The Roadrunner - December 2019 by Memphis Runners Track Club

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

December 2018 â&#x20AC;¢ Vol. 38, No. 10

THE ROADRUNNER

In This Issue From the Editor’s Desk

Message from the President (by John Payne)

Nutrition on the Run (by Ashley Holloway) A publication of the Memphis Runners Track Club December 2018 Vol. 38, No. 10

Trails ready - Are you? (by Kevin Raney)

10-Miler debut a big hit (by Angie Whitfield)

Why I’m thankful (by Olaf Schulz)

Train body and mind (by Joel Lyons)

The legacy of Harry Scott (obituary)

Welcome new members

Take stretching seriously (by Amy Irene Lenkszus)

Young ones love to run (by Dayna Lytle)

Celebrating a good man’s life (David Childe obituary)

Marathon Results (compiled by Millie Jackson)

Group runs

Race Calendar

On the cover

Advertisements Start2Finish Event Management

PR Event Management / Events

Grivet Outdoors

Scentsy 9 BioLife Plasma Services

Blair Parker Design

The 2019 Frank Horton Winter Off-Road Race Series.

Nationwide 19

(Details on page 6)

Eyewear Gallery

Sprouts Farmers Market

Zaka Bowl

Fleet Feet

Inside Front Cover

Thank you Outdoors, Inc.

Inside Back Cover

ADVERTISING INFORMATION Ad Sizes and Rates Ad Size Price 6 Months One Year One Page $325 $290/mo $250/mo 1/2 Page $250 $220/mo $190/mo Cover Advertising Rates: Inside front or inside back cover: $450 per insertion Back cover: $600 per insertion A one-page ad is single side of a two-sided page. The front and back of a page is considered a two-page ad. Contact the editor for details about multiple-month insertions. Specifications for Submitted Art Full page ad with bleed: 8.75 x 11.25” Full page live area: 7.75" x 10.1875" Full page ad, no bleed: 7.75” x 10.1875” Half page horizontal ad: 7.75” x 5.25” Half page vertical ad: 3.75” x 10.1875” • Preferred formats are PDF, JPG or TIF. • Resolution should be 300 dpi minimum, at actual size. • Color format: CMYK (not RGB) • Photos/images must be embedded, and fonts must be embedded or outlined. • Payment must accompany ad copy.

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.

Article Submission Guidelines

Submissions should be emailed to the editor as Microsoft Word or text attachments. Please include name and telephone number with submissions. Photographs should be labeled with names, dates, locations and any other pertinent information. For more information about guidelines for submitting articles to the Roadrunner, contact the editor.

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 A good leader takes a little more than his share of the blame, a little less than his share of the credit.

Harry and I found ourselves in San Diego CA for the first Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon. Neither of us knew the other had planned to go, but I saw him there and noted that he did much better than I did in difficult conditions: heat, humidity, no water for the first seven miles and nothing but water (mostly from garden hoses) for the duration. Many of the runners, including me, had to stop and wait when we approached a railroad track on the course and found that a long train was going by. I knew Harry was a much better runner than I, but I didn’t know how much better. Gerald Holbrook, longtime friend of Harry, wrote, “I ran several Marathons with Harry including The Blue Angel in Pensacola, Twin Cities in Minneapolis/ St Paul, and several Memphis Marathons. Harry was an excellent runner. He and I founded the Annual New Year’s Day Fun Run and Tail Gate Party, which continues.” The 25-year-old running group now known as the Germantown Thoroughbreds was founded by Holbrook, Harry and others as the Germantown Sunday Runners. Harry founded The Germantown Half Marathon while he was serving on the Germantown Parks and Recreation Commission. I remember Harry as a soft-spoken man who got along with just about everyone. After I became editor of this publication nearly 13 years ago, Harry would write to me occasionally if he liked something about the magazine. It has been some time since I last saw Harry, and I missed him. With that in mind, I was really sad to learn of Harry’s death (see page 20). I wish I had had one more chance to say hi to him and thank him for all he did for MRTC and the Memphis running community. Harry was a good man and a good friend, just like most runners I know. Harry’s passing is a loss to our sport.

– Arnold H. Glasow

Farewell, friend

I can’t remember exactly when I joined MRTC, but I’m sure it was more than 20 years ago. I’m certain of that because it’s been at least 20 years since I became a member of the MRTC board. I was encouraged to join the board by Harry Scott, a runner with a vision for the club and ambitions for improving service to members. Harry served as MRTC president a couple of times and worked hard for the club. The Germantown Half Marathon was Harry’s dream – one that he made come true. Until my full-time job got in the way, I ran every Germantown Half Marathon from the first until about the eighth. I ran that race for a couple of reasons: One, the course was good and it was fun; Two, I wanted to support Harry’s race. Harry always arranged to have a well-known runner in town for the Germantown Half Marathon expo. For the 2000 race, the celebrity was Rod DeHaven, who had won the marathon trials for the Olympics that year in Sydney, Australia. DeHaven showed a brief film about how he won the trials in Pittsburgh the previous year. The race was run on the course of the Pittsburgh Marathon, which I had run that same year, so my interest in the story was high. On a day that was to turn hot, DeHaven held back after the start of the race and saved his energy for a big push at the end. He won easily. Having DeHaven, a really nice guy, on hand was a coup for Harry and typical of his drive to make the Germantown Half Marathon a first-class event, which it is to this day. The same year he invited me to be on the board,

I remember Harry as a soft-spoken man who got along with just about everyone.

A Message from the President By John Payne I hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful fall weather. We have had some fine running weather lately and after some really terrible weather for the first road race series half marathon, we had a great morning for the second half marathon, perfect temperature for the runners, plenty of sunshine and plenty of road-kill to keep everyone entertained on the out and back on Singleton Parkway. By the time you are reading this, we will have finished up another successful road race series. Thanks to everyone who ran in the series this year, I hope you enjoyed yourselves. Also, a huge thanks to everyone who volunteered throughout the series. We couldn’t put on such a successful series without all the great volunteers who sacrifice their mornings to come out and help. As I write this, St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend is one week away. Early in the morning on Dec. 1, there will be approximately 24,000 runners downtown, ready to run their respective races through the streets of Memphis. Also that morning, there will be thousands of volunteers reporting to their various locations to help make the marathon run smoothly. The race wouldn’t happen without these excellent volunteers. The races raise over $10 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and I just want to give a huge thanks to all the runners and St. Jude Heroes. Also, many MRTC board members, who work hard all year for the club, also spend time working the marathon and I want to thank them and anyone else who helped make the race another major success. Another big event the club has coming up is our annual Frank Horton Memorial Winter Off-Road Race Series (WORS), and we are proud to have Outdoors, Inc. as our presenting sponsor again. Race Director Kevin Raney is busy getting everything together for

another exciting series. The trail runs start with a 3K followed up by a 5K, 8K and 10K. The first race will be at Overton Park on Jan. 6 and, new this year, the 5K will be held at W.C. Johnson Park in Collierville on Jan. 20. Kevin has worked out a new course that will be great. The next race will be at Stanky Creek on Feb. 10, with the final race being at Shelby Farms on Feb. 24. Registration is open so go sign up (see page 6) and if you aren’t going to run, as always I encourage you to think about volunteering. We have exciting news connected to the WORS. Proceeds from the series, along with coursemeasurement income, go into our scholarship fund. Over the years we have provided money to the University of Memphis and to Youth Villages to fund scholarships. We are not stopping our funds going to Youth Villages as we continue to fund that scholarship but we are directing some of that money to Memphis Youth Athletics, a non-profit that is focused on elementary and middle-school cross country and track and field, providing opportunities for kids of all abilities, regardless of ability to pay, to participate in the sport that we all love. I have already mentioned it once this year but don’t forget about nighttime safety. 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 great ideas when you are out at night. Visit one of the running stores in town for help to get equipped so you can be seen while you are out running in the dark. Be safe out there on the streets, especially when you are out there at night and I hope you see you a race when we start everything back up in 2019.

