THE ROADRUNNER A Publication of the Memphis Runners Track Club www. memphisrunners. com
November 2019 • Vol. 39, No. 9
Run for Olivia and children like her St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend, Saturday, Dec. 7
THE ROADRUNNER
A publication of the Memphis Runners Track Club November 2019 Vol. 39, No. 9
In This Issue From the Editor’s Desk
1
Message from the President (by Steve Spakes)
3
Nutrition on the Run (by Ashley Ludlow)
4
St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend preview
6
Hill and Dale 8-Miler preview
10
WRWM program scores high again
13
We run for love (by Rome Delasalas)
15
Enjoying the Western Winds (by Rob Rayder)
17
Marathon results (compiled by Millie Jackson)
26
Happy Reading (book review by Happy Skywalker)
27
Group runs
28
Race Calendar
30
Advertisements
On the cover
St. Jude patient Olivia with her father, Peter. St. Jude photos courtesy of ALSAC / St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Start2Finish Event Management
2
Blair Parker Design
5
BioLife Plasma Services
9
Race for Grace 5K
12
Jingle Bell Run
12
Zaka Bowl
19
OrthoSouth
20
Sprouts Farmers Market
21
901 PT 22 Grivet Outdoors
24
Nationwide
25
Fleet Feet
Inside Front Cover
PR Event Management
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 and deadlines for submitting articles to the Roadrunner, contact the editor.
MRTC Board of Directors 2018-2019 OFFICERS President/ Sponsorship Director Steve Spakes stevemrtc@gmail.com Vice President Suzie Hicks-Hurt 901-496-1377 s_hickshurt@bellsouth.net Treasurer Charles Flanigan Jr. mrtc.treasurer@gmail.com DIRECTORS Past President / Special Projects/Results John Payne 901-494-8266 johncharlespayne@gmail.com
Past President/Special Projects/Legal Matters George F. Higgs 901-528-1111 ghiggs@stonehiggsdrexler.com Volunteer Director Nancy Brewton volunteeringwithnancy@ gmail.com 901-237-4758 Finish Line Director/ Equipment Lane Purser 901-483-8929 lpurser350@aol.com Timing/Results Rich Tutko 901-481-0498 rtutko@hotmail.com
Past President/ Roadrunner Editor Brent Manley 901-383-8782 brentmanley@yahoo.com
Women Run/Walk Memphis Director Allison Andrassy 901-409-6620 allison.mrtc@gmail.com
Past President/ Course Measurement Rob Hunter 901-246-1565 robhunter33@comcast.net
Director Kent Smith kent824@bellsouth.net
Past President/ New Race Coordinator Wain Rubenstein 901-278-1792 wrubenstei@aol.com
Director Dennese Black
For information about MRTC or running in the Memphis area, contact any board member or visit www.memphisrunners.com Administrative Secretary/Scheduler April Flanigan 901-574-8908 aflanigan@memphisrunners.com Magazine Services Printing and mailing services provided by Paulsen Printing 901-363-5988
From the Editor’s Desk Brent Manley Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is to always try just one more time.
I did a repeat of sorts in the first 10K in this year’s road race series. I had done okay – that is, I was still upright when I finished – in the 5K and the 5-Miler, but I had no expectations for how I would do in the 10K at Shelby Farms. As I ran along, enjoying the morning, I started thinking about my mother, Helen Manley, who had died five days before that Sept. 8 race. My mom had made it to 99 and was only about 11 weeks from her 100th birthday despite dealing with various health problems for about a decade. I had often talked to my siblings – two brothers and two sisters – about our mother’s staying power. Some days it seemed the end was nigh, but she would rally and keep on going. I’m pretty sure she didn’t know she was so close to being 100 years old, but none of us would have bet against her. When I started slowing down a bit in the 10K, I thought about my mother’s determination and will to live. I thought to myself that if my mother could get that close to 100 years old despite all she had been through health-wise, I could try a bit harder that day. I had the same thought a few more times before finally making it to the finish line. I was third in my age group, an improvement over how I placed in the 5K and the 5-Miler. I wish I could have told my mom how she helped me. Just in case she’s looking down on her first-born child, I’ll just say, “Thanks, Mom,” one more time.
