St. Jude Heroes, raise

Runners approach the St. Jude campus, part of the marathon and half marathon courses, last year.

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Thousands on the run for St. Jude in 2017.

Chelsea. The two formed an immediate bond and became close friends through puppy play dates and football games.

Though Chelsea passed away two years ago, this only served as a catalyst that pushed Manda to increase her support for the hospital that is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

There is still time to get involved in the 2018 St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend. With a variety of ways to get plugged in – running, fundraising, supporting a St. Jude Hero, volunteering or cheering – there is an option for people of all ages.

Visit stjude.org/marathon2018 to learn more.

A happy St. Jude Hero celebrates.

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What makes Laura run . . . and bike and swim: ‘I always want to do better’

By Brent Manley since January 2017 and she had worked hard this year to qualify for the big event. She was one of only 50 female pros to be invited to the championship.

She spent the spring competing in Half Ironman triathlons to gain the points she needed to get to South Africa.

Things did not go as well as Mathews hoped – she finished in the middle of the pro field – but she was not discouraged. Instead, she looked on the event as a learning experience. “It was amazing,” she said after returning to Memphis.

“I loved it.”

Mathews and her mother, Barbara Jennings, flew from Memphis to Port Elizabeth in mid-August, arriving 10 days before the competition started so she could acclimate to the change in time zones and recover from the long flights.

The Half Ironman schedule called for females to compete on Saturday, Sept. 1. The 50 invited pros started first and were followed by about 4,450 age-group triathletes in waves according to their ages. The men had a similar schedule the following day.

In the Half Ironman, competitors start by swimming 1.2 miles, followed by a 56-mile bicycle ride and a half marathon (13.1 miles).

Mathews said low temperatures and resulting cold water made wet suits mandatory for the athletes in the swim portion of the triathlon.

Wet suits help with buoyancy, so the swim went well.

The course, Mathews said, turned out to be more challenging than she expected. “There was a lot of wind and some difficult climbs,” she said.

Mathews notes that she learned from what she endured in a triathlon earlier this year in Galveston TX, where it was cold on race day.

With that experience in mind, she arrived in Port Elizabeth with arm warmers and socks.

On her birthday this year, Memphian Laura Mathews found herself nearly 9,000 miles from home, about to go swimming in the Indian Ocean. The scene was the 2018 Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, and it was just where Mathews wanted to be.

The 25-year-old has been a professional triathlete

Laura Mathews on the run in Port Elizabeth.

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The Ironman race in South Africa was the latest in Mathews’ pro career, but she was a competitor long before she decided to make a living swimming, biking and running against the best. She has been swimming competitively since age 13 and has been racing triathlons since 2013. In the past four years, she has competed in 35 triathlons, scoring numerous victories, including wins in the Memphis In May Triathlon (Olympic distance) in 2016 and 2017. She earned (continued on page 20)

Laura Mathews, second from left, with her sister Julia, left, her mother, Barbara Jennings and her father, Dennis Mathews, at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

Laura Mathews on the bike in the second part of her Triathlon.

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Living the high of running and nature as one:

Remembering Valerie French

By Steven Ross and Barbara Zoccola On Sept. 25, 2018, the Memphis running community lost one of its most accomplished female road and trail racers of all time. Over 26 years, Valerie French won many races, established a long-standing Memphis marathon record and served as a role model to many runners for sportsmanship, attitude and experiencing running in a pure and natural way. Outside of running, she used her exceptional organizational and people skills to enjoy a long and successful career as a human resources manager, working at HMS Host, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and, most recently, at West Fraser, Inc.

very surprised to hear this, Val and I detested cross country, so we used to set off with the running group, always at the rear and as soon as we found a suitable size bush, we would hide behind it, wait for the group to complete the circuit and then when they went past us we would join them and pretend to be breathless and exhausted after our long run … Although Val was a late developer, boy did she make up for it – she always had the talent and at primary school could outrun anyone.”

Valerie earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Sheffield, where she majored in Japanese and was a star Her passion for running cross-country runner. started early, in a venue After working as an far away from Memphis English teacher in Japan, in distance and setting. she settled in Memphis Born in 1962, in Euxton, a in 1992 with her new small village in Lancashire husband, and immediately County, England, she made her mark in the inherited natural athletic running community. We talent from her grandfather, met her at the races and Victor French, a skilled on the trails, often joined middle-distance runner, and by her dalmatian, Oreo. her father, Ernest French, The dog immediately who cultivated her passion established himself as the for the outdoors – the trails, most enthusiastic and least fells and moors – and disciplined member of the especially being fit as an trail “peloton.” As one athlete and as a person. member put it, “Including She ran cross-country in Oreo was a worthwhile high school, but as recently Valerie French competing in a local race in 2011. trade-off for having revealed by her childhood Valerie as a training friend, Jo Moffett, she was a somewhat reluctant partner. She was the best listener on the planet … but devotee to the sport: only before she left you in the last mile.”

