The Roadrunner - June 2020 by Memphis Runners Track Club

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

June 2020 • Vol. 40, No. 5

Coping with COVID-19 Joe Birch on the struggles of local race directors – page 6 An important message from MRTC President Steve Spakes – page 3

THE ROADRUNNER

In This Issue From the Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Desk

Message from the President (by Steve Spakes) Nutrition on the Run (by Ashley Ludlow) A publication of the Memphis Runners Track Club June 2020 Vol. 40, No. 5

Race Directors struggle during pandemic ... Path Forward (by Joe Birch)

My First Triathlon (by Pam Routh)

What Runners Need to Know (by Joel Lyons)

A Big Island adventure (by Rob Rayder)

Marathon Results (compiled by Millie Jackson)

My Run Groove (by Jennifer Moon)

Group runs

Race Calendar

Advertisements BioLife Plasma Services Nationwide

On the cover

Coping with COVID-19

901PT

Pilgrimage Track Club Mug Mile

Grivet Outdoors

Zaka Bowl

Sprouts Farmers Market OrthoSouth

Blair Parker Design Fleet Feet

PR Event Management

Inside Front Cover

Inside Back Cover

Find out about the latest race events at www.memphisrunners.com

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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.

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 and deadlines for submitting articles to the Roadrunner, contact the editor.

MRTC Board of Directors 2019-2020 OFFICERS President/ Sponsorship Director Steve Spakes stevemrtc@gmail.com Vice President Suzie Hicks-Hurt 901-496-1377 s_hickshurt@bellsouth.net Treasurer Charles Flanigan Jr. mrtc.treasurer@gmail.com DIRECTORS Past President / Special Projects/Results John Payne 901-494-8266 johncharlespayne@gmail.com

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

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

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

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

Director Kent Smith kent824@bellsouth.net

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

Director Dennese Black

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

From the Editor’s Desk Brent Manley Water, air and cleanness are the chief articles in my pharmacy.

chance it’s the online version, not the hard-copy, printed Roadrunner. As our president explained in his message on page 3, the coronavirus has hurt our income bottom line because so many road races we are usually involved with have been cancelled or postponed to do our part to try to slow and eventually end the spread of this killer virus. Based on the feedback I have received from readers, it seems that members generally enjoy the publication. Some, I’m sure, will be disappointed to learn that the print edition is going on hiatus “until further notice,” according to our president. The matter of the Roadrunner and the way it will be offered to members will surely come up in a future board meeting. Readers who would like to express an opinion about this situation are invited to write to me to answer a couple of questions: What is your preference for receiving the Roadrunner: Online or in print? Would you be willing to pay a bit more when renewing your MRTC membership to assure that the magazine is delivered to you in hard copy?

— Napoleon Bonaparte

I wrote in my last message about my trip to Wuhan, China – where the COVID-19 pandemic – apparently originated – and my luck in getting out of town before the coronavirus started its rampage and became a pandemic. My point of view now is that of a runner who is more or less home bound. If I go anywhere, I wear a face mask and latex gloves. The people in the places I visit are similarly equipped. Fortunately, I have access to nice places to run, which I do mostly on my own or with a regular running buddy. I was hoping to take part in this year’s road race series but it’s looking like I won’t have time to train. My other point of view is that of the editor of the magazine you are reading now, and there’s a good

... let us know what you think.

I hope you will take a minute or two to let us know what you think. As always, you are welcome to write in with ideas for articles or just to make a comment or ask a question. This is my email address: brentmanley@ yahoo.com 1

A Message from the President By Steve Spakes for a while, but it can be done with fun. If you haven’t read about the Quarantine Backyard Ultra, which had 2,400 participants from 55 countries, please do. The race format required a 4.16-mile run every hour starting at the top of each hour. All runners were connected via Zoom and remained on the feed only until they dropped out. Michael Wardian was the winner with 63 hours. And yes, we are planning a virtual Road Race Series and you’ll probably have the details by the time you read this. Also, we will cease printing the Roadrunner hard copy until running events are allowed. MRTC generates a lot of our revenue with coning and timing. But we still must pay insurance premiums as well as our storage facility fees and because it is expensive to publish and mail a magazine, we are going to distribute only the e-copy until further notice. Remember, running is a privilege. Put your friends and community first when getting outside by maintaining a safe distance and following other recommendations from the science and health communities.

I certainly hope that everyone is doing well both physically and mentally. As we all know, organized mass gatherings, like the runs we enjoy, probably won’t be happening this year. The most important race of 2020 is to develop a cure or vaccine for COVID-19. I was recently reading that even Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s SUMMIT 200 petaflop supercomputer is working on a vaccine. With this contagious virus, challenges to an event organizer and participant are the obvious – people being close together. A journalist from Popular Mechanics estimated that, in order for runners to maintain a social distance, a marathon of 19,000 participants on an eightlane street would have a crowd of runners stretching back nearly 4 miles from the start line. Other things to consider would be how do you sanitize a portalet between each user? How do you deal with water stops and post-race food? Maybe, on a small race, you could spread the event over two days and start the participants one at a time similar to a triathlon. Who knows? I suspect we’re going to be in a virtual race approach

Ashley Ludlow

MS, RD, CSG, ACE-CHC, LDN, FAND What is the Process? Should We Avoid Processed Foods?

and freshness. These foods include canned tomatoes, frozen vegetable and fruit, and canned tuna and salmon. • Foods get spices, oils, colors, preservatives, and sweeteners added to improve flavor, reduce spoilage, and increase shelf life. This includes foods such as jarred sauces, salad dressings, yogurts, and cake mixes. • Ready-to-eat foods are more heavily processed. Foods such as cookies, granola, and deli meat — are more heavily processed. • The most heavily processed foods often are pre-made meals, including frozen pizza and microwaveable dinners.

As you probably know, processed foods are notoriously known as something unhealthy and not good for us. Something that causes Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and our ever-expanding waistlines. When we think of processed foods we often think of chips, cookies, boxed macaroni and cheese, French fries, and fast food meals. You may be surprised to learn that whole-wheat bread, homemade vegetable soup, and a cut-up orange are also considered processed foods. While it is true that some processed foods should be consumed with caution and less often, many processed foods are actually quite nutritious and have a place in a balanced meal plan. Here’s how to sort the nutritious from the not-so-nutritious.