... as always I encourage you to think about volunteering.

Ashley Holloway

MS, RD, CSG, ACE-CHC, LDN, FAND Your favorite dietitian was unable to submit her usual column, so an oldie but goodie is offered for this issue.

vomiting; even dehydration can be a concern. And if a diet recommends pills, herbs or supplements, these items are not backed by the FDA and can interact with different medications and can cause issues on their own. Finally, keep in mind that fad diets aren’t a good long-term solution. For lasting results, your best bet is to eat a healthy diet based on fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean sources of protein.

Q & A with the Dietitian

Question: I have a good friend who has been trying to get me to try a detox diet, saying that the reason I can’t lose weight is because I have too many toxins. Will this type of diet really help me?

Question: Lately I have been hearing some talk about the health benefits of chia seeds. Should I add them to my diet?

Answer: Detox diets are touted as a way to flush toxins out of your system. These diets are quite popular, but they are not scientifically proven. The specifics of detox diets can vary — but usually a period of fasting is followed by a strict diet of raw vegetables, fruit and fruit juices and water. Some detox diets also recommend using herbs and other supplements along with colon cleansing through enemas or colonics to further empty the intestines. You may lose a little bit of weight from a detox diet, but it is usually temporary from a combination of being on a very low calorie diet, losing water weight and from having empty intestines. Plus, you’re likely to lose weight and then gain it right back when you go off any extreme diet. There is little evidence that detox diets actually remove toxins from the body. Nor do you need to help your body “detoxify.” Your organs and immune system handle these duties, no matter what you eat. Your kidneys and liver are quite effective at filtering and eliminating most ingested toxins. So there is no need to “detox!” Some say that they feel better on a detox diet, but why they temporarily feel better may actually come from the fact that they are avoiding highly processed foods, extra sugar and fat. These benefits may come at a cost. Detox diets that severely limit protein or that require fasting can result in fatigue, muscle aches and irritability. Long-term fasting can result in vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Colon cleansing, through enemas and colonics, can cause cramping, bloating, nausea and

Answer: Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia! Do you remember the Chia Pet? It was the bald terracotta head on which you would sprinkle seeds and water and a few weeks later a full head of green plant “hair” would sprout! Well, those little seeds aren’t just for playtime any more, they are now one of the hottest super foods around! Chia is an edible whole grain seed chock full of excellent nutrition. These tiny seeds are from a desert plant and date back to the Mayan and Aztec cultures. Just an ounce or two tablespoons of chia seeds contains 139 calories, 4 grams of protein, 9 grams of hearthealthy fat, 11 grams of awesome fiber and 12 grams of carbohydrates, plus plenty of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. These little black and white seeds have a mild nutty flavor and can be eaten in a variety of ways. You can sprinkle them on your cereal, oatmeal and salads and even bake them into muffins and breads. Chia seeds are hydrophilic (they love water), and can absorb up to 12 times their weight in liquid when soaked. Because of this fact, many have touted chia seeds as an appetite suppressant and weight-loss aid. The theory is that when consumed, chia seeds swell, leaving less room for other foods, reducing your appetite, causing you to eat less, leading to weight loss. Currently, studies show that chia seeds are not the (Continued on page 29) 4

37th Annual Memphis in May Triathlon MAY 18 & 19, 2019 CELEBRATING MEMPHIS, TN 200TH BIRTHDAY MAY 18 MIM SPRINT TRI 1/3 SWIM | 12 MILE BIKE | 3 MILE RUN

25 and 12 Miles | March 3, 2019 and Gravel Bike Ride | March 2, 2019

MAY 19 MIM OLYMPIC TRI .93 MILE SWIM | 24.9 MILE BIKE | 6.2 MILE RUN

Custom long sleeve tee, chili, vegan chili, vegan vegetable soup, Flat Hat beer, fruit and cookies Run scenic dirt/gravel roads in St. Francis National Forrest and MS River State Park Awards: great gear from sponsoring bike and run store partners

CUSTOM TEE & FINISHERS MEDALS, AWARDS AND POST RACE SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY TENT $5,000 CASH AMATEUR CHALLENGE TOP 15 FEMALE & 15 MALE IN BOTH RACES

Challenge – DOUBLE HEADER:

Bike gravel race Saturday March 2: 55 miles • 25 miles • 12 miles and Run Sunday March 3: 25 miles • 12 miles Register at: runsignup.com

You know you’re a runner when ... Your typical washing machine load is 90% running attire, 7% work clothes and 3% towels

You have band-aids on things other than blisters and cuts

Your DIY projects projects are for displaying your race medals

You are happy to play $12 for a pair of socks You pick a shoe because it’s good for running even if it’s ugly

You have 13.1, 26.2 and 74.8 stickers on your car

You’ve turned a run into a happy hour

You plan your day around running, not the other way ‘round You’ll do anything – limp, crawl, whatever – to finish You actually own something called GU Your vacations always involve destination races An injury causes you to freak out because no running! Days off are torture 5

My last year as WORS race director

In last year’s article about the Winter Off Road Series I mentioned that I was looking forward to a calmer 2018. That didn’t exactly work out. We experienced probably the wettest and iciest series that I can remember. The 3K had to be postponed due to ice on the course and surrounding parking lots in Overton Park. Both races at Stanky Creek suffered from above-normal rainfall days before the race but race-day weather was very nice. Our new course at Shelby Farms also received an excessive amount of rain in the days before the race, which led to a very muddy and challenging course. I’m not even going to wish for anything in this upcoming series … I don’t want to jinx it. As the title of this article notes, this will be my last year as WORS race director. I have enjoyed working on this series the last three years, but I’d like to participate in it again and don’t see how I could do that and handle the responsibility. Steve Spakes has volunteered to take the reins, but his responsibilities as the incoming president of MRTC will likely require some additional help on the series. Therefore, if anyone has any interest in stepping up, I’m sure Steve would welcome the help.

• You can register at: (https://wintercc. racesonline.com/register). • The scoring for the series will remain the same as last year and can be found online at: (https:// wintercc.racesonline.com/points-scoringexplained).