Among her many running achievements (full listing “Now all you wonderful fellow runners, will be is below) was being the first female finisher at the 2003 10

Race for the Cure. At age 41, she placed third in the National 50K Trail Run Championship in Sausalito CA. In the same year, she broke and still holds the all-time record in the St. Jude Marathon for Memphis women runners age 40-44, finishing as the second overall woman in a time of 3:04:38.

But her friends and work colleagues who didn’t actually attend these races or peruse race results in the Roadrunner were often unaware of these accomplishments or even that she competed in these prestigious races.

She was exceptionally modest, totally comfortable in her sensible shoes, both running style and other. She strove to attain her personal high standards, not to impress others. Notably, she demonstrated the importance of putting running into perspective relative to other life priorities. Her

Valerie French, far right, with a Pilgrimate Track Club team at the Tour d’Esprit 24-Hour Race in 2010. With her are, from left, Allison Hammersla, Padma Lyons, Sandra Mudd, Jenifer Wadsworth, Christine Cordts.

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first priority by far was being a loving mother to her son, Victor. Another was helping others – the rescued animals that became pampered members of her household and the friends, family members, and coworkers she supported actively and caringly whenever needs arose.

As a role model for those of us too preoccupied with trophies, PRs and which competitors had preregistered for the next race, she demonstrated the pure joy of running for connecting with friends, pushing oneself physically, and experiencing the natural beauty of the trails in the woods and parks.

Valerie French’s Running Achievements (what could be found in available records – there likely are more): 1992 First Overall female 5K for MADD 1994 First Overall female March of Dimes Turkey Trot 1994 First Overall female Bark in the Park 5K 1995 Top Four Finisher Baddour One Million Inch Cross Country Challenge 1995 First Overall female Hill and Dale 8 miler 1995 First Overall female Overton Park 5 Miler 1996 First Overall female Three Mile WIN 1997 Second Overall female Elvis Presley 5K 1998 First Overall female Fast and Furriest 5K 1998 First Overall female Zoom Through the Zoo 4 miler 1999 First Overall female Race for Grace 5K 1999 First Overall female Help for Hope House 5K 1999 First Overall female Hill and Dale 8 miler 2001 Second females 35-39 Cooper Young 4 Miler 2003 First Overall female Race for the Cure 2003 First female Master Elvis Presley 5K 2003 First Overall female Run for Challenged Children 5K 2003 First Overall female Sylamore 50K 2003 First Overall female Palmer Home Run 5K 2004 First Overall female Ouachita Trail 50 miler 2006 First female 40-44 Germantown Half Marathon 2006 First Overall female Clanjamfry 5K 2006 First Overall female Wet Nose 5K 2006 First Overall female Duncan Williams Civitan 5K 2006 First female master Cooper Young 4 Miler 2007 First female master Winter Off Road 3K 2007 Second Overall female Church Health Center 5K 2008-First Overall female team - Tour d’Esprit 24-hour race 2009 First female master Road Race Series 5K 2011 First Overall female Firecracker 5K 2011 Sixth Overall female Sylamore 25K 2012 First female master Race on the Trace 5K 2013 First Overall female Wade’s Big Adventure 18 miler 2013 Third Overall female relay Turkey Trot 4 Miler 2014 First Overall Female Mike Cody 4 Miler

“Although Val was a late developer, boy did she make up for it ... ” Upon being diagnosed with colon cancer in 2015, she dealt with it in the same way that she always lived her life – never complaining while remaining upbeat, resilient and unwaveringly devoted to others.

Later this fall, in her memory, her friends will be dedicating a bench to be located at one of her favorite places to run – the trailhead of the Woodland Trail at Shelby Forest. The inscription will say: “In memory of Valerie French, who lived the high of running and nature, as one.” It will be a beautiful place to sit and remember one of the great Memphis runners and people who touched the lives of so many.

Joel Lyons, one of the founders of the Pilgrimage Track Club, said Valerie made her mark in Memphis running: “She will be missed by many. She was a great lady.”

Renew your MRTC membership at www.memphisrunners.com 12

Thanks to Sprouts for supporting the 2018 Road Race Series and the 2019 Winter Off-Road Series

How fast was he? No way!

Yes, way.

Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge smashed the marathon world record by clocking a time of two hours one minute 39 seconds in Berlin on Sept. 17. The 33-year-old took nearly one minute 20 seconds off the previous best, which was set by compatriot Dennis Kimetto when he ran 2:02:57 in Berlin in 2014. Kipchoge’s time represents a pace of 4:38.6 minutes per mile.

To put this feat in perspective, here are some facts about the average finish times of marathon runners.