The Positives of Processed Foods

Processed food can be healthy and beneficial. Milk and juices sometimes are fortified with calcium and vitamin D, and breakfast cereals may have added vitamins and fiber. Canned fruit, packed in water or its own juice, or frozen fruit is a great option when fresh fruit is not available or in season. Some minimally processed foods such as precut fruits and vegetables are quality convenience foods for when you are busy. The important thing is that you need to distinguish between foods that have been minimally processed versus those that are heavily processed. Lightly processed foods include pre-cut apple slices, hard-boiled eggs, canned tuna, cow’s milk, and frozen vegetables. These are super nutritious choices and can make eating healthy much more convenient. You may be surprised to know that many of the “new” milks out there such as almond, oat, and pea protein milk is much more processed than regular cow’s milk. Foods that are more heavily processed can be easily recognized as food not in its original form, like potato chips and crackers, or food that you can’t find in nature, such as sodas, donuts, cookies and candy. I have

What is a Processed Food?

A processed food is any food that has been changed in some way prior to you eating it. This includes cutting, chopping, cooking, canning, freezing, or packaging. It also can include any change in the nutritional composition such as preserving, fortifying foods with additional vitamin and minerals, or preparing foods in different ways. Any time we chop, cook, bake, broil, grill, or prepare food, we are actually processing the food. It’s also the origin of the term food processor, which can be a helpful and easy tool for preparing healthy meals. Processed food falls on a spectrum from minimally processed to heavily processed: • Minimally processed foods — such as bagged lettuce, cut up vegetables, and roasted nuts — often are simply pre-prepped for our convenience. • Foods are often canned and/or frozen at their peak of freshness to lock in nutritional quality

Processed food can be healthy and beneficial.

never seen a Cheeto tree and have never heard of one existing. But if you find one, please let me know. It is best to familiarize yourself with the Nutrition Facts Label and ingredient list so you can learn more about how your food is processed. The more of the food prep and cooking that you do at home helps to minimize processing and maximizes your control over what you are consuming. When you are consuming processed foods there are certain things you should try to consume in moderation … hidden fats, sodium, and sugars.

soups have salt added to them. Salt does a great job of preserving foods and was used long before refrigeration to preserve meat and extend its shelf life. Canned foods are the major contributors of sodium in our diets for this exact reason, the salt extends the shelf life of the food. In order to bypass the salt, choose foods labeled no salt added, low-sodium, or reduced-sodium. Of course, we all need some sodium, but we often consume two to three times as much sodium than the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends, which is less than 2,300 milligrams a day.

Fats

Added fats can help make food shelf-stable and give it body. Trans fats — which raise our bad cholesterol while lowering our good cholesterol — are on the decline in processed foods, but you should still read food labels to check for it. Look for zero grams of trans fats on the label and no partially hydrogenated oils in the ingredient list. If you see the words “partially hydrogenated” on the ingredient list, it means that these oils contain trans-fat. If the amount of trans-fat per serving is less than 0.5 grams per serving, it does not have to be listed on the label. But if you eat 4 servings it could mean that you have eaten 2 grams of trans-fat without even knowing you did. You do want to limit your intake of trans-fats, so if the food lists partially hydrogenated oil as an ingredient, put it back and make another choice.

Added Sugars

There is a difference between natural and added sugars. Natural sugars are the sugars that are found in the food as is, such as the sugar in milk, bananas, and all other fresh fruits and vegetables. Added sugars are any sugar that is not naturally occurring in the food and has been added manually. It is important to note that just because a food is labeled “natural” or “organic” doesn’t mean it’s free of added sugars. The same holds true with reduced-fat and fat-free products. Often times, sugar is added to these products to improve taste and consistency. Do you remember the big Snackwell’s craze? These cookies were fat free but used extra sugar to make them taste so good. Added sugars aren’t just hidden in processed sweets. They’re added to bread to give it an appealing brown color, and there often is a surprising amount added to jarred pasta sauces and cereal. The grams of carbohydrate on the Nutrition Facts Label also includes naturally occurring sugars which may be a significant amount in foods such as yogurt and canned fruit. Instead, review a product’s ingredient list and look for added sugars among the first two or three ingredients including sugar, dextrose, maltose, brown sugar, corn syrup, cane sugar, honey, and fruit juice concentrate. Thankfully, grams of added sugars are included on the Nutrition Facts Label so you can see if the food you are eating does in fact contain added sugars. The daily value for added sugar is 50 grams per day based on a 2000 calorie diet and if you aren’t careful you can easily consume more than you think. Compare food labels to find the product with more protein and fiber and less saturated fat and sugars.

Sodium

Most canned and jarred vegetables, sauces, and Examples of highly processed foods.

Race Directors Try Charting Path Forward in Pandemic By Joe Birch, Race Director, Orion 5K for St. Patrick Community Outreach, Inc. Those of us who organize the M-Town Race Series events are now trying to find a path forward for 2020. One thing is clear at this writing – none of our races will say, “Ready, Set, GO!” on their traditional dates from late May through early July. We always start the M-Town series with Zoom through the Zoo (back when “zooming” meant trying to go fast). It’s the signature spring fundraiser for the Zoo, a 501c3 nonprofit that attracts just over one million visitors a year and is the single most visited attraction in Memphis. Michele Edwards Correia, Zoom Through the Zoo’s race director, says the pandemic has had a profound impact. “With 4,500 animals to take care of daily, our animal care staff is here working harder than ever. March-June are some of our few revenue-generating months of the year. From that perspective, we are being impacted at a very critical time,” said Correia, who’s also the Zoo’s chief development officer. You can find ways to support the Zoo by going to memphiszoo.org or mailing a gift to Memphis Zoo, 2000 Prentiss Place, Memphis TN 38112. The next race on the M-Town Series calendar is the Harbortown 3 Miler, a fun-packed Friday night event on the Mississippi River and the alluring neighborhood that is Harbortown. This race is the largest annual fundraiser of the year by the Phoenix Club, an organization that supports the incredible work of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis. Harbortown 3-Miler Race Director Austin Magruder knows the angst of attempting to create a 2020 running event as a pandemic blocks the city from

doing basic business. “There is so much uncertainty,” Magruder says. “It is difficult for us to get the permits required to host the event.” You can find ways to help the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis by going to bgcm.org or by sending a gift to the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Memphis, 44 South Rembert Street, Memphis TN 38104. Next up on the M-Town series cycle is the Orion 5K for St. Patrick Community Outreach, Inc., The organization is a 501c3 nonprofit that feeds hungry children and families in our city’s most impoverished zip code, 38126 and beyond. “People have come for emergency groceries from far and wide during COVID-19 and we count on the Orion 5K as our biggest fund raiser of the year,” said Eugene Champion, executive director of St. Patrick Community Outreach. The agency operates an emergency food pantry and Sunday soup kitchen that has seen exponential growth in demand during the pandemic. If you’d like to help feed those who need help, you can click on the Fundraiser section at facebook.com/StPatCO/ or send a gift to St. Patrick Community Outreach, Inc., 277 S. Fourth Street, Memphis TN 38126. The grand finale of our M-Town Race Series always marches to a patriotic beat at the Stars and Stripes 5K on the eve of Independence Day. The Stars and Stripes 5K benefits the American Red Cross, an agency that serves the country and our community whether America faces a health crisis or not. You can find ways to support the Memphis Chapter of the American Red Cross by going to redcross.org or by mailing a gift to American Red 6