Course details

The 3K will start and finish in the greensward in Overton Park as it has over the last few years. Our 5K race has moved to WC Johnson Park in Collierville. We will start and finish in the open field on the west end of the park (next to the baseball fields). The park offers a lot of amenities, especially when it comes to parking. The trails we will be running offer some of the most

pristine views of the Wolf River in a suburban setting with no developments on the far side. The trails are flat and should provide some opportunities for very fast times. There is one small elevation change, so this will be a fun race to see develop. Our 8+K continues our long tradition of holding a trail race at Stanky Creek. As noted above, last year we changed the 10K course at Shelby Farms to the north side of the park near Mullins Station between gates 9 and 10. Course maps for the series can be found at: (https://wintercc.racesonline. com/race-course-maps).

Schedule

The format for the upcoming series remains basically the same as last year (all race start times are at 2 p.m.): • 3K at Overton Park on Jan. 6. • (New this year) 5K at WC Johnson Park in Collierville on Jan. 20 • (the Infamous) 8+K will again be at Stanky Creek on Feb. 10 • 10K at Shelby Farms on Feb. 24 • (New this year) Awards will be given on March 3 at, Crosstown Brewing Co., our newest sponsor.

Sponsors

Our title sponsor in the upcoming series will once again be Outdoors, Inc. We appreciate their continued support. Sprouts Farmers Market will again be providing after-race snacks. We are excited to announce new partnerships this year with Crosstown Brewing 6

Co. and I Love Juice Bar. Our partnership with Can’t Stop Endurance and Kevin Leathers to provide our Trail Running Workshop and Course previews continues this year (more details below). Racesonline and Bluff City Sports continue to support our efforts to bring you an enjoyable race series with top-notch online service, graphics development and shirt printing. We also welcome Blair Parker Design, Zaka Bowl, BioLife, Fleet Feet, Breakaway Running and Grivet Outdoors as our series sponsors. Please consider visiting these great establishments.

Their management team provides the foundation for young athletes to further their competitive aspirations in the sports of track and field and cross country. They are alway¡s looking for more help with coaching or supporting the thousands of kids they work with each year. Check them out at: https://www. memphisyouthathletics.org/ Trail Running Workshops & Course Previews Our Trail Running Workshops will continue this year and we’ve added a second date at a new venue. • Workshop #1 – Dec. 11, 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Christian Brothers High School in the Brothers Development Center • Workshop #2 – Dec. 13, 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Crosstown Brewing Co. at Crosstown Concourse These workshops are hosted by Kevin Leathers with Can’t Stop Endurance and provide a wealth of information for the seasoned trail runner as well as those new to trail running. Kevin will also post updated versions of his popular and informative course previews on his blog, and we’ll post links via the Memphis Runners Track Club Facebook page.

Benefitting Memphis Youth Athletics

With this year’s series, we are shifting our beneficiary from the collegiate runners where we have sponsored scholarships at the University of Memphis and Youth Villages to the younger runners. Memphis Youth Athletics (MYA) is a non-profit organization with the focus of developing the sport of cross country and track in the local area and encouraging kids to live a healthy lifestyle. MYA encourages kids of all abilities and socio-economic levels to take their first steps towards active lifestyles through its programs.

Joe Royer (far right), owner of Outdoors Inc., took part in the presentation of a $2,000 check from Outdoors to MRTC in support of the Winter Off-Road Race Series.With Royer are, from left, Lawrence Magliari, Chad Merryman, Mary Royer Hays, MRTC board member Wain Rubenstein, Christian Johnson, 2019 WORS Race Director Kevin Raney and MRTC board member George Higgs. 7

Awards

the bib to reach me. We will also have volunteers with walkie talkies strategically stationed around the course to communicate about any issues.

The awards this year are truly unique – I’m not sure if this has ever been done before. With our sponsors Crosstown Brewing Co. (CBC) and I Love Juice Bar, the awards will be 64oz growlers (glass jugs specifically intended for beer and juice) for first, second and third place with the CBC, I Love Juice Bar and WORS logos. We are working on additional details. We hope everyone likes this concept. This obviously doesn’t work well with the under-21 crowd, so we will be going old school with the 1-19 age groups and will be awarding the classic column trophy with a running figure on top.

Facebook page

In years past we’ve had a WORS-dedicated Facebook page. We have closed that page down and will be pushing all our notices and information through the Memphis Runners Track Club page. Please follow us to stay informed.

Packet Pickup

We will again offer two opportunities to pick up your race packet (bib, chip and shirt) at Outdoors, Inc. The first will be at the Outdoors Midtown location on Union, Thursday, Jan.3 from 4-6 p.m. The second will be at the Outdoors Cordova location on Germantown Parkway, Saturday, Jan. 5. We will delay packet pickup on this day to 2-6 p.m. for those wanting to participate in the Hill and Dale 8-Miler. While at the packet pickup you are encouraged to browse and enjoy the warmth of the store while supporting a local business. Or you can come out before the 3K, stand in the cold, in a long line (hope it doesn’t rain … or snow), and rush to the start line. I’m looking forward to another great series with some awesome performances by all participants. Please remember to register as early as possible so we can mail your bib and chip to you.

Shirts

Back this year we will have the Zorrell long sleeve poly-cotton shirt that everyone loves. We are adding an option for a technical long sleeve shirt in neon yellow. When you register, the first one is included with your registration. You pick which type. If you want both, you’ll have an option purchase the second.

Safety

We are once again attempting to have runners’ names printed on the bibs, so please register early. We recommend running with your phone so that, while racing, if you have an emergency or you encounter someone in distress, you can call 911. If it’s not an emergency, there will be a number along the top of

Anne Forbus

stinkyrunningclothes.com anneforbus@bellsouth.net 901-603-3097 9

Nicki Spillman

nickiscents.com nickispillman@gmail.com 901-503-9816

Shelby Farms 10-Miler debuts with a bang By Angie Whitfield

Warmed by the sun, runners get started on a chilly, windy day.

Lucas Finton, the first male in the 10-Miler, at the finish line. Photos by Blair Ball Photography

Photos by Rebecca Dailey

Kirsten Sass, first female in the 10-Miler. 10

scenic areas of the Park. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We were excited to put together and offer this new race this year,â&#x20AC;? said Natalie Wilson, Director of Visitor Experience, Shelby Farms Park Conservancy,

The temperatures were low, but the excitement level was high on Nov. 10 at the inaugural Shelby Farms Park 10-Miler and Buffalo 5K. More than 650 runners hit the trails that took them through some of the most

On the Shelby Farms Greenline.

Avala Freire topped all females in the 5K. Photos by Blair Ball Photography

Alec McCreary, first among males in the 5K. 11

and race director. “We talked to many of our past race participants and we incorporated their feedback and suggestions to create these races that feature a new distance and a new route through the Park.” Here are the winners of the two races: 10-Miler Male: Lucas Finton, 56:45.30 Female: Kirsten Sass, 1:06:58.50 5K Male: Alec McCreary, 19:37.43 Female: Avala Freire, 25:02.52

All proceeds from the race benefitted Shelby Farms Park Conservancy which, will help maintain trails, lakes and green spaces. Runners enjoyed a post-race celebration with food from Moe’s and Humdingers, beer from Meddlesome Brewing Company and live music from SoundScape, Briarcrest Christian High School’s highly selective commercial music ensemble. The race was sponsored by Fleet Feet Sports, Fleming Architects, Go Ape, Health + Fitness Magazine, Sprouts and Pinnacle Financial Partners.