Among women, the median finishing time was 4:42:53. Not surprisingly, the average time it takes to run a marathon increases as you get older. For example, the average for males between 30 and 34 years of age is 4:00:11, while the average for those 50 to 54 years old is 4:23:0.

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Running through a memory reborn

By Robert “the Lone Runner” Rayder

My destination is no longer a place, Rather a new way of seeing.

Such was the case when I returned to my youthful stomping grounds in Southern California to run the Long Beach Marathon.

Back in the 1980s, Long Beach was a city past its prime. The San Pedro port located there was (and is) one of the busiest in the world and served as America’s trading lifeline to the Pacific. Freight arrived and departed in a seemingly endless stream of massive cargo ships that stretched well beyond the ocean’s horizon.

Long Beach struggled to accommodate the massive influx of goods. The port grew by leaps and bounds (some would argue indiscriminately) and the coastline

— Marcel Proust

Nothing marks the passage of time more than having a place where we grew up and believed we knew well change before our eyes. Such spots are places where we anchored some aspect of our youth.

Our memories are crisp and filled with emotions and a dizzying array of images and experiences. That place embodies some aspect of ourselves, sometimes pleasant and sometimes not. There is a measure of comfort in seeing it, so we can once again grasp some ancient part of ourselves and examine it anew. It connects our past to the present.

The only problem is that, much like people, places change over time. If we live in or visit a place frequently, the changes occur so slowly that we might not even notice.

It is only when we feel nostalgic or reflective that we actually appreciate how much a place has changed.

When we go someplace we haven’t been in a long time, the scale of the changes can be unnerving.

Long Beach Harbor at dawn with the Queen Mary and a modern Carnival Cruise liner in the distance.

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was swallowed up by steel cranes and hastily constructed piers. The ocean was inundated with ship fuel, garbage and ship ballast that gave the whole area a distinctively industrial odor and feel. Trucks ferried the goods back and forth from the docks and polluted the air while jamming the streets.

Housing prices dropped. Poverty followed. Crime skyrocketed. It’s an old story of an industrial cycle that has plagued port cities from coast to coast.

Thus my expectations of Long Beach were pretty low. Besides being the home of one of the original luxury liners, the Queen Mary, a contemporary of the ill-fated Titanic, there was little in my mind to recommend the place. The glowing online reviews of the event were mystifying.

Despite my low expectations, the race fit neatly into my plans to visit my mother, and I am not one to miss any opportunity to run another 26.2 miles.

My wife and I flew to the familiar haunt of LAX, Los Angeles’ international airport, and fought the afternoon rush-hour traffic down the 405 freeway.

That famous stretch of 12 lanes of asphalt and concrete

The author at the start line of the Aquarium of the Pacific 5K the day before the marathon. once sported the dubious distinction of the being most congested freeway in the world. Today, however, traffic flowed at a slow but steady pace thanks to the birth of multiple new freeway arteries and the construction of a series of train lines. It was 4 p.m. on a weekday and

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I was at my mom’s place in what seemed like no time. the bridges like they weren’t even there and surprised Strange. myself with a blistering pace despite the man-made The expo for the marathon was at the Long Beach hills.

Convention Center, a building that didn’t exist the The race concluded with a path that ran directly last time I was there. The scene made my jaw drop. through the aquarium. Here were giant tanks which Once that site was rundown warehouses with gangland hosted real sea otters. They played under the water in graffiti and urban blight. The smell of industrial full view of the runners thanks to massive underwater waste permeated plexiglass windows. everything, and The race ended just a polluted fog outside the front door obscured views of of the aquarium and the coast.

I was amazed at my Today the time. This was one of scene couldn’t be the fastest races I’d more different. The run recently. I was Convention Center definitely warming up glistened with to this new version of bright and twinkling stained-glass windows and pristine Long Beach. concrete arches. The complex abutted an aquarium, The next day brought the marathon. My tour of and hosted a hotel with scenic walkways, upscale Long Beach was about to be taken to the next level. restaurants and sweeping views of towering condos The start of the race roughly followed the 5K along the coastline. People walked the streets shopping course, minus the trip through the aquarium. We were at tourist traps and upscale national chain stores. I compensated for that loss, however, with a run past the couldn’t believe I was looking at the Long Beach of my massive docks and cranes that load and unload the even youth. more massive cargo ships. We also ran near the stately The next day I was lined up at the start line of the Queen Mary, although the race course veered off just Aquarium of the Pacific 5K, held the day leading up to before we reached the historic ship. It was one of the the marathon, just across from the convention center. few disappointments of the race. In my mind, Long The Aquarium buildings were adorned with life-sized Beach and the Queen Mary are forever intertwined. murals of whales and other sea creatures from up My disappointment was soon forgotten as we ran and down America’s Pacific coast. There was a large through a park adorned with a restored light house and crowd in the early morning light to run a race under the panoramic harbor views. Farther on, we spilled onto a imagined gaze of humpbacks and sea otters. concrete bike path that took us alongside a white sand The 5Kwas run on an out-and-back course that beach that stretched for miles. I had no memory of this included two bridges. The place and was delighted arching structures offered to explore a new piece magnificent views of the of a city that I thought stately Queen Mary and I knew so well. It also the whole of the harbor. gave me a new insight My mind was transfixed into how Long Beach with the mix of the received its name. familiar and unfamiliar.