Cross, 1399 Madison Ave. Memphis TN 38104. “The M-Town series is a summer celebration,” said Daniel Shaffer, a key manager at Start 2 Finish Event Management and an indispensable force helping organize the M-Town Race Series. “S2F” uses state of the art technology to record times in each M-Town event and provides prizes for overall winners and competitors in 14 age groups. Runners must participate in at least three of the four M-Town Series races to qualify for overall prizes. “Runners enjoy it as four fun summer activities to participate in at a low cost. It’s healthy, inexpensive entertainment,” said Shaffer. The M-Town Series race directors will decide soon whether to postpone our events until later this year or invite you to run a “virtual” M-Town Series. We’ll be letting you know what we decide. But for the moment, it seems a little pep talk might in in order, so here goes! We press on. We always do. Runners find a way.

We suffer on the sometimes tortuous and torturous pathway called COVID-19. We find ourselves in an ultra-marathon none of us registered to run. Writing this article, we know much will change before you read it. But our training can pay dividends along the pandemic trail. Staying “in the now” helps. We don’t run a 5K, 10K, 26.2 miles or farther in one giant leap. We push through one step at a time. We strive in this stride, this one right here, right now. Runners of this dawdler’s caliber try to make it to the next mailbox, tree or fire hydrant in immediate view. In COVID-19, we train ourselves and those we love to hang in there one day at a time, one moment at a time. Little by little, we move on. We proceed with each task, wash our hands and go forward step by step. “Do ordinary things with extraordinary love,” Mother Teresa said as she ran her marathon of loving service. That’s a motto worth memorizing as we struggle through the hills and dales of a pandemic.

“Do ordinary things with extraordinary love.”

– Mother Teresa

Making sandwiches during “the corona.” 7

My Very First Triathlon,

or How I got into racing over 200 multisport events By Pam Routh, partner PR Event Management LLC In 1984, Ramona Petkoff, a gym friend and gifted master’s runner, mentioned she heard of a new event, a triathlon, where you would swim, bike and run back to back. There would be a short triathlon near Memphis, in Forrest City AR that July. We already lifted weights, biked occasionally on weekends and were successfully doing lots of 5Ks; We thought we must be fit. The thought of swimming was comfortable for me. I swam for fun growing up in the South. It was a respite from hot summers. My brother and I riding our bikes to the pool daily; swimming most all of the day, and riding our bikes home for dinner. I had also been a life guard in high school and college, and taught swimming. Check. I pulled out my college commuter bike equipped with a kick stand, pumped up the tires, bought those funny bike shorts and bike helmet. Ramona and I took up bike riding with friends from Gold’s Gym and social bike rides with Memphis Hightailers Bike Club. Check. I was running 5Ks. Not very fast, but I could go the distance. Check. Could I do this all back to back? I was considering the triathlon. Ramona and I decided to sign up. Ramona found a YMCA with a pool for us to join and we bought goggles. Meeting before work, she would drive into town to swim early mornings. Never having swam with goggles my entire life; they took a lot if getting used to. Leaking goggle. Goofy eyes. Now folks can fit you for goggles. We TRAIN HARD for over a Month and went to the triathlon to Kick A** and win some awards. Pre-race day, we get all our gear together, scared we will forget something. I get dressed in my head for each event. Eating the right pre-race pasta dinner and drinking lots and lots of water, remember I said July? Last check list items -Camera, and most important – the cooler of beer? Check! Check! Race day we get to the start and rack our bikes by the seat or handlebars on metal sawhorse stand holding other bikes; trying not to knock over other racers’ bikes

Pam Routh.

Photo by Madison Yen Photography.

or move their stuff. We put our shoes and gear around our bikes and then go to get Body Marked. Body marking is used to ID you during the race so volunteers write your race number on your arms and legs with a black marker and your age on the back of your calf. This helps racers know where they stand when they get passed, or to feel better when you get blown by on a segment by a racer and realize, “thank goodness, they have R for Relay on their calf,” You are off the hook, They did not do the other segments like you did. Waves, groups of swimmers, was the original triathlon format. We were placed in waves based on 8

The author finishing the 1992 Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii.

age or gender. Off we went. Ramona wore glasses so she handed them to her boyfriend to give to her after the swim and then asked me how many buoys we had to pass to get finished because she could not see. Her plan was to breast stroke, count buoys, and watch other swimmers. It worked. Me, I got right up front and liked to have drowned when a person swam over me. I got out of the way quickly and then had to focus on staying straight on the course and not going zig zaggy. Success. Out of the water with a decent swim. The bike was fun and hilly, but we trained on hills in Memphis. When I got off the bike and started to run, my legs were noodles. Finally warming up, so to speak, by Mile 1, I finally could enjoy the volunteers and neighborhood folks spraying their water hoses on us along the course. I saw the finish line football stadium we were to run into in the distance. I could hear the crowd now – cheering us on. I ran full sprint into the field only to realize we had to run around the entire field on grass before we could cross the Finish Line. I like to have passed out. I finished my first Triathlon! You would have thought I won the Olympics. Hot shots we were, we had lined up to start the swim thinking we were so “Fast.” Needless to say we had our butts handed back to us. But the Triathlon Bug bit us and we were hooked. We had a new challenge. We started training the next week for the next year’s triathlon race season focusing on the longer Memphis in May Olympic Triathlon with zeal. Learning all about the sport and trying to find more triathlons. They were scarce then. Meeting likeminded triathletes in Memphis, we raced for the next several years, qualifying in 1986 for USA Triathlon Nationals in Hilton Head SC. I love triathlons. At one point, the year I met

my husband-to-be while training. We did 14 Sprint Triathlons and Olympic Triathlons two years in a row. I worked my way to qualifying in 1992 for Hawaii Ironman as the fastest Shelby County Woman at the Memphis in May Olympic Triathlon, completing Ironman Hawaii in 13:28:29. Since then I race a few sprint triathlons each year and have missed only one race season since I started the sport. I am training to race sprint triathlons in 2020. Pre-COVID, many facilities held Master Swim Groups which offer swimming with a coach 2-3 times per week where adults can swim with a group workout often scheduled with working folks in mind with very early morning or after work / lunch workouts. Sometimes an extra cost but not always. (continued on page 25) 9

By Joel Lyons, PT, OCS Metatarsal Issues

The metatarsal bones are the ones to which our toes attach. They link the toes to the tarsal bones; specifically the cuneiforms and cuboid. Each metatarsal has a head (located at the end closest to the toes) and a base located at the other end. Various ligaments, tendons and muscles attach to the metatarsals. Working together with these tissue, metatarsals function to help in stabilizing the foot and to act as a stable base for movement in walking, running, and balancing.