➚ Runners on a scenic tour of Shelby Farms Park. ➙ Wise runners dressed for warmth. Photos by Rebecca Dailey

A group of happy 20K finishers.

Gratitude By Olaf Schulz

“… I ran on and noticed an undercurrent of energy pumping through my body, coming from an unknown source, a well inside I’d never noticed before. It was such a stark contrast to the fatigue at the start of the run that it clicked: practicing gratitude had opened a whole new channel of energy within me. My world exploded and expanded after that. Nothing around me changed, only I did.”

– Deena Kastor, from her book Let Your Mind Run

By the time you read this, the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend will be history. I hope you were lucky enough to experience the compassion, camaraderie and giving that the holidays provide. The end of the year is also a time for many to plan their running calendars for 2019 and to reflect on 2018. I hope you take more than a few moments to reflect on something else: gratitude. It’s a topic that comes up around this time of year, especially at Thanksgiving,

and it may even extend to the end of the year, but it’s a practice that should be engaged in year-round. In early October, right before the the Tour d’Esprit (the 24-hour relay race that benefits Haiti Medical Missions of Memphis, an organization that staffs and supplies a health, dental and rehab clinic just outside of Port-au-Prince), I was feeling a bit frustrated. I had lightly penciled in a bigger race at the end of the year, 14

but I hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t committed to anything. The Philly Marathon was just six weeks away and St. Jude was in eight weeks. I was under-prepared and my training cycle had been pretty inconsistent. In essence, I felt a little rudderless, and the end of the year was fast approaching. A visit from a couple of good friends who are also Run Haiti board members, helped alter my perspective. They reminded me of my first visit to Haiti. More than six years ago, Jeanie Zelinski and Erin Cottos, two enthusiastic and energetic therapists traveled to the aforementioned clinic and spent more than 18 months working with stroke victims. They learned that many of the strokes in Haiti are preventable. They happen because of poor diet, lack of exercise and an absence of preventative education. Over the course of this The author in Haiti. first rotation, they had already started to implement several preventative programs, and they felt that running could be a big part easy; there is an elevation gain of approximately 12,000 of that effort. feet over the mountain pass on rocky dirt roads that are They invited me and a few other close friends to too steep for cars and most motorcycles. The route also visit Haiti and try out a potential course: we would run passes through one of the few, but enchanted, forests across the country. While this may sound daunting, left in the country, followed by a long and treacherous there is a thin stretch of the country that spans descent to the ocean under a full, blazing sun. For this approximately 60 miles. However, that distance is not first trial run, it was decided that we should split the run into three days of 20 miles per day. I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sure what to expect. What would it be like to run in Haiti? To run in a place where hundreds of thousands of people lack basic necessities like food and housing? What I experienced changed my life. I learned that running is a universal language The start of a kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; run in Haiti. 15

of its own. It transcends race, gender, age, socioeconomic status and physical abilities. In our three-day excursion, we encountered everything from experienced runners to people standing in disbelief, amazed that we were running just for “sport.” Random people from each region joined in for a mile or several miles. Barefoot little children happily ran over the undulating and rocky terrain and dissolved our own thoughts of foot discomfort or muscle aches. But the most common theme we experienced was joy. Many of the people who ran with us lived in shacks with dirt floors. They had endured the horrors and trauma of a devastating earthquake that left millions without proper shelter. A subsequent cholera epidemic killed thousands. Yet here we all were running - existing in the moment and experiencing pure joy. This was not about a person from a wealthy country distributing money and goods to make himself feel better. Instead, it was a lesson in how running is a great equalizer. We were all running just because it is fun. Soon after the trip, our group decided to officially establish Run Haiti as a non-profit dedicated to promoting health, wellness and adventure through education, exercise groups and in-country races. I also decided to make a note of several things for which I am grateful. Although it would be easy to add to this list, I thought that these 10 items were a good start and all of

them still apply today. • I am grateful for the ability to run, and for the countless experiences I’ve been gifted as a result of merely moving my legs over the earth. • I am grateful for clean water that I can drink from any faucet. • I am grateful for safe housing and a comfortable bed. • I am grateful for good health and 24-hour access to healthcare by experienced and trained professionals. • I am grateful for friends who take me outside of my comfort zone and push me to experience new things. • I am grateful for loving and supportive friends and family. • I am grateful for a good education and the ability to work. • I am grateful for the financial flexibility to travel and see the world from another perspective. • I am grateful for the ability to vote. • I am grateful for a good pair of running shoes. So, after reminiscing with my friends this past October, I was reminded that I have much for which to be grateful. I just needed a little shift in perspective. I decided to refocus, put on my running shoes, and be grateful for the ability to run for a great cause at St. Jude. Most of all, I am looking forward to experiencing the joy of running with a few thousand other friends. I may not be in tiptop shape, but I’ve been given a gift, and it’s time to put it to good use.

The Memphis group during the inaugural run.

Run Haiti is a 501c3 and holds a number of community events in addition to a 50-miler, a 20K and a 5K in Haiti. Please check out runhaiti.com for more information, 16

Did you know? From a previous Roadrunner issue. • The marathon was not an event of the ancient Olympic Games. The marathon started in 1896 in Athens, a race from Marathon – northeast of Athens – to the Olympic Stadium, a distance of 42.195 kilometers. • 57% of all race finishers in 2015 were women. • The Peachtree Road Race 10K in Atlanta GA has the largest number of finishers in U.S. at 54,752 (2015). The New York City marathon is next at just over 50,000. • The fastest mile ever run: Hicham El Guerrouj from Morroco in 3:43:13 and Svetlana Masterkova of Russia in 4:12:56 • 45 degrees is the optimal race-day temperature based on scientific testing of how the body reacts to different temps. • The first New York City Marathon was in 1970. Entry was $1 for each of the 127 participants. • Your feet can produce up to a pint of sweat each day. • Eric Allen and Patricia Dechow studied 300,000 Chicago marathon finishers and found that women

are more likely to negative split than men because women run conservatively in the first half. • Fewer than 600 people have completed a marathon on all seven continents. • Average finish time across all 2015 Boston Marathon finishers is 3:46. • Average winning time of a Boston Marathon is 2:09 for men and 2:25 for women • The first women’s marathon in the Olympics was in Los Angeles CA in 1984.