—Thomas A. Edison
Inspiration
In June 2005, I was running in the Sunburst Marathon in South Bend IN. The day had turned hot and I was starting to tire. It didn’t help that a significant part of the course was concrete and my lower back was hurting. I needed a boost. I got it by thinking about Jody Latham, my friend and work colleague. Jody was back in Memphis bravely fighting cancer. I thought that if Jody could show so much courage, I should be able to deal with difficulty myself. Thoughts of Jody helped me forget about my troubles – they were nothing compared to what she was going through – and I finished the marathon feeling okay. I had heard stories about runners who were able to rally in tough circumstances by thinking Helen Manley, circa 1945. of those who were coping courageously in worse situations, but I had never experienced it myself. I never got the chance to tell Jody how much she had helped me without even knowing it. She died in hospice care before I could see her again. 1
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A Message from the President By Steve Spakes say thank you to the MRTC members. It was held on the lake side of the Visitors Center on a beautiful Thursday evening. MRTC presented Shelby Farms Park Conservancy with a $3,000 donation. We so much appreciate all the park does for the community and Memphis Runners. Also, a big thank you to Skylar at Meddlesome Brewing Company for supplying the cold beer. If you haven’t been to their taproom, check them out. Another event worth mentioning was the Frank Horton Cross Country Invitational, which featured races for elementary, middle, junior varsity and varsity. It also has an open class for anybody to run. It is held at Shelby Farms on a Friday and Saturday evening. Yes, it is a night race with approximately 37 towable light towers along the course. Make plans for 2020. We were fortunate to have a space at the Cooper Young Festival. A lot of folks came by and it was amazing how many newcomers to the area we met. They were interested in places to run, groups to run with, and a few had not been to Shelby Farms. It was a hot day, but the crowd was out. Finally, an MRTC shout out to our own board member, Lane Purser, for helping MYA this year. He has been available for most of the races and has been a tremendous help and I know they appreciate it. Another shout out to Christine Bertz, one of our Women Walk Run Memphis coaches, for completing the Augusta 70.3 Ironman. Good job! Christine Bertz.
It’s been a fun but busy month for MRTC. The Road Race Series is winding down and a big thank you to all the participants and volunteers. Also, a big thank you to the volunteers and coaches for another successful MRTC Kids! program. Speaking of MRTC Kids!, we’re in discussion with Memphis Youth Athletics to see if we
A training session for MRTC Kids! about to begin. can in some way align our kids program with MYA so there might could be a natural progression for kids who want to continue running as they get older. I hope that you were able to attend Brews and Views. This was a Shelby Farms / MRTC event to
Members of the MRTC board on hand for the presentation of a $3,000 donation to the Shelby Farms Park Conservancy. 3
Ashley Ludlow
MS, RD, CSG, ACE-CHC, LDN, FAND
You Can Have Your Cake and Eat it Too!
We may all have different reasons why we run. We may run for stress relief, for health reasons, or because it is the perfect excuse to catch up with friends. The good news is that we all reap similar benefits from running; a stronger core, a fitter body, stronger muscles, increased endurance levels, and reduced stress. The runs themselves are what drive these positive changes, but it is after the run, when we are resting and refueling that the actual physiological and biological changes take place. When we exercise, the primary source of energy our body uses are carbohydrates. After we burn through the glucose in our bloodstream, our body moves on to the carbohydrates that we have in our muscles and liver as glycogen. We have a limited amount of glycogen stored in our bodies, most likely just enough to get us through a 30-45-minute run. What happens, though, if later we have to be in the weight room or in the yoga studio that same afternoon and we haven’t replaced those carbohydrate stores? We end up with heavy/sore muscles, fatigue, injuries, and that horrible “running out of gas” feeling. If we do not adequately fuel after exercise, we place ourselves at risk for illness and injury, and we decrease our body’s ability to adapt to the exercise itself. There are three major keys to optimal post-run recovery nutrition: • Restore fluids and electrolytes lost through sweat during activity • Replace muscle fuel (carbohydrates) burned during exercise • Provide protein to promote muscle repair and growth.