This typically occurs just above the metatarsals. The tendons and soft tissue that are located there get irritated and inflamed. This can be very painful, enough so that the person thinks they may have a stress fracture. The reality is that many times the cause is simply the shoe laces are tied too tight. This pinches the tissue between the shoe and the bones. A common mistake when a runner starts getting blisters due to slippage is to tie the shoes tighter. Some times that is the fix, but other times it leads to this tendonitis. So first just try loosening your laces. Other remedies are to change the eyelets that you put the laces through so that there is a different pattern of contact on the top of the foot. You could also just try a thicker sock to add in that cushion. I’d hate to cause you the expense of a new pair of shoes, but if these other changes don’t help you might just have to do that. Metatarsalgia is a condition in which the ball of the foot becomes inflamed and painful. There could be multiple reasons for this problem. It could simply be another overuse injury where the person did too much on the foot when it was not ready. So, it may not be a mechanical issue or a footwear problem. In these cases, rest usually gives the foot time to heal. In other cases there could be a mechanical issue

One of the more common problems that runners face is stress fractures at one or more of the metatarsals. In part, the design of the bones may make them susceptible to this injury. Being long and thin while having exorbitant forces going through them can eventually overload their capacity. As with most stress fractures, doing an activity such as running at a level that the body is not ready for will inevitably cause failure. As mentioned in other articles: doing too much, too fast, too hard, or too early in the training phase causes this overload. The best scenario is to be cautious about progressing in your training to avoid this injury. Another problem associated with the metatarsals is far less severe but fairly common: tendonitis. Even tendonitis might be too strong of a description to this problem. I’m referring to “top of foot” pain. 10

in which the metatarsal head “drops” and causes bunions have had surgery to correct the deformity. increased load to the head of the metatarsal. In these This typically entails at least a 6-month layoff from cases a metatarsal pad is placed just proximal (towards running. the heel) of the painful area. This allows an unloading One final condition in this area is a neuroma or of the metatarsal and allows for healing. Sometimes commonly called a Morton’s neuroma. It is caused the runner will need to wear this pad permanently and by a thickening of the nerve that leads to the toes. other runners may be able to remove the pad after The nerve becomes inflamed and painful. The several months. most common cause is shoes that are too narrow. Another condition associated with the metatarsals This causes compression of the nerve between the is a bunion. The Mayo Clinic website describes it this metatarsal heads and subsequent inflammation. The way: A bunion is a bony bump that forms on the joint obvious solution is wider shoes but sometimes thinner at the base of your big toe. It occurs when some of the socks are enough to do the trick. bones in the front part of your foot move out of place. There can be other causes of this problem that This causes the tip of your big toe to get pulled toward require more in-depth analysis. Seek out a good the smaller toes and forces the joint at the base of your podiatrist or other healthcare experts if the problem big toe to stick out. The skin over the bunion might be persists. red and sore. I am all too familiar with this condition as I have had it for 35 years. Other sources report that it Auto Home Life Business Motorcycle is hereditary, as opposed to being caused by running or another activity. Again, I can attest to that seeing that my mother has one and hasn’t run more than 100 meters her entire life. I have accommodated this problem most of my life by wearing a shoe large enough to avoid irritation from friction. I have had some pain on the bottom of my foot associated with the bunion that has been relieved for years with orthotics. Others with

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Running through the Passage By Robert “the Lone Runner” Rayder

passed away ushering in another long and dreadful night. I knew this was the voyage, the worst part of any transition from one place to another. It is the time when the old familiar world recedes, but the new world has not yet come into existence. It is a time of uncertainty. It is a time of fear. It is a time of darkness. This type of voyage has happened many times in throughout history, across mighty oceans and over frozen tundra. It has happened as refugees flee war, tyranny or poverty in search of a new life. History is filled with the stories of countless millions who have been through such trials. One day Mankind may explore the vast rusty dunes of Mars and beyond, but first there will be a long and cramped voyage filled with all kinds of dangers while crammed in a tiny space capsule that will fly between this world and the next. No matter if the destination is brighter or darker than the original, the passage is always an uncertain proposition. As I sat in the middle of that voyage, I reflected on the world that was, the world before the virus SARSCoV-2 spread across the globe, the world before the dreaded disease COVID-19. For me, that world ended in paradise.

“The Single Biggest Threat to Man’s continued dominance on the Planet Is the Virus.”

— Joshua Lenderberg Nobel Laureate

It would turn out to be just another day in the crate. The sun shined through crystal blue skies and was sprawled out on my living room floor, calling to my mind like a siren from ancient lore, seductively pulling at my heartstrings trying to lure me outside. I looked up, almost crying with frustrated desire. I wanted to go. I wanted to feel the cool breeze on my face and marvel at the new spring growth as the late afternoon sun danced playfully between the fledgling leaves. I longed to inhale the regenerative power found in a perfect Spring day’s air, that kind of atmosphere brought out only by a heart pounding romp over a muddy, newly blossoming, forested trail. But as I resolved to do just that, I would struggle upwards out of bed and my body would rebel. My knees would wobble, my back would ache, and my stomach would howl. Under normal circumstances I might have been able to overcome these feeble pleas of the flesh. I was a distance runner, after all. Ignoring pain was built into my DNA. But as I fought to walk toward the door, and despite all my mental bravado, my body knew just what to do to bring me to my knees. It played the ultimate trump card. It revoked my strength. Suddenly I would feel a fatigue that even the longest ultra-marathon could not muster. It was an exhaustion so total, so complete, that there is no hope of mastering it even with the most heroic of efforts. All I could do was fall back into bed and look out at the wider world from within the darkened confines of my crate, in this case the 13-foot X 11-foot box known as my bedroom. My body stood victorious over my desires once again, for the hundredth time, and all I could do was watch the light of the sun fade as the golden day

Of course, there was a marathon attached ...