I felt some sort of The conflict in my poetic prose was in mind kept my thoughts order about man and from wandering to the nature, but the sun was more obvious concerns of pouring that famous my straining legs as the Californian sunshine towering bridges forced relentlessly and it was me into an uphill march being reflected from the that normally would have famously white sands taken my breath away.

A shot from along side the course route near the park containing directly onto me. The Today, however, I ran over the restored lighthouse and the harbor. (continued on page 27)

... the volunteers here were especially attentive and encouraging.

17

My run to health and fitness

By Colleen Johnson the fact that many adult-onset cancers are influenced by obesity. Weight loss coupled with a healthy diet and regular, vigorous exercise can significantly improve survival among many of these cancer patients. (FYI: according to the American Cancer Society’s website, other cancers influenced by obesity include breast cancer, colon cancer, liver cancer, some kinds of stomach cancer, kidney cancer, myeloid leukemia, myeloma, cancer of the head and neck, bladder cancer and, of course, endometrial cancer.)

If we could turn the benefits of exercise into a pill, it would be demanded by patients, prescribed by every cancer specialist, and subsidized by the government. It would be seen as a major breakthrough in cancer treatment.

— Dr. Prue Cormie, clinical researcher, exercise physiologist, and chair of the COSA Exercise Cancer Guidelines It was late summer of 2012 when I heard the words nobody wants to hear: “You have cancer.”

These are life-changing words. They may change a person’s life for the better, or they may change it for the worse, but these three words will change lives.

Honestly, I didn’t think that something as simple as weight loss and diet change could slow the return of an aggressive cancer – but what did I have to lose by trying lifestyle change, other than

Remarkably for me, those words brought positive change into my life. Until the day I heard those words, I was on a journey that could never end well.

I was way over 200 pounds, and a confirmed couch potato. I was diagnosed with high blood pressure at age 49, and type 2 diabetes at 53. At age 57, I was diagnosed with an unusually aggressive, high-risk form of endometrial cancer.

I had surgery to remove the two- pound, deeply invasive tumor from my body. Then I did radiation treatments and five years of hormone therapy. Even with all that, my cancer was so locally aggressive that I was given only a 25% chance of surviving three years, (and only a 20% chance of surviving five years).

These are not numbers to live by, so I went to the internet to see if there was something I could do for myself to increase my chance of survival. I soon found a huge amount of research – all of which pointed to

some unloved rolls of fat?

So I adopted an old-fashioned, calorie-restricted diet. I got down to 140-145 before I switched to a maintenance diet. And I decided to begin a regular, vigorous exercise program.

I had a wide variety of exercise programs that I could choose to help fight my cancer, but I chose running as my “drug” of choice.

I am often asked why I chose running. After all, the only running I ever did before my cancer was running away from exercise.

The answer is that I knew myself pretty well. I have never liked exercise. To me, “exercise” has always been an eight-letter word, which makes it twice as bad as a four-letter word.

For exercise to be effective as a long-range cancer fighting strategy, I had to find some form of exercise 18

that I would want to do, day in and day out, for many years to come.

4. It helps increase oxygen levels circulating in the body. Cancer cells have a harder time growing in oxygen-rich environments.

I can’t honestly say I enjoy the act of running itself, but I do enjoy crossing finish lines! And I enjoy the people I run with.

It is absolutely amazing to me how runners can compete against one another and at the very same time, completely support and encourage each other. I have never been a “front of the pack” runner. It might be different up there. But towards the back of the pack – where I run – camaraderie and mutual support for one another is the name of the game. I have made many friends and enjoyed many good times while running the races.

Every now and then, I might even win something more than a finisher’s medal, but the fact is that every runner who crosses the finish line is a winner.

Improved health is a prize worth running for. In my case, every race I finish – whether it is a 5K or a 100-miler – is another victory in my ongoing battle against my cancer.

Research cited on the American Cancer Society’s website backs this up. The ACS doesn’t specifically endorse running as a cancer survivor’s chosen form of regular, vigorous exercise. There are many ways a person can fit regular, vigorous exercise into his or her life.