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: 901-246-6477 or brentmanley@yahoo.com. This is your publication. Be an active part of it. Brent Manley, Editor

By Joel Lyons, PT, OCS The Psychology of Running

The mental aspect of running has always interested me. Whether it has to do with getting out the door to run or with the nature of anxiety of the big race, there are ways to train your mind and your body. It’s not always easy to make changes, but with consistent effort it can happen.

competition or high levels of physical and mental exertion can turn into a tug of war between your determination to win or meet your running goal and the inevitable fear of failure and discomfort. Recently, I was able to pose this question to Bill Rodgers, four-time winner of the Boston and New York marathons, and Dave Wottle, 1972 Olympic gold medalist. Bill said that, first of all, you have to realize that it is just part of racing. Knowing that he was prepared and running with a plan helped him be successful. As for Dave, he said that he always looked forward to racing over the hard work associated with training. However, when he got to the starting line of the most important race of his life, that 1972 Olympic 800-meter final, he was not intimidated by the Russian runner who was the favorite in the race. He said he knew he could compete with anyone that day. Of course the progression of the race turned out to be one of the most exciting in history. Despite being in last place through the first half of the race, Dave had the confidence to stick with it and began making his move when the favorite made his. He won by less than a tenth of a second. So, as Bill says, know that we all suffer from this one once in a while. It’s normal to feel some pre-race jitters. In fact, being just a bit nervous before a race is usually a good thing. That increase in adrenaline can help you maximize your effort. Of course, too much nervousness will have an adverse affect on your running and race performance. Lack of confidence and the fear of the pain of the race to come can be daunting. The best way to combat these issues is to be sure that you are training correctly. You should be including race-specific training runs in terms of both intensity and distance as well as over speed workouts and over distance long runs. Have confidence in your training and it

Just do it

Sometimes it’s hard to get going. It might be that you just can’t get motivated or you might be burned out. As for motivation, sometimes it helps to plan a run with a friend you have to meet. It’s a lot tougher to back out when you know someone is counting on you to be there. Or maybe going on a group run will do the trick. There are always group runs listed in the back of this magazine. Find the one that is convenient and appropriate for you. Also, remind yourself of all the health benefits that running provides: weight control, cardiovascular improvement, improved bone density, longer life and sometimes euphoria. Now there can be good reasons not to run. Some of those are as follows: feeling overly tired every time you’re out there, a nagging ache that won’t go away, too many days without a break, a fever, an injury or maybe some other illness. Sometimes you may need only to take a day – or sometimes a week or two – off. Personally, I’m not a big fan of running streaks. Although I appreciate the achievement and the goal setting, I’ve seen too many people run through some potentially very dangerous circumstances. Maybe a more conservative streak like seeing how long you can go by running two or more runs a week. You could probably go several years and be very healthy, too.

Anxiety and Nerves

Did you ever find yourself with a severe case of the pre-race jitters? Any athletic event that involves 18

will improve your race confidence. Another way to help you cure your racephobia is to face your fears directly. In other words, race a lot. Racing frequently will improve your confidence and also train you to deal with the normal pre-race jitters. (From Rick Morris at The Running Planet)

you are unduly tired. Of course you are putting out a good effort. Remember it is supposed to be tough, but you are prepared. You have done the training and you can get through this. You might try backing off the pace for a relatively short time, maybe a minute or two. That could be enough to realize you are not in over your head. Research has shown that we often overestimate our fatigue level. Our mind goes into protective mode and tries to limit the potential threat to our energy. We have the reserves to push our bodies beyond what the mind allows. Again, practicing running at these levels of effort and fatigue will prepare you to be mentally strong and get the most out of every race. So keep your head in the game, relax, and run tough. See you at the races!!

Mental Toughness

What do you when you are in the middle of the race and something happens? How do you deal with the unexpected or just plain fatigue? If something unexpected happens – perhaps a forced bathroom break or taking a wrong turn – it might get you upset, angry or dejected. First of all, relax. Take quick stock of the situation so that you might deal with it appropriately. You may have to readjust your goals. Hopefully you can still finish the race. Depending on the length of the race it may not be as big a difference as you first thought. Auto Home Life Business Motorcycle Try to continue on and put the result into proper perspective after the finish. Some things are beyond your control. You may have done the best you could have in the circumstances you faced. Know that there are always other races. This doesn’t have to be the last race. If, in a race, you start to tire, know that sometimes it could be that you overextended yourself, but other times it might be that you are having a mental lull. Sure, one of the most common mistakes we runners make is going out too ServIng Tn for 18 yeArS. fast in a race. Try to be aware of the possibility as soon as possible, At LOFTON WELLS INSURANCE, we have a long because you can limit the ill history of doing what’s right. That includes a tradition effects. of personal attention, and being right here in MEMPHIS As soon as you can, slow down. to help you protect what’s most important. It may be that you get your heart rate down to a more appropriate level and slow your respiration rate Pamela Lofton Wells to the point that you can recover LOFTON WELLS INSURANCE and finish close to your goal time 901-388-SAVE (7283) instead of nose diving and burning wellsp1@nationwide.com out. loftonwellsinsurance.com On those other times when you Not all Nationwide affiliated companies are mutual companies and not all Nationwide members are insured by a mutual company. did run at the pace your training Nationwide, Nationwide is On Your Side, and the Nationwide N and Eagle are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. © 2016 Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. NPR-0784AO (08/16) prepared you for, know that you might just be fooling yourself that

As a local agent, I’m here for you. #

MRTC loses a friend Word has reached this publication of the death of former MRTC President Harry Scott. The date and cause of his death were not known when this issue went to press. Scott served as MRTC president twice and was a member of the MRTC board for many years. Gerald Holbrook, also a former president of the club, was one of Scott’s closest friends, but has not had contact with Scott for several years. Holbrook described Scott as an “excellent runner” and noted that Scott founded the popular Germantown Half Marathon while serving on the Germantown Parks and Recreation Commission. Rob Hunter, current MRTC board member and the authority on race course measurement in this area, noted that Scott encouraged him to join the board about 20 years ago. “Harry also asked me to take over as race director of the Winter Series (now WORS),” said Hunter, “as Stan Hollenbeck and his wife were starting a family and needed to step away from that race series (not an MRTC event at the time). Harry offered to help and he took care of procuring the race shirts that first year (1999). Also somewhere around that time, Harry was establishing the Germantown Half Marathon (there was a noticeable shortage of local half marathons in 20

the area at that time) and I participated as one of the cyclists in the course measurement activity led by Ron McCrarey. The weather was cold and damp but it led to a lot more course measure activity for me since then. Harry brought in some famous USA runners each year for the half marathon and as everyone knows it is still a very popular race. Said Hunter: “Harry was something of a ‘visionary thinker’ when he was the leader of MRTC but, looking back, he probably needed to delegate more tasks and communicate more information to the people who were helping put on our races (remember, no email, social media or volunteer directors back then). I remember the RRS 10K was at Nonconnah Corporate Center near the airport and it was a hot September morning. Harry as MRTC president was the equipment van driver and handled most of the setup activities. He completely forgot to put out or arrange for drinking water on the course. Breakaway provided the finish line water that day and somehow comments between runners at the finish line about the lack of water led to fisticuffs and a little bloodshed. I don’t think I have seen or heard of anything like that at a race since … other races have left off the water but never saw another fight!