It was early March, and my son Chris was turning 21. His Spring Break from college happened to be at the same time this year creating the perfect celebration opportunity to spend a week in his favorite place on the planet, the Big Island of Hawaii. Of course, there was a marathon attached to the festivities. The race would be held on the wetter eastern part of the island, in the town of Hilo and was dubbed “The Big Island International Marathon.” This was especially exciting for us as our previous visits to

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Hawaii had been centered around the sunny western side of the Island, near the town of Kona. More rain would mean a much lusher surrounding than the dry lava flows we were all used to. We would trade away the golden sunsets and deep blue oceans for tropical rain forests and cascading waterfalls. Thus, we loaded up and flew to a remote spot on the planet over a quarter of the world away from home, just as we have always done, and thought almost nothing of it. We did use some cleaning wipes on our seats and trays, but that, also, was nothing new. We had always been aware of the potential of germs in tightly packed airplanes. We didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to get sick right before our grand vacations. Wiping down seats and trays may have been eccentric to some, but for us it was a little extra

insurance to make sure we stayed well for our race and our adventures. Race day arrived and we made our way by foot from the hotel to the start line in a pre-dawn drizzle that reflected surreal shades of orange in the incandescent glow of the multiple streetlights. My wife Christina was sitting this race out due to a fractured foot and hand from a fall several weeks before. Thus, our racing party was reduced to Chris, me and my eldest daughter Rebecca. The rain let up and an eerie predawn glow blossomed behind thick cloud banks to the east. It subtly marked the start of a new day. We could barely make out landmarks outside the pumpkin-shaded cast of the streetlights as the race got underway. Fortunately, within a mile or two sunrise invisibly rose behind the everpresent clouds and our footing was made clearer by the resulting grayish filtered light. After a brief tour through tiny downtown Hilo, the course turned sharply upward into the seaside hills north of town. Here the road narrowed, and we were treated to spectacular views of Hilo from above. Then our seesaw path turned sharply downward toward the sea. We were suddenly thrust into the midst of early-morning surfers angling to catch that perfect wave before most people were even out of bed. They looked at us curiously as we passed, clearly not used to a long procession of runners interrupting their morning oceanside routine. The undulating course pushed on, thrusting us upward yet again as we passed waterfalls and jungled river valleys and into hillside communities with commanding views of the Pacific Ocean. These early miles were demanding but were a feast for the eyes. It was here that I saw Chris for the first time since the start line. Chris Rayder, at far left, with his plaque for coming in second in the Big Island International Marathon. 15

He was heading inbound on this out-and-back section of land not already occupied by deep green plants of of the course and was locked in a fierce battle for the every imaginable variety. Waterfalls capped bountiful lead with another runner. They ran with ease over the river valleys that flowed past black sand beaches into copious hills and I yelled words of encouragement for the ocean. Chris as they passed. Clearly focused on the task at It was miles of paradise, like some lush version hand, Chris barely seemed to notice my cheers. We both of a tropical heaven that God himself painted onto a ran on without further fanfare. hillside. The beautiful vistas were simply breathtaking. The turn-around Here, at last, was was located in the Hawaii in all her Botanic Gardens, opulent glory! and I doubt I had I passed the ever been in a start line again lusher, more vibrant at mile 17. Chris place. The roads had just finished were literally carved his race and was out of a hillside happily chittering draped with thick away with other tropical jungle that runners and left huge overhangs spectators. He of dense tropical finished second plants sprawled overall, well in all directions. behind his rival Richly pigmented after a late race flowers displaying collapse. The hills all the colors of the had cost him, and rainbow grew wild he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have on every patch enough fuel left in The author on the course of the marathon in Hilo, Hawaii.

the tank to keep up the pace all the way to the finish line. That was fine with him. He ran as well as he could against a respectable adversary. He pushed his limits and came up a little short. That’s the nature of the game. Running is a fickle sport, and it’s not always about winning. It’s about doing the best you can under the circumstances. Chris was happy with the way things had turned out. It was a solid effort. As for me, I wasn’t feeling so good. I felt weak and spent. I knew these last 9 miles were going to be rough ones, but I had no choice but to press on. It was all I could do to break away from the celebrations at the start-finish area. My energy was low, but I was determined. I really had no other option but to cast aside my pain and move on. So, I reluctantly started out on the second out-andback section that ran along the coast south of town. I had barely started out when my daughter Rebecca was making here inbound leg toward the conclusion of her half marathon. She paused long enough for me to grab a couple of photos of her. It was easy to make her smile with the finish line so near.

I ran past our hotel and out into a gloomy industrial area made that much bleaker as it stood in contrast to the glorious richness of the Botanic Gardens. My will eroded further, and I was forced into a walk-run strategy just to keep moving forward. At last the industrial miles faded and a long residential road that ran along the coast sprang out of the urban blight into an entirely new world. There was a chain of state parks here, strung along the oceanfront roadway like pearls on a necklace. At times we were fortunate enough to be allowed to run through them. Families gathered by the sea for various celebrations or friendly get togethers. Throngs of people sat side by side on park benches, crammed together at the limited picnic tables, or even lounged in the back of pickup trucks, all just to enjoy the ocean breezes. The clouds finally started to burn away, yielding to the reluctant sunshine and even parted enough to showcase rare patches of that brilliant blue Hawaiian sky. The breeze was a welcome savior, physically and mentally. The beach vistas ranged from simply beautiful to utterly breathtaking. The introduction of such wonderful sites to what had been a long stretch

... these last 9 miles were going to be rough ...

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of stinky ports and noisy, traffic-congested streets also helped bring me out of my funk. None of that seemed to matter as far as my speed went, however. I couldn’t run or walk any faster than before, and I was passed by countless other runners as I meandered along the course at what amounted to a snail’s pace. At least the views were more interesting, so I determined to run the boring parts and to walk in the pretty places. It was a slow but effective strategy that did wonders for my mental space. The turnaround was at the end of the road, and as soon as I was sure I electronically registered, as denoted by a loud beep emitted from the “sensor” that was strategically placed there, I was directed back into some residential areas. This part of the course was surprisingly rural. There were Japanese-style gardens complete with koi fish

the main road and the area of urbanization. This time, however, the course unexpectantly veered off toward the airport and we ran along a road that paralleled the runway. It was fun (but noisy) to watch the airplanes and helicopters take off and land at the tiny community airport. The comings and goings of the place kept my mind occupied during the painful late miles of the marathon. On my final inbound leg, I passed my hotel once again where Rebecca and Chris had gathered to “cheer me on.” They had been tracking my progress via my cellphone so knew exactly when and where to find me. Rebecca was all smiles and encouragement. “Only a little more to go, Dad! You’re almost there!” Chris, on the other hand, uttered something at me that I didn’t quite catch, but I definitely made out the word “slow.”