Whether a person runs, or chooses another way, some of the many cancer-fighting benefits of regular, vigorous exercise - according to the American Cancer Society - include:

1. Help with weight management. Running does not take the pounds off by itself, but it can be effective when coupled with calorie reduction; 2. Help reducing estrogen levels in the ladies, and insulin levels in both men and women. About twothirds of all breast and endometrial cancers (including mine) are “hormone sensitive” cancers – that is, they grow best when there are higher levels of estrogen in the blood. Some of the most recent research is now confirming that high levels of insulin contribute to weight gain and may aid in the proliferation of a number of different adult-onset cancers. Reducing estrogen and insulin levels is very effective in helping to fight these types of cancer.

3. Running and/or other forms of exercise can help reduce inflammation and strengthen a person’s immune system; and 19

I have to admit that I didn’t really think exercise would help me prolong my life back in the winter of 2013 when my cancer treatments ended and my exercise journey began in earnest. I tried it only because I was desperate enough to do anything – even a strict diet coupled with regular, vigorous exercise – to try to beat the dismal odds I was given.

As I write this, I am coming up on my sixth “cancerversary.” Assuming I remain healthy until then, on Oct. 15, 2018, I will be six years cancer-free.

In addition, my blood pressure has gone down low enough that my doctor took me off of all blood pressure meds. And my A1C (average blood sugar levels) consistently registers in the “normal” range now.

I know that there are no guarantees for me, even with all of the running that I do.

I am not guaranteed that the cancer will not come back tomorrow. That is just the reality that I have to live with.

But even if my cancer comes back tomorrow, I have had six of the healthiest, happiest years of my life since my cancer diagnosis.

I know the joy of crossing a marathon finish line.

The victory over one’s self that a marathon finish brings is a joy I would never have known if it were not for the cancer.

I know what it is like to have competitors earnestly encourage me, and help me even when I am competing against them. And I know what it is like to encourage and help others, even when I am racing against them. I have witnessed the highest forms of sportsmanship on the run.

I know what it is like to have people cheer for me – though I am among the slowest runners out there. When you run in the back of the pack and experience that support, you view it as an act of of pure love.

I have witnessed the love my husband has for me, every time he pulls himself out of bed at 3 a.m. so he can drive me to another one of those 7 a.m. RRS races.

And I have made so many friends along the way.

Wonderful people who have enriched my life, here in Memphis races, and in races I run in other communities.

I would never have come to know any of you, if it were not for my cancer.

I don’t know what tomorrow will bring. But my cancer has brought me nearly six years of wonderful life and new, exciting opportunities thus far.

I am grateful for each and every day that I have been given.

Laura Mathews (continued from page 9)

Honorable Mention from USA Triathlon for 2016 Female Athlete of the year.

She has also distinguished herself in road races, with several first-place finishes in races from Memphis to Houston TX. She was the top female finisher in the 2017 Navy 10 Nautical Miler.

Apart from athletic achievement, Mathews graduated from Rice University in Houston with a major in ecology and evolutionary biology.

One of Mathews’ strongest supporters is Jennings, her mother. “Laura has always been a perfectionist,” Jennings said. “When she was in fifth grade, she got up every day at 5 a.m. to go to swim practice. She works very hard.

“You have to put in the time and she does that. She believes she can be as good as the other pros. She has a plan and she’s going to stick to it.”

Jennings also admires her daughter’s indomitable spirit. At a triathlon in Galveston two years ago, Mathews’ bicycle had a flat tire three times, but Jennings remembers that her daughter wouldn’t quit.

Laura Mathews with her coach, Jeff Fejfar

20

She apparently won’t quit training, either. “I don’t get a day off – ever,” she says, adding, “I always want to do better and there’s a lot I could improve in my performance.”

As she looks forward to the 2019 Ironman 70.3 World Championship – in Nice, France – Mathews is focused on her next chance to shine.

In childhood she dreamed of winning a gold medal in swimming at the Olympic Games. Then she discovered she was better at triathlons. Olympic glory may not have the same importance now, but Mathews still has a goal: “I still want to be a world-class athlete.”

Her resume indicates she is on her way to reaching that goal. The Ironman 70.3 World Championship could have gone better, but Mathews was “very happy just to qualify. It wasn’t my best race, but it was a great experience to race such a competitive field. The other pros were very encouraging and it was fun to talk to them.”

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MRTC bad-weather policy 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.

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My name: Bonnie Sauls My age: 33.

My occupation: Registered nurse.

Why I like running: Running: relives stress, builds friendships and promotes health.

My favorite race(s): M-Town series, RRS, Hill and Dale, Turkey Trot, all Disney Runs and, soon to say, St. Jude!

My name: Carrie Tipton My age: 42.

My occupation: Administrative assistant.

Why I like running: It is faster than walking. When I am running it is my time and I can shut out the rest of the world.

My favorite race(s): the last one .... haha The Beast was the hardest and the most rewarding.

When I finished it was an amazing feeling.

My name: Arun Bahuleyan Leela My age: 36.

My occupation: IT Consultant Why I like running: It gives positive vibe and keeps me fit.