When we eat carbohydrates such as fruit, grains, starchy vegetables, or even CAKE, these carbohydrates are quickly broken down in our bodies as glucose to be used right away or can be stored as glycogen in our livers and our muscles. When we exercise, our bodies then turn this stored muscle glycogen back into glucose to be used as fuel by our muscles. Recovery is an all-day process! It takes anywhere from 24 to 48 hours to fully replace your muscle glycogen stores. Within 30 to 60 minutes after exercise, your body is able to synthesize glycogen from the carbohydrates you eat at a much faster rate. Your heart rate and blood pressure also are elevated, so nutrients are delivered to your muscles and cells quicker. Your body acts like a nutrition sponge during this carbohydrate window. Another purpose of refueling during this window of opportunity by is that your body uses the carbohydrates and protein you eat to help prevent further muscle breakdown; and your body’s hormonal response to carbohydrates allows your body to go from muscle breakdown (what happens when we are running) to actual muscle building, using the amino acids from protein for repair and rebuilding of muscle. What should we eat for optimal recovery? Research suggests that we should aim to consume at least half our body weight in grams of carbohydrates if not a little more (e.g., if you weigh 150 pounds, aim for 75 grams of carbohydrates) along with 15-25 grams of protein within 30 minutes to an hour after running and then aim eat both snacks and meals that contain carbohydrates for the next 24 hours. As a reminder, 15 grams of carbohydrates equals
... we all reap similar benefits from running ...
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approximately ½ cup of juice, or one cup of milk, or one slice of bread. Note one egg, one cup of milk and one ounce of meat each contain about 7 grams of protein. Some great post workout snacks to try include: chocolate milk, a small bowl of cereal with milk, a bagel topped with cheese or peanut butter with a piece of fruit, yogurt topped with berries and dry cereal, pudding, smoothies, fig bars with a glass of milk, Trail mix, including nuts and dried fruits, and a sports drink, or even leftovers from the night before such as chicken with rice and mixed vegetables, Refueling our bodies at the right time, with the right foods, is critical to aid in recovery from our runs, to repair muscle and tissue damage, and increase hydration, which allows our bodies to be ready for that next long run. run
A marathon that actually was a sprint – Wow!
On Saturday, Oct. 12, Eliud Kipchoge became the first person in recorded history to run a 26.2-mile marathon in less than two hours. The 34-year-old Kenyan runner clocked in at 1:59:40.2 at the INEOS 1:59 Challenge in Vienna, Austria. The run, organized specifically for Kipchoge to break the twohour marathon barrier, was organized by chemical company INEOS and featured an electric pacer car that shot a laser beam to mark the best position on the road. A team of 41 professional runners also rotated running alongside him to set his pace. The history-making accomplishment won’t be in the official record book, though; The New York Times reports that Kipchoge’s time won’t be recognized as an official world record because it was not run under open marathon conditions (Kipchoge was the only person running) and featured a constant rotation of pacers.
Renew your MRTC membership at www.memphisrunners.com
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ALSAC / St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital During a vacation with her mother, father and twin brother in July 2018, then 2-year-old Olivia developed mild symptoms of illness. She was sleepy and ran a low fever off and on. Less than a month later, she was a patient of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® with a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Olivia’s family is from the greater Memphis area and were St. Jude supporters long before her
diagnosis. Her father Peter has participated in St. Jude Memphis Marathon® Weekend for the past three years as a St. Jude Hero – those who fundraise for the hospital while training for an endurance event.