At long last, I crossed the finish line and was rather unceremoniously handed my finisher medal and directed to a table to gather some after-race refreshments. Because of my late arrival, I found the place mostly deserted. Only a few stray finishers would occasionally come trickling in behind me. Most of the volunteers had left well before I got there. There was no need for huge numbers of support crew for so few remaining runners. I didn’t mind at all. I’d run literally hundreds of previous Rebecca Rayder near the finish line of the half marathon in Hilo. marathons and I ponds, long stretches of dense jungle, farms growing didn’t need any kind of grand fanfare to greet me at its all manner of fruits and vegetables, grazing cattle and conclusion. a surprisingly large number of “free range” chickens Still, I did feel a little sorry for any first-timers left (wild chickens are common on many of the Hawaiian on the course. A nearly empty finish line is not the finale Islands.) It was an unexpected pleasure to run through one expects after months of hard training. I did my best these areas that would otherwise only be known only to applaud and yell encouragement to every remaining to the locals. It was a brief glimpse into a part of the late finisher. It’s a good thing I’m loud. I think I counted Hawaiian experience that few tourists ever really get a for at least two or three regular marathon cheerleaders chance to see. as I clapped and hooted and hollered as much as my After a while, I was reluctantly directed back to marathon-worn body would allow. 18

Over the next few days, things started to change in Hawaii. The crowds started thinning. There were rumors that there would be fewer flights on and off the island after the next weekend, and any new arrivals would be placed in a mandatory two-week quarantine. COVID had arrived in America. We did our best to carry on as usual, but we kept our eyes and ears open so we could adapt to unexpected changes. We didn’t want to become stranded, even in a place as nice as Hawaii. Chris and I had many of our daily running plans changed abruptly as the state closed destination after destination. We still ran in some spectacular places, but every plan was verified online just before we left. We found that obscure outdoor trails were the only sure bet. Fortunately, Hawaii is blessed with a huge number of such trails, many of which are beautiful and

rugged, just the way we like them. Still, places like Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa remained closed, even to runners and hikers. The famous Volcano National Park was closed two days after we ran across many of its unearthly trails. It seemed like the world was folding in upon itself before our eyes. Our last full day in Hawaii was especially unnerving. All the restaurants on the island abruptly closed, and the only available food was from a “pick up” pizza shop that required calling ahead. Even the “free” morning buffet (that we paid for when we booked the room) was discontinued without warning. And, perhaps most tragically of all, all the bars were closed. There would be no more watching those glorious sunsets while sipping the world’s best Mai Tais. Fear and uncertainty were palpable, especially among the locals who depended on tourists like us

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

for their livelihood. Their future was uncertain. It was an uncomfortable place to be, and, maybe for the first time ever while in Hawaii, we couldn’t wait to get out of there. We boarded our flight, and this time we weren’t the only ones with cleansing wipes. Everyone looked tense and flinched whenever someone would cough. It was amazing how much things had changed in a single week. As the plane left the ground, I felt like we left the old pre-COVID world behind, and we were all starting on a journey to someplace new. The only problem was that no one knew exactly where that place was, as if any of us really had a choice in the matter.

There were shortages of many different products (toilet paper?) and carefully spaced lines were to be found outside every grocery store. Masks were everywhere. It was quite an adjustment. Even Hawaii hadn’t adopted all these measures, although it would a short time later. I felt like I was in a whole new country than the one I’d left just a little over a week before, and in many ways it was just that. I guess I am one of the lucky ones whose job was considered “essential.” I went to work just as usual until one day I developed intense abdominal pain and dizziness while sitting at my work station. I broke out in cold sweats and chills and had to leave work two hours early to get an emergency CT scan. I was obviously worried that this was the dreaded COVID, but my CT scan told another story. I had gangrenous appendicitis and, after a dose of IV antibiotics, was taken to surgery within a few hours. It was a complex case for the surgeon, but ultimately I was admitted to the floor in relatively good shape. The only problem was the terrible

We returned to Memphis transformed.

We returned to a Memphis transformed. The airport was almost empty. People huddled in family groups separated by at least the recommended six feet of “social distancing.” All the shops and restaurants were closed or converted to pickup and delivery only.

Chris Rayder runs on Green Sand Beach in southern Hawaii. 20

weakness and the worst cycle of sweats and chills I’ve ever experienced. I was really sick, maybe for the first time since I was a small child, and I was scared to death. I couldn’t help but wonder if I had appendicitis and COVID. The only problem was getting tested for the virus was difficult. Instead, the hospital just put me (and everyone else) on lock down. No visitors, not even my wife. No leaving the ward. Everyone who entered the room wore masks, gowns and gloves. The care was excellent, but I was terribly lonely. Eventually I was discharged home where my condition worsened The author with his son, Chris, in Volcano National Park just before it closed. despite all the medicines. I was told, after another CT scan, that the infection was now more diffusely spread throughout my colon. Attention: Fellow Runners! Antibiotics were changed as the weakness and the Do you have some unusual experiences as a runner, chills-sweats progressed. I watched the glorious spring or some thoughts about our sport you would like to days pass me by from my vantage of my bedroom. I share? Don’t keep it to yourself – share with your fellow could barely walk, much less run. runners. After three weeks in bed, I was finally deemed You can contact the editor at any time to discuss well enough to go back to work. I did some walking, but running was still off the table. I’d lost a ton of potential contributions: brentmanley@yahoo.com or muscle mass and my endurance was shot. It was time 901-246-6477.This is your publication. Be an active to rebuild, and I’d have to do it from scratch, and part of it. Brent Manley, Editor without any races to push me along. Of course, like so many other things, racing was impossible during the outbreak.

2020 Roadrunner deadlines

I recall, over a decade ago, when I first started running, I started with tackling just one mile and built myself up from there day after day. Now here I am, all this time later, and I’m basically back where I started. I’ll tackle this setback just like I always have: one step at a time, one day at a time. I think it is time for us all to bravely face forward and run squarely through this dark tunnel toward the light ahead, and into the uncertain future that lies beyond. Whatever we find there, it will no doubt be better than if we all just stand here and sit idle in the darkness. I choose to run toward the light.