My favorite race(s): St. Jude

My name: Larry C. Woods My age: 59.

My occupation: Security at one of the best places ever: Memphis International Airport Why I like running: I like to keep in shape, maintain a healthy lifestyle and to meet people from all walks of life.

My favorite race(s): The St. Jude Memphis Marathon, which is for a very worthy cause. People come to our city from all over the U.S. and there is a lot of positive energy throughout the whole weekend.

My name: Lisa Smith My age: 49.

My occupation: Customer service representative Why I like running: I really don’t like running, but I do love that feeling of what I just accomplished when I cross that finish line.

The medal at the finish line is an added bonus.

My favorite race(s): St. Jude and Indy’s Women’s Half Marathon.

My name: Bob Cremerius My age: 56.

My occupation: Financial advisor.

Why I like running: I feel better when I run. I enjoy pushing myself to constantly improve, and running has allowed me to meet many wonderful people.

My favorite race(s): St. Jude Half-Marathon and the Turkey Trot. What better way to start off your Thanksgiving Day!

My name: Tracye Linney My age: 48.

My occupation: Information technology specialist.

Why I like running: I like running for the sense of camaraderie. The Memphis running community is like a family. You’re never alone because everyone encourages you if you’re struggling during a race and they celebrate your finish no matter how you place.

My favorite race(s): The Women Run/Walk Memphis “graduation” 5K.

Time to renew your MRTC membership?

You can do it at www.memphisrunners.com

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temperature was slowly rising. I was only at mile 9 and I was already feeling the strain. “Not good,� I thought to myself.

We left the beach and turned back toward downtown. Getting off the ever-warming sands while still enjoying light ocean breezes that helped relieve some of my heat stress. I was also seeing more aid stations, complete with ice and the occasional icy pop. My fears of an early race disaster started to ebb somewhat.

The marathon and half marathon courses split at mile 11 and we started our journey down an out-andback spike into the heart of Long Beach.

This part of the city was much less changed than the downtown area. It was cleaner than I remembered and many of the tiny homes had been significantly renovated, but most of the areas we ran through were working class or lower middle class. There were the familiar strip malls, family diners, fenced-in high schools and big box stores that make up so much of America.

The familiar sights were somehow reassuring to me.

It reaffirmed that not everything from the past has been lost in the march of time.

Of course, the stars of every marathon are the volunteers who man the aid stations and tend to the

The Lone Runner - Robert Rayder (continued from page 17)

Runners got a good look at the harbor in Long Beach as they ran.

Renew your MRTC membership at www.memphisrunners.com

27

runners. The volunteers were enthusiastic downtown, but the volunteers here were especially attentive and encouraging. They looked after us with great attention to detail, sending their children to both sides of the street to make sure no one missed the opportunity to hydrate or refuel. They brought out bananas, sliced oranges – even shots of beer. Their spirit sustained me through the hardest miles of the marathon.

We rejoined the course with the half marathoners at mile 24. Unique to this race was the fact that the half marathon started 90 minutes after the marathon. With the delayed start time, the course was literally filled to capacity with runners from both races. The half marathon runners were in a good mood, too, being so close to the finish line. They were smiling, talking, taking selfies and just generally celebrating their accomplishment. It was just what I needed to keep me going.

Their positive energy was contagious, and I could share a little of their joy even as I struggled against a body and mind wasted by the long miles.

I walked for the first time at mile 25 because I was feeling nauseated and thought that sharing my stomach contents with the crowd might dampen the party atmosphere. However, when the finish line came into sight I was able to pick it up again and completed my race at a pace that might roughly resemble a run.

My time was much better than I predicted, and I did my usual post-race collapse (which my son Christopher has “lovingly” dubbed the “Beached Whale Maneuver”) onto a nice grassy spot. For the first time in a while, I had a genuine smile on my face.

I left Long Beach with feelings of melancholy and pride. There is not much to miss about the old Long Beach. The modern city is a bone fide success story about urban renewal and deserves high praise. Still, even the less-pleasant memories of youth are painful to lose in the face of a modern reality. It’s a reminder that I’m getting older, too, and the world is constantly changing. Like Long Beach, I’m not the same as I was all those years ago.

Still, aging half as well as downtown Long Beach might just make me the best looking guy in my age group. Your reality is what you make of it, after all. I might be a “Beached Whale” at the end of a long race, but those animals are pretty darn impressive. Don’t believe me? Next year take a run through the Pacific Aquarium and check out a full-sized whale model. If you’re really lucky you might just catch me running the last section of my 5K right next to that massive plastic frame. You can judge which is the more impressive for yourself!