“Harry brokered a deal with a local company, NSA (now Juice Plus, sponsor of the St Jude Marathon) to put on a 2-mile and 4-mile race at the convention center as part of their international sales meeting. I remember the deal was an attractive cash charge plus expenses so Harry rented an enclosed Uhaul trailer for putting out cones. I think he pulled it with his personal vehicle … not the best arrangement for placing cones. The finish line was also pretty chaotic with 2-mile walkers and 4-mile runners all finishing together (card finish of course). But what I really remember is several thousand people coming out of their sales meeting all pumped up, feeling like Olympians and some running in wing-tip leather dress shoes and business suits. Not sure about the quality of our timing results but everyone had fun and MRTC got paid! “When Harry left the MRTC board he did a little race timing on a small scale on his own. When he got too old to keep that up he sold his timing equipment and donated what was left to MRTC, including his nearly new bicycle and Jones Counter that he used to measure a few run courses. We still have the bike and it is passed around to members who can use it. By the way, Harry did not follow all the USA track & Field measuring requirements. His 5K measurements were always based on 3.1 miles, not 5,000 meters, so he was always about 36.5 feet short!” “Harry provided leadership and kept the club going when resources and volunteer manpower were much more limited than in recent years. He was a key player in the First Tennessee Marathon era and he kept up with what was going on at RRCA and in other cities and was a major player on sustaining the club through those ‘lean years’. ”

Mark Blakley Boyer Brady Ginny Burbank Betsy Buring Allyson, Robert & Abby Byrd & Miles Scott Thuy Chau Kim Covington Janet Curtis Mary Dubose Leann, Ian and Cannon Edwards Deandrea Forrest Xianqiang Fu Jonathan Gowan Max Grumbacher Rachel Hale Kimberly & Addie Havercost Lee Heaton Candace Hinote Madeline Hopper Nikita Jackson

Jane Kendall Senthilkumar Kumarasamy Betty Lamarr Marj, John & Abby Livingston Jesus Lopez Regalado Paul Maddox Jonathan Mortimer Chris Mullins Syed Hasan Raza Diann Rivers Nathan Rodriguez Bryan Schleppy Diane Thelen Tiffany Townsend Samantha Vincent Brian Washburn Bill Weiser Terri Wright Ramil Rosano Zambra, Lynn Dela Rosa & Ralphlia Zambra

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. 21

Intentional and mindful attention to stretching can not only prevent injury from running, but can also correct imbalances caused by running or previous injury. It can also fix musculoskeletal imbalances that are innate to your own unique body structure. It is also possible that a lack of mobility or adequate range of motion, especially in hips and hamstrings, may hold you back from reaching your potential. Without a full range of motion, your muscles can’t be fully utilized. An intentional focus on mobility may ultimately improve your strength and endurance as a runner. Hamstrings are one of the muscle groups that most runners need to focus on stretching. The hamstring refers to a group of three muscles on the back of your thigh: semimembranosus, semitendinosus and biceps femoris. These three muscles work together to hold you upright and they act as powerful hip extensors and knee flexors, so it’s easy to see how tight hamstrings may create lack of hip mobility and injury-prone knees. Here is a simple hamstring stretch you can do while preparing to run. (This is also a great stretch for those runners who suffer from iliotibial band syndrome. The iliotibial (IT) band is a tough group of fibers that run along the outside of the thigh down to the knee. IT band syndrome can manifest in many ways, and it generally causes pain on the outer surface of a runner’s knee and upper leg): While standing up straight, cross your right leg over your left, with the feet close together. Next, bring your hands to your hips to support your low back. While keeping a soft bend in the knees, slowly hinge at your hips until you feel a mild stretch along the back of your left leg. If you do not suffer from back pain, you can eventually let your spine round and your hands drop towards the ground.

Stretching for Runners

Hold the stretch for one full minute then repeat with the opposite leg.

By Amy Irene Lenkszus

As with the hamstrings, the hip flexors are often overused in runners. These muscles pull the legs up toward the trunk. One of these hip flexor muscles is the psoas, which is responsible for stabilizing the spine and flexing the hip. Runners rely on these muscles, particularly when running uphill.

As runners, we are told time and time again to stretch. Do we do it? Sometimes. Is there truly a benefit to it? Absolutely.

Form a low lunge with your right foot forward and your left foot behind you. Ensure your right knee is at

Here is a simple hip flexor stretch that targets the psoas muscle:

Stretch while warm

a 90-degree angle and over, not past, your right ankle. Bring your hands to the ground to frame your right foot and gently drop your left knee to the ground.

As with any stretch, it’s important to warm your muscles first to avoid tears, so these stretches would be most appropriate after a slow jog or warm-up run, or even as a post-run stretch after you’ve had a few minutes to recover.

On an inhale breath, bring your hands to your waist and lift from your waist to upright, bringing your head stacked directly over your tailbone. Gently drive your hips forward until you feel a stretch from the front of your left hip, groin and thigh. If you feel balanced you can curl your back toes under to lift your left knee off the ground.

Breath while stretching

Be sure to take deep, slow inhales and exhales through your nose throughout the stretch. Don’t rush your breath. In fact, breathing is the most important movement that supports all of our other movements, including running. If you develop the ability to breathe better, you will run easier and faster through fatigue and discomfort.

Hold the stretch for 30-40 seconds, breathing deeply and slowly the entire time. Bring your hands to the ground to frame your right foot. Switch legs and repeat with the opposite leg. It’s important to note that individuals with low back pain want to avoid over-stretching of their hamstrings and psoas if their low back pain is due to an anterior pelvic tilt (one which leaves a defined arch in their lower back). However those individuals with low back pain due to posterior pelvic tilt may benefit greatly from stretching their hamstrings and psoas muscles.

Ultimately, just like our diets, our bodies benefit from a variety of healthy movement. Balancing your runs with proper stretching not only creates better movement but also better mind-body connections which allow us to move in a more efficient and less damaging manner. The author is a runner and the founder of a yoga studio in Germantown.

Wisdom for runners I plan on having such an awesome run Morgan Freeman should narrate it.

Me in middle school: “Fakes sick to get out of running a mile in gym class.” Me now: “Pays to run 13 miles.”

Always find time for the things that make you feel happy to be alive. Run.

The race always hurts. Expect it to hurt. You don’t train so it doesn’t hurt. You train so you can tolerate it.

Run with your heart instead of your mind. When you think with your mind you think of things you can and can’t do. When you think with your heart, you forget about what you can and can’t do and you just go out and do it. Run.

Your biggest challenge isn’t someone else. It’s the ache in your lungs and the burning in your legs and the voice in your head that yells, “I can’t!” But you don’t listen. You push harder and then you hear the voice whisper, “You can.” That’s when you discover the person you thought you were is no match for the person YOU ARE.

Running is just you, the work you put in and the clock. If you don’t put in the miles, you can’t go to the starting line thinking you’re going to pull a miracle out of nowhere. You get out exactly as much as you put in.