(subject to change)

July-August June 2 Sept. issue Aug. 4 Oct. issue Sept. 8 Nov. issue Oct. 6 Dec. issue Nov. 10 Jan.-Feb. 2021 Dec. 8 If you have questions about advertising or article contributions, write to the editor: brentmanley@yahoo.com 21

MARATHON RESULTS

Publix Georgia Marathon Atlanta, GA • March 1, 2020 Donald Euler Memphis, TN Ashok Boddu Collierville, TN Jannary Twyla Belicena Bartlett, TN Terry Dietzler Memphis, TN Jennifer Sheriff Bartlett, TN Mariya Fedotova Arlington, TN Brad Jones Germantown, TN Tom Cusker Walls, MS Lauchland Roberts Southaven, MS Michelle Lockett Memphis, TN

3:36:07 3:44:02 4:38:22 4:41:52 4:43:34 4:43:36 4:55:05 4:56:15 5:26:30 6:22:42

Cowtown Marathon Fort Worth, TX • March 1, 2020 Emma Love Memphis, TN 3:21:16 Sarah Dixon Eads, TN 5:00:18 Michael Spradlin Cordova, TN 6:42:55

Compiled by Millie Jackson

Zydeco Marathon Lafayette, LA • March 8, 2020 Mathew Zerangue Oxford, MS

Humana Rock ‘n’ Roll New Orleans Marathon New Orleans, LA • February 9, 2020 Terry Dietzler Memphis, TN 4:28:57

Big Island International Marathon Hilo, HI • March 15, 2020 Christopher Rayder Collierville, TN 2:53:17 Robert Rayder Collierville, TN 5:43:25

FOR MEMPHIS-AREA RUNNERS

4:59:39

How I Got My Run Groove Back … By Jennifer Moon

In February, I thought it was time to get back to minutes. I still had four more weeks until BadDog exercising. I had the bright idea to start Couch25K 5K/10K. I added onto the C25K and was able to make it (C25K). It’s an 8-week program that gets you moving. end at 45 minutes. I let a few friends know my plans, and they were Those 4 weeks is where I got my groove back!!! I willing to do the program with me. was doing this for me. I was surprised to be enjoying We met every Saturday and Sunday to at least get 2 myself. Remember when I thought I would never make runs in together each week. The program has you run 3 it through 20 minutes? I was aiming to run 42 minutes times a week. On the third day, some of us would meet one day, and I happened to look down at my watch and at my place and get it done. noticed I just ran for 20 minutes C25K is no joke. It starts you and I knew I can do this for out easy. Then all of a sudden you another 22. I smiled, thanked are running for 8 to 10 minutes my friends and kept running. straight. I am happy to say that I did On week 5 day 3, it has you every training run I had planned. running for 20 minutes! I could not I treated myself to a new pair of wrap my head around running for running shoes and a new visor. that long and not stopping. I called Thank you, Breakaway! in all my friends because I knew I My goal race, BadDog needed all the help I could get. 5k/10k went virtual. At first I My friends are amazing. They was going to have a virtual run came out and ran with me. I needed with my friends in midtown. them so much. Somewhere in there Sadly, this virus isn’t going I mentioned running a 5k without anywhere and I decided against stopping. I don’t think I had enough it. So, I made a 5K route in my oxygen in my head at the time. The neighborhood. My daughters goal stuck with me. and I walked it and I ran some I was registered for two 5ks. of it during training runs. I knew The Viking race, in Greenwood my course. The author, in blue shirt, with her running MS, would be my graduation run. It Knowing my course keeps happened to be held on the day that friends. me out of my head. Staying out my C25k program ended. The BadDog 5K/10K, would of your head is half the battle in running. be my GOAL race. The one where I will run the whole Race day is fast approaching. My dreams were racedamn thing! related. I think I might have wandered up in the race Well, we all know what happened in March. director’s dreams. I couldn’t stop training. I just had to stop running The day of the race was here. I was so excited. Jim with friends. I knew I still had their support. decided to run with me. The girls came out and started My husband, Jim, would come run with me and a us off. lot of times I went out on my own. Running was the I kept telling myself that today was about distance, only thing that felt normal for me. not time. That means move your ass, the faster you get I was bummed that my graduation race was to the finish line, the sooner you will be done. I also, postponed, but I kept running. I still had my goal race had to tell myself that this was my race and just because to complete. Jim was in front of you, it’s okay. I also didn’t look at I completed the C25K program. It ends with you my watch. being able to run nonstop 30 minutes. Well, I knew Yes, there were times I got in my head. When I did, I wasn’t going to be able to complete my 5k in 30 I would go through the course in my mind. Knowing 24

The Moon family: Belle, Jim, Jennifer and Olivia. The author celebrates as she finishes her virtual 5K.

I only had 4 more turns made all the difference in the world to me. We finally made it to our street. I swear the girls moved the stick that we used for the start/finish line, but it finally showed its brown barky self and I crossed it as my watch rolled over to 3.1! Y’all, I have never ran as fast as I did during that race this whole time I’ve been training. I finished with an average pace of 15.36 minutes per mile. Talk about hauling ass to the finish.

After Jim and I cooled down. We went with the girls for their 5K. They both did an amazing job without training. I love my family. I don’t plan to stop anytime soon. I signed up for Run the 901 challenge. My new goal is to run 4 miles without stopping! I hope that soon, we will get to run together.

My Very First Triathlon Pam Routh (continued from page 9)

You can also sign up for the Masters Swim “Class” and be entitled to use just the pool at those times, with less expense. Join the Memphis Hightailers Bike Club (MHBC); membership includes social group rides, seasonal multiple weekly training rides and bike / social / safety programs throughout the year. The MHBC rides come with secondary insurance for members in case of an accident during the ride. MRTC’s annual road race series can get your mileage up for late-season, longer triathlons. Doing local 5Ks helps you as running speed work. Free group runs around town can help with motivation, offered through MRTC members, groups and local running shops. See the Group Runs list on the following page. Weekly Tuesday night speed workouts at the University of Memphis Track are coached free by seasoned runners. Coaches: USA Triathlon has several notable certified coaches in Memphis and the Midsouth. Great

help for all levels, especially when you may have hit a plateau and want extra guidance. Triathlon Teams: Memphis and the Midsouth have several triathlon and multisport teams. Misery, I mean fun, loves company. Team membership provides experienced training partners, mentors, folks to car pool with to races and share hotel rooms. Buddies. For me, I love this sport, my journey ongoing. My 2020 triathlon racing season is shaping up; working on my swim speed now, always something to improve. Join me in the fun and do a triathlon. Pam Routh can be found at local triathlons racing or race directing along with her partner and husband Wyndell Robertson as PR Event Management, LLC. The Memphis in May Olympic Triathlon, Memphis in May Sprint Triathlon, Annie Oakley Buffalo Bill Wild West Triathlons, and Dragon Fly Triathlon. pamrunsraces@ gmail.com 25

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

Sunday morning

Monday afternoon

Tuesday morning

Run: Germantown

Run: Fleet Feet Coed Fun Run Time: 6 p.m. Place: Fleet Feet, 4530 Poplar Ave. (Laurelwood Shopping Center) Distance: 3, 5 and 7 miles Contact: Eric Flanders, 901-761-0078