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2018

RACETGRACE 5K NOVEMBER 3 @ 9am

shady grove presbyterian church ) BENEFITING shady grove elementary school (

$50 fleet feet gift cards for top male & female finishers!

register:

raceforgrace.org activities include: 1 mile kid’s fun run, face-painting, inflatables, & breakfast

a mission of: 5530 Shady Grove Rd rfg@shadygrovepres.org tel 901-683-7329 facebook.com/rfgmemphis 29

Food for thought From Dr. George Sheehan: “It’s very hard in the beginning to understand that the whole idea is not to beat the other runners.

“Eventually you will learn that the competition is against the little voice inside you that wants you to quit.”

lapping everybody on the couch.”

“When something good happens, run to celebrate. When something bad happens, run to forget it.”

“If nothing happens, run to make something happen.”

From Others “Running is not about being better than someone else. It’s about being better than you used to be.”

“No matter how slow you go, you are still

Seen on the backs of runners’ tee shirts: “Don’t be afraid of going slow. Be afraid of not trying at all.”

“Slow runners make fast runners look good . . . You’re welcome.”

Time to renew your MRTC membership?

You can do it at www.memphisrunners.com

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MARATHON RESULTS

Air Force Marathon Dayton, OH USA September 15, 2018 Dwayne Harris Rossville, TN 5:05:11 Mitchell Dillenbeck Memphis, TN 5:17:43

Stanky Creek Marathon Bartlett, TN September 16, 2018 Chris Phillips Memphis, TN 5:02:54 Sherry Rogers Memphis, TN 6:30:22

Rochester Marathon Rochester, NY USA September 23, 2018 Christian Aye Memphis, TN 6:05:10

Brush Tunnel Marathon Cumberland, MD September 26, 2018 Mike Samuelson Lakeland, TN 4:55:14

Wineglass Marathon Corning, NY September 30, 2018 Kimberly Young Cordova, TN 4:18:56

FOR MEMPHIS-AREA RUNNERS Compiled by Sherilyn Huey

Tupelo Marathon Tupelo, MS September 2, 2018 Jordan Eldridge Memphis, TN 3:31:50 Clara Hart Memphis, TN 4:06:48 Tracy Chism Collierville, TN 4:36:58 Houston Wolf Cordova, TN 4:43:39 Sudarshan Banjagar Memphis, TN 5:14:44 Sarah Dixon Eads, TN 5:55:12 Murray Scott Collierville, TN 5:55:14 Julianne Purdy Germantown, TN 5:57:22 Kelli Brown Germantown, TN 5:57:23

The Kauai Marathon Poipu Beach Kauai, HI September 2, 2018 Robert Rayder Collierville, TN 5:29:14

Last Chance BQ.2 Chicagoland Marathon Geneva, IL USA September 8, 2018 Gina Weathersby Memphis, TN 3:39:03

Holland Haven Marathon Holland, MI September 9, 2018 Terry Harris Memphis, TN 3:52:56 David Haskins Memphis, TN 3:08:20

President’s Message (continued from page 3)

consider before heading out the door to get that mileage in. Make sure you run a route that is well-lit so people can see you but also so you can see hazards. Make sure you are visible. Headlamps, clip-on lights, bright shirts and reflective gear are all good ideas when you are out at night or early morning. One of the local running stores in town would love to help get you equipped so you can be seen while you are out running in the dark. Whether you are just getting into the sport or you are a seasoned veteran, don’t run out the door without the proper gear.

We want you to all be safe out there.

As always, in addition to these events, there are a lot of other races and running groups almost every day of the week. You can find all of these races and running groups at our website (memphisrunners.com) as well as in the last few pages of this magazine. As always, feel free to email me with any concerns/suggestions you might have at johncharlespayne@gmail.com.

Hope to see you all out at an upcoming race, running or volunteering or maybe even both.

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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 Kalmac220@gmail.com Angie McCoy, 901-233-0168 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 afternoon

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: Jessica Grammer, 901-734-5731 or jessgrammer@gmail.com

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; shannon.chisenga@blkmenrun.com

LifeGreen Checking 1.800.regions | regions.com/green © 2009 Regions Bank.

32 REL-TN-P91348 RoadRunners.indd 1

6/9/09 2:06:05 PM

Wednesday morning

Run: Fleet Feet Time: 6 p.m.

Fleet Feet hosts individualized Run: Southaven Striders speedwork sessions including track Time: 6 a.m. and tempo workouts for runners Place: Central Park in Southaven who want to get a little quicker.

(Tchulahoma ent., east side of park) Distance: 3-5 miles (9- 12-minute miles) No fees.

Contact: Kyle McCoy, 901-299-8630 or Contact: Feb at 761-0078 or lovetorun@fleetfeetmemphis.com kalmac220@gmail.com

Wednesday afternoon 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 Run: Bartlett UMC Time: 6 p.m.

Place: Bartlett United Methodist Church, 5676 Stage Road; group meets in the gym lobby Distance: Varies Contact: Sam Thompson, 901-386-2724 or sthompson@bartlettumc.org Run: Bartlett Run Time: 6:30 p.m.