Coaches and kids take a break for a photo. By Dana Lyttle The Fall Season was an incredible season for all the KIDS, Coaches and the Parents. Our MRTC Kids! program continue to grow! In addition, we were awarded the Kids Run the Nation Grant. Training is based on the children’s ages and abilities. In the training program the kids learn to maintain proper form when running and how to complete their assigned distance. MRTC Kids! run centers on four (4) core values: NAPS 1) Nutrition 2) Activity 3) Perseverance 4) Self-esteem

get to participate in their races, receive medals for a job well done and eat a great meal by the famous MRTC cookers. The MRTC Kids! Spring Training program starts on March 23. We can’t guarantee the weather, but we can guarantee the kids will have fun! The parents usually have a good time, too! MRTC Kids! Spring Training is scheduled for four Saturdays – March 23 and 30 and April 6 and 13 at the field south of the Agricenter and Showplace Arena on Germantown Parkway. During the training sessions, the kids will run obstacle courses, practice running form and play games.

MRTC Kids! Run uses RRCA’s Kids Run the Nation Program Guide and 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 the kids-only race. They will 24

Kids take off at the start of the fall race. The kids will be divided into the following age groups:

The MRTC Kids! Spring Training will conclude with races and family fun on Sunday, April 21, at Rhodes College. Another MRTC Kids! training program is scheduled for September, with the races set for the MRTC Quarterly Meeting in October. More information will be available later this year at memphisrunners.com

4 years and under 100 yards 5-6 years ¼ mile 7-8 years ½ mile 9-10 years 1 mile 11-13 year olds 2 miles Once again, we will have great coaches to help the kids achieve their goals while they have fun running.

Kids, join the fun and come run …

To register your kids for this wonderful training program and race, please go to www.memphisrunners. com. You can also register at the events. If you are interested in coaching or helping out with the MRTC Kids! training sessions, please contact me at sunflday@me.com. No qualifications are required. You just need to be energetic and love to teach kids how to run. Volunteering for MRTC Kids! 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! Four happy MRTC Kids! trainees.

1963 David Cyril Childe 2018 David Cyril Childe, 54, of Memphis, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 24. He was an avid runner and member of MRTC and was the founder of Legal Research & Investigation, working as a private investigator and Chartered Financial Analyst. He is survived by his sister, Jennifer Childe, of Chicago IL; brother John Childe Jr., Harrisburg PA; two nephews, Eric Schall and Benjamin Stolfe.

attention and interest, no matter who they were, what they did or what the subject matter was. No matter what function we went to together, he never failed to get into deep discussion with someone and make that person feel like he or she was the most fascinating person in the room. Usually he found the person that was alone in the corner by him or herself. I always saw that as such a lovely gift that he gave to others. As many of you know, David had a very active mind, a wonderful memory and a great thirst for knowledge. His opinions were always well thought out, carefully considered, but he loved to argue and hear the opinions of others. You could rarely change his opinion, but he was always interested in hearing yours. He led his life with a level of intensity that is rarely seen. He gave everything 100%, whether it was the recent Race Judicata that he chaired or the research he did on Wall Street, the AA archive project he started, or his physical training, he didn’t leave any fuel in the tank. He also had an insatiable appetite. Not only to read, to learn, to explore, to experience, to challenge himself, and to love, but also of course, to eat. Fun fact – before he met Ruth and started caring about his body fat, he could and would easily put away 5,000 calories per day. When we would go to a local Chinese buffet restaurant near me, the smiles on the faces of the owners would immediately drop when they saw him enter and they realized the amount of profit they would lose on him. Going back to the buffet ten times was not unusual. I think he liked to show off to my adoring kids how much he could eat. Side note – many of you may not know that David entered a few professional food eating contests…..but sadly never medaled. Anyway, David was far from perfect, and he and I didn’t always get along. He put me and my mother through hell for a long period of time when he wasn’t in control of his addiction. But through the help of many of you here today, he was able to conquer at least some of those demons. As adults, we became very close. I considered him one of my closest friends and he was by far one of my strongest supporters. His love and encouragement

At the memorial service for him at Unity Church of Practical Christianity in Cordova on Nov. 10, Jennifer Childe offered the following eulogy. When I started writing this eulogy, I tried to think of the one word that described David best. The first one I came up with was “quirky.” But that seemed too pejorative. The next two were was “complex” and “unique,” but somehow they seemed too abstract and lacking gravitas. I guess when I think of David, I think of a blend of opposites. • He was super silly, yet extremely serious. • He loved watching raunchy, inappropriate movies with my boys, yet equally enjoyed reading Tolstoy and Dostoevsky • He was playful and juvenile, yet truly an old soul that often connected better with people 20 years older • He was big and strong on the outside, but fragile and tender on the inside • He could (and would) talk to anyone, yet he was actually quite shy He was generous to a fault – with his time, with his money, with his love, his encouragement, and his support. He was kind and accepting of everyone. He believed in justice and fairness, and sought to help those he believed were victims of injustice or cruelty. Maybe it was through his own suffering that he became more alive to the plight and suffering of others. He had a wonderfully mischievous sense of humor, with a laugh that was truly infectious He was incredibly encouraging, supportive and inspiring to others, yet sadly couldn’t see the same value in himself. He had a way of focusing on someone with total 26

were unconditional. He was happy when I was happy, and always there for me when I was lost. One of the things I remember best about him was that I could come up with the most random problems – I sent the wrong email to my boss, or I’m getting early dementia, or running makes my knees hurt, and he would have the best answer: “now your boss will feel more comfortable around you, so it was actually a good thing” or “forgetting things is actually a sign of genius!” or “pain in the knee is a rite of passage.” He would build me up no matter what brought me down. I so admired his seeming optimism and strength. I treasured the times we spent together. The vacations we took with my two boys; the holidays we would spend together. Watching him clown around with my kids like an overgrown 12-year-old brought me so much joy. I think he enjoyed going ice skating, sledding, bowling or to the trampoline park at least as much as my boys. And I’ll never forget the long road trips we regularly took to Florida or the East Coast, where we would talk for 12 straight hours. It never got dull. It’s really hard to say that about very many people. That said, as many of you can attest, it would take FOREVER to get anywhere because he would drink so much coffee and ice water and we’d have to keep pulling over for him to go to the bathroom. And while I knew he suffered from bouts of depression over the years, I never knew the extent of it. He hid it really well from me. And I guess that’s the biggest irony of all. I’ve experienced an incredible outpouring of love from many of you and I’ve heard how much David has touched so many of your lives. Yet, for whatever reason, David just wasn’t able to love himself the same way. So getting back to the one word that best describes him... I looked in the thesaurus to try to find an adjective that described “a blend of opposites” more artfully, and the only term that popped up was “bipolar.” I’m not sure that enjoying Beethoven as much as Black Sabbath constitutes bi-polar disorder, but maybe there are similarities. Bi-polar is also known as manic depression. It brings severe high moods as well as debilitating low moods. It’s caused by a chemical