Run: Fitness Plus Lunch Run Time: 11:45 a.m. Place: Fitness Plus, 2598 Corporate Ave. off Nonconnah between Millbranch and Democrat Distance: 7 miles Contact: Rick Ellis, 901-345-1036 Showers and extras available. Access to Fitness Plus facilities free to runners on group run day

Thoroughbreds

Time: 6:30 a.m. - (June thru Sept.); 7 a.m. - (Oct. thru May) Place: Panera Bread 7850 Poplar Avenue, Germantown Distance: 4, 7, 12.5 (or more) miles Contact: Charles Hurst 901-491-2096 or churst9676@gmail.com Water stops provided on the course. Big fun group with all paces. Run: Cool Runnings Time: 7 a.m. Place: Shelby Farms Visitor Center, lower parking lot Distance: 10+ miles Contact: bostonbear13@gmail.com Run: iMARG: Indian Memphis

Association Runners Group

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

Run: Southaven Striders Time: 6 p.m. Place: Central Park (Tchulahoma entrance, east side of park) Distance: 3-5 mi. (9- to 12-min. miles) Contact: Kyle McCoy, 901-299-8630 or Kalmac220@gmail.com Angie McCoy, 901-233-0168 or anggail09@gmail.com Run: Sea Isle Park Runners Time: 5:30 p.m. Place: McWherter Senior Center 1355 Estate Drive Distance: 1 mile-5K Contact: Sea Isle Park Runners Facebook group Notes: One mile loop around Sea Isle Park and two miles of hills in wooded neighborhood east of the park. Beautiful and safe course!

Monday morning

Run: Salty Dogs of

Run: FIT4MOM Run Club Time: 9:30 a.m. Location: Visitor Center at Shelby Farms Park (6903 Great View Drive North) Distance: 5K training Contact: Amy Earnest amykearnest@gmail.com or visit www.memphis.fit4mom.com 8-wk session March 19th - May 12th

Time: 7 p.m. Place: Bardog Tavern, 73 Monroe Ave., downtown Distance: 3-5 miles run through historic downtown Memphis and afterward enjoy food, drink and camaraderie. Contact: Miles Durfey 901-387-7475

Bardog Tavern

Tuesday afternoon Run: Track House Workout Time: 6 p.m. Place: U of M Old Field House Track Distance: Various workouts Contact: Paul Sax, 901-276-5758 Run: Black Men Run Memphis Time: 6 p.m. Place: Varies. Check https:// www.facebook.com/ groups/425282507588975/ for location Distance: Usually five miles Contact: Shannon Chisenga, 215-834-4687 or shannon.chisenga@blkmenrun.com

26 REL-TN-P91348 RoadRunners.indd 1

6/9/09 2:06:05 PM

Wednesday morning Run: Southaven Striders Time: 6 a.m. Place: Central Park in Southaven (Tchulahoma ent., east side of park) Distance: 3-5 miles (9- 12-minute miles) Contact: Kyle McCoy, 901-299-8630 or 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

Thursday afternoon

Run: Fleet Feet Time: 6 p.m. Fleet Feet hosts individualized speedwork sessions including track and tempo workouts for runners who want to get a little quicker. No fees. Contact: Feb at 901-761-0078 or lovetorun@fleetfeetmemphis.com 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: Bartlett UMC Run: Breakaway Running Time: 6 p.m. Breakaway’s Marathon and Place: Bartlett United Methodist Church, Half Marathon Training Group 5676 Stage Road; group meets in meets each Saturday morning the gym lobby through December to help Distance: Varies prepare our friends for the Contact: Sam Thompson, St. Jude Memphis Marathon. 901-386-2724 or Check website or Facebook page sthompson@bartlettumc.org for location and time. Join us! 901-722-8797 for more info. Run: Bartlett Run Time: 6:30 p.m. Run: Black Men Run Memphis Place: W.J. Freeman Park, Time: 6 a.m. 2629 Bartlett Blvd. Place: Code Enforcement, Distance: 4-6 miles Farm Road at Mullins Station Contact: Paul “Spunky” Ireland Distance: Varies h. 901-388-5009 c. 901-826-7496 Contact: Shannon Chisenga, or paulireland@att.net 215-834-4687 or shannon.chisenga@blkmenrun.com

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

Run: FIT4MOM Run Club Time and day of week: 8-week sessions. Location: Shelby Farms Park Distance: All distances Contact: Amy Earnest memphis@fit4mom.com or visit www.memphis.fit4mom.com 27

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

Run: Run & Play Time and Place: meet the first Saturday of the month at 9 a.m. at various locations in town (see website for each month’s location) This group is geared for moms with strollers and/or toddlers. Info: www.seemommyrun.com/tn/ Run: Mommies on the Move Time: 9 a.m. Place: Shelby Farms Visitors Center Details: For mothers with strollers and toddlers Contact: www.seemommyrun.com/tn Run: DAC Fitness Collierville Time: 9:30 a.m. Distance: from 5K beginner to half marathon training at various paces Contact: Heather Nichols 651-1065 or Brandy Heckmann 443-653-0385

Various Days Run: Tipton County Road Dawgs Time: Friend us on Facebook under Road Dawgs and check posting of upcoming runs, usually on Sat. a.m. Place: Check Facebook Distance: All distances, all ages, all paces. Runs are in Tipton County and north Shelby County Contact: djroaddawg@yahoo.com

Race Calendar (From the MRTC website) Date & Time: Friday, May 29, 7:00 p.m. Race name: Ryleeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Run 5K, VIRTUAL RACE Location: Mike Rose Soccer Complex 9000 E Shelby Drive Contact: www.ryleesrun.com Date & Time: Saturday, June 20, 8:00 a.m. Race name: Mutt Strut 5K Location: Overton Park, Rainbow Lake Pavilion 1914 Poplar Ave. Contact: TBA Date & Time: Sunday, July 12, 7:00 a.m. Race name: Road Race Series 1st 5K Location: Cancer Survivors Park (East end of Audubon Park) Contact: TBA Date & Time: Race name: Location: Contact:

Saturday, July 18, 7:00 a.m.

Pilgrimage MRTC Mug Mile Houston High School See ad on page 14.

Date & Time: Saturday, July 25 Race name: Pride 5K Contact: TBA Date & Time: Sunday, July 26, 7:00 a.m. Race name: Road Race Series 2nd 5K Location: Cancer Survivors Park (East end of Audubon Park) Contact: TBA

MRTC bad-weather policy

Date & Time: Saturday, August 8 Race name: Celebrate Munford 5K Contact: TBA

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.

Date & Time: Sunday, August 9, 7:00 a.m. Race name: Road Race Series 1st 5-Miler Location: W.J. Freeman Park, 2629 Bartlett Blvd. Contact: TBA 28