Place: W.J. Freeman Park, 2629 Bartlett Blvd.

Distance: 4-6 miles Contact: Paul “Spunky” Ireland h. 901-388-5009 c. 901-826-7496 or paulireland@att.net

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: 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!

Saturday morning Run: Breakaway Running Breakaway’s Marathon and Half Marathon Training Group meets each Saturday morning through December to help prepare our friends for the St. Jude Marathon.

Check website or Facebook page for location and time. Join us!

722-8797 for more info.

Run: Black Men Run Memphis Time: 6 a.m.

Place: Code Enforcement, Farm Road at Mullins Station Distance: Varies Contact: Shannon Chisenga, 215-834-4687; shannon.chisenga@blkmenrun.com Run: Fleet Feet Time: 7 a.m.

Place: 4530 Poplar (Laurelwood Center) Fleet Feet hosts long runs on Saturday mornings geared toward upcoming races. Many distance options are available.

Call 761-0078 or email lovetorun@fleetfeetmemphis.com for more information.

33

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: FIT4MOM Run Club Time: 8 a.m.

Location: Visitor Center at Shelby Farms Park (6903 Great View Dr. N) Distance: 5K training Contact: Amy Earnes amykearnest@gmail.com or visit www.memphis.fit4mom.com 8-wk session March 19th - May 12th 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: Friday, Oct. 26, 6:30 p.m.

Race name: Firefighter 5K Location: 118 Adams Ave. Contact: www.racesonline.com

Date & Time: Saturday, Dec. 29, 6 p.m.

Race name: BuffaGlo 5K Location: Shelby Farms Park Contact: www.racesonline.com

Date & Time: Saturday, Oct. 27, 9 a.m.

Race name: Royal Family 5K Location: Shelby Farms, Hyde Lake Pavilion Contact: www.racesonline.com

Date & Time: Saturday, Jan 5, 11 a.m.

Race name: Hill and Dale 8-Miler Location: Meeman Shelby Forest Contact: www.racesonline.com

Date & Time: Saturday, Nov. 3, 9 a.m.

Race name: Race for Grace 5K Location: Shady Grove Presbyterian Church

5530 Shady Grove Road Contact: See ad on page 29.

Date & Time: Sunday, Jan. 6, 2 p.m.

Race name: Winter Off-Road Race Series 3K Location: Overton Park Contact: www.memphisrunners.com Date & Time: Saturday, Jan. 12, 9 a.m.

Race name: Run the R Word Out of Town 5K Location: Arlington High School Contact: www.racesonline.com

Date & Time: Sunday, Nov. 4, 7 a.m.

Race name: E.J. Goldsmith Jr. Memorial

Road Race Series 1st half marathon Location: Singleton Pkwy. at Austin Peay Hwy. Contact: www.memphisrunners.com

Date & Time: Sunday, Jan 20, 2 p.m.

Race name: Winter Off-Road Race Series 5K Location: Nesbit Park (Stanky Creek) Bartlett Contact: www.memphisrunners.com

Date & Time: Saturday, Nov. 10, 8 a.m.

Race name: Shelby Farms Park 10-Miler

and Buffalo 5K Location: Shelby Farms Park Contact: See ad on page 26.

Date & Time: Saturday, Feb. 2, 9 a.m.

Race name: Mike Cody 4-Miler Location: Rhodes College Contact: www.raceonline.com

Date & Time: Saturday, Nov. 17, 9 a.m.

Race name: Tim Creager Memorial 5K Location: Bartlett Hills Baptist Church

4641 Ellendale Road, Bartlett Contact: See ad on page 20.

Date & Time: Saturday, Feb. 9, 9 a.m.

Race name: Valentine 10K/5K Location: Bartlett Baptist Church

3465 Kirby Whitten Parkway Contact: www.racesonline.com

Date & Time: Sunday, Nov. 18, 7 a.m.

Race name: E.J. Goldsmith Jr. Memorial

Road Race Series 2nd half marathon Location: Singleton Pkwy. at Austin Peay Hwy. Contact: www.memphisrunners.com Date & Time: Saturday, Dec. 1, 7 a.m.

Race name: St. Jude Memphis

Marathon Weekend races Location: BB King Blvd. and Union Ave. downtown Contact: www.stjude.org 34

Date & Time: Sunday, Feb. 10, 2 p.m.

Race name: Winter Off-Road Race Series 8+K Location: Nesbit Park (Stanky Creek), Bartlett Contact: www.memphisrunners.com

Renew your MRTC membership at www.memphisrunners.com

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

Non-Profit Org U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

MEMPHIS, TN Permit No. 960

Taking on the world MRTC member Laura Mathews at the 2018 Ironman 70.3 World Championship in South Africa. Read all about the young pro’s adventure starting on page 8.