imbalance in the brain that can make it very difficult to feel happiness or sometimes feel anything at all. I am convinced that David suffered from depression and quite likely bi-polar disorder as well. Part of what makes this tragedy so shockingly painful is how well David seemed to be doing in so many ways recently. We were all so proud of what he had accomplished. He continued to hit new milestones in his recovery efforts and felt so connected to and embraced by the AA community. His private investigation business was hitting its stride, he continued to set new personal records in his running, and he was deeply in love with his girlfriend, Ruth. In fact he started and finished every conversation telling me about her. And we were recently talking about our plans for the upcoming holidays. So for those of us left behind, that can’t make sense out of this, I have read that depression convinces you that you are nothing, that you can do nothing, and that you have nothing to give to those you love. I’ve also read that depression makes it impossible for you to think clearly, for you to recognize long-term consequences, or even conceive of the possibility of the long-term. I’ve read that people who kill themselves are as afraid of death as the rest of us, but it’s the lesser of two evils. It’s been compared to a burning building in which a person is afraid to jump, but they’re also afraid of burning to death. Sometimes the pain of depression is simply a worse fate for the person suffering than the permanency of death and the hurt left behind. Ultimately, for David, the flames that raged in his head were worse than the fear of falling to his death. So apparently this is the reason why someone so kind-hearted, so loving and so beloved could leave us in this horrifying way. And so, as we all try to cope with this terrible loss of our brother, our cousin, or our friend, I know that I take some level of comfort in the notion that David’s painful and lifelong struggle is finally over, and that he may at last find the peace he sought so desperately during his life. I deeply loved this kind and tender guy who persevered through pain and tragedy for way too many years. And although David left us way too early, I am incredibly grateful for the time we were given with him. I hope that his legacy will not be how he died, but rather how he lived. He lived a life rich with experiences, insights, good friends, loving family and compassion and service for others. He brightened our lives, and I know that his spirit will never be extinguished from our minds. Thank you. 27

CUSTOM FIT SUNGLASSES

AVAIL ABLE IN PRESCRIPTION

My friend Ronnie

By Brent Manley A little more than halfway through the TCS New York City Marathon, I caught up with Veronica Molloy, aka Ronnie, pictured with me above. Ronnie and I were paying the price for not training sufficiently for the 26.2-mile race. We agreed to continue together, hoping that having company would make a difference for us. As things turned out, it did. As we went along, I kept hearing people shouting to my running partner, and I wondered if she was well known in New York even though she lives in Ireland and was visiting the U.S. for the first time. After getting a glimpse of her shirt, I discovered why so many people were shouting her name and cheering her on. It was dark by the time we got to Central Park and the finish line, and we were both pretty tired and sore. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an understatement to say my finish time was lousy, but I enjoyed the race immensely. In fact, I consider it one of the best marathons I have ever run. I had run two New York Marathons previously and found that every aspect of the 2018 version was geared to assuring that everyone, from the elites to the plodders like me, had a great time. It was first-class all the way and the first time I have witnessed police officers giving high fives to the marathon runners. The police and all the volunteers were extremely encouraging and sincere about rooting for the runners, especially the slow ones like Ronnie and me. Of course, as good as my New York Marathon turned out to be, I must say that my experience in Chicago last year, where I ran as a St. Jude Hero, was equally rewarding. I was surprised that dozens of people called out to me as I ran by with my St. Jude Hero attire, and I was proud to represent the hospital and the men and women who work so hard for the children there.

NO WE

SALES MOST

TAX INSURANCES

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

(Continued from page 4) Absolutely! This is especially true if these seeds are taking the place of a less-healthy food in your diet. If you do add them, be sure to count the extra calories you are consuming and add them only because you like the taste and the nutrient boost you get from them, not because you want to lose weight.

miracle weight-loss cure that some want them to be. The research has shown that although chia seeds are a healthy, nutrient-packed food, they do not cause a reduction in appetite nor do those who consume them lose extra weight. So should you add chia seeds to your daily diet? 29

MARATHON RESULTS

David Miller John Pyrdam Jennifer Sorin Dorothy Spiotta Nopparat Umar Matthew Weickert Diana Wu Carlos J. Zamora Natasha Mayton Ernie Shadow Angela Brunson Roy Crossman James Doan Susan Graham Barbara Beckerman Jay Cravens Colleen Shallow Desremona Morgan Gretchen Smith Reed Walters Jeffrey Baskin Keeley Baskin Caroline Smithwich Michael C. Cowgill Susan Beall Bonnie Sauls Kristen Smith Allison Barcelona Todd Barcelona

FOR MEMPHIS-AREA RUNNERS Compiled by Sherilyn Huey

BMW Berlin Marathon Berlin September 16, 2018 Millie Katzen Memphis, TN St. George Marathon St. George, UT USA Oct. 6, 2018 Jeremy L. Jessop Collierville, TN

Appalachian Series - VA Bluefield, VA USA Oct. 7, 2018 Anntriniece Napper Memphis, TN

Chicago Marathon Chicago, IL USA Oct. 7, 2018 Philip Aiken Memphis, TN Elizabeth Ansbro Memphis, TN Cali Boyette Memphis, TN Erin Burke Memphis, TN Amber Cesare Memphis, TN Daniel Chelsoi Memphis, TN Jacob Greer Memphis, TN David Haskins Memphis, TN Michael Hill Memphis, TN James Hoppers Memphis, TN Justin Houser Memphis, TN Lin Johnson Iii Memphis, TN Wei Liu Memphis, TN Michelle Lockett Memphis, TN

6:40:28

Memphis, TN Memphis, TN Memphis, TN Memphis, TN Memphis, TN Memphis, TN Memphis, TN Memphis, TN Cordova, TN Cordova, TN Collierville, TN Collierville, TN Collierville, TN Collierville, TN Germantown, TN Germantown, TN Germantown, TN Bartlett, TN Bartlett, TN Eads, TN Lakeland, TN Lakeland, TN Lakeland, TN Millington, TN Arlington, TN Arlington, TN Arlington, TN Atoka, TN Atoka, TN

Lakefront Marathon Milwaukee, WI USA Oct. 7, 2018 Brad Jones Germantown, TN Sara Estabrook Collierville, TN Tom Bandler Collierville, TN

3:56:54

6:15:34

Long Beach Marathon Long Beach, CA USA Oct. 7, 2018 Robert Rayder Collierville, TN

4:27:20 4:25:12 3:28:19 4:21:45 3:28:09 5:22:49 5:53:01 3:11:59 4:19:29 4:26:16 5:00:40 6:16:51 4:35:13 6:24:27

Moâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Cowbell Marathon St. Charles, MO USA Oct. 7, 2018 Joseph McGuinness Memphis, TN Carmen McGuinness Memphis, TN

Twin Cities Marathon Minneapolis/St.Paul, MN USA Oct. 7, 2018 Kelley Hikade Memphis, TN Thomas Plath Collierville, TN Scott Stader Collierville, TN Jacob Willer Memphis, TN 30

4:16:06 4:38:41 4:31:16 4:11:07 4:40:23 2:30:35 3:46:27 5:22:14 4:45:12 3:47:32 4:39:28 4:39:03 3:08:59 4:19:21 5:22:36 4:34:51 5:15:46 5:58:54 5:27:56 4:39:03 3:28:43 4:17:31 4:14:32 5:57:25 5:18:56 5:11:59 4:55:23 5:22:42 5:22:41

5:11:22 5:07:47 4:45:11