St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend participants run through the hospital’s campus, where they are cheered on by St. Jude patients and their families. 6
St. Jude patient Olivia, at right in green, with her family: from left, her mother, Kacie; Owen, her twin brother, and Peter, her father.
participated in the half marathon. Now in the event’s 18th year, he will run the 10K as a St. Jude Hero, raising funds that will save lives of children just like his daughter. Last year alone raised a record $11.2 million to support the St. Jude mission: Finding cures. Saving children.® Funds raised through events like this help ensure families like Olivia’s never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Although he originally began with a fundraising commitment of $600, Peter has raised more than $8,000 for this year’s event, and his fundraising will not stop when he crosses the finish line. Although Oliva came to St. Jude with ALL, Peter has no doubt she will leave cancer-free. St. Jude has helped increase the survival rates for ALL from 4 percent when the hospital opened in 1962 to 94 percent today. Last year, 26,000 participants and 40,000 spectators from across the country and around the world gathered to take part in the annual event, supporting the hospital that is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. “That race day showed me how many people care about people like my daughter. [26,000] people together on one day all for the same cause is just amazing to me,” Peter said.
St. Jude patient Olivia. But participating in the race last year was especially meaningful for this father of two after Olivia’s diagnosis. When Peter first participated as a St. Jude Hero in 2016, he ran because of the cause and purpose, but didn’t know much more about the hospital beyond that. But through and through, he reminded himself that if his child was in that situation, he would want someone doing the same for them. “As soon as this happened with Olivia, it just lit a spark inside of me,” Peter said. “This is what you were signed up for. This is what your dedication was for.” In 2018, just after the twins turned 3, Peter 7
Runners cross the start line at the 2018 St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend. Since 2002, St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend has been Memphis’ premier marathon. St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend is one of only two major marathons owned and operated by a nonprofit, where the funds raised go to a single charity. Visit stjude.org/marathon to learn more, support a St. Jude Hero, register to participate or volunteer during the event weekend, taking place Thursday, Dec. 5 – Saturday, Dec. 7.
Since the event began in 2002, St. Jude Heroes have raised more than $70 million through St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend. 8
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Enjoy the Magic of the Hill and Dale By Charles Flanigan, Jr.
On the Hill and Dale 8-miler course at Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park.
The historic Hill and Dale 8 Miler, which began in 1979, is one of the oldest and most iconic continuous running races in the Memphis area. The 2020 Hill and Dale on Jan. 4 will celebrate the 41st running of this 8-mile race in which many Tennessee state records have been set for this unique distance. With a sign-up fee of only $10 with no shirt and $22 with a shirt, The Hill and Dale is one of the best bang-for-your-buck races around. April and I will be race directors for the first time for this race and we are working to keep the historic charm of the event while adding a bit of new flair. This race is special because all proceeds are donated to Friends of the Forest and go directly back into the park. The purpose of this organization is to assist the Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park personnel in maintaining the ecological treasures of the park and enhancing the recreational activities for current and future generations. There are some things that you can count on when
you sign up for this race. One is that the course will be beautiful and full of friendly people. The other is the Memphis Runners Track Club’s accurate timing for a course that is well marked. The Hill and Dale 8-mile course is professionally measured by MRTC’s own Rob Hunter and certified by the United States Track and Field Association. This makes the Hill and Dale one of only two 8-mile courses in the State of Tennessee where the runners are eligible to set a Tennessee state record for the 8-mile distance. The wild card is always the weather. We know that early January in Memphis can mean 18 degrees and snowing, like it did the first time I ran this race back in 2009, or sunny with temperatures in the mid-50s. The race starts at 11 a.m. and runs through the beautiful landscapes and hardwood forests of Shelby Forest State Park. The course takes you on park roads
... put this race on your must-do list ...
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and paved trails with stunning scenery all around. You first head towards Grassy Lake, where you will then turn around and run back past the start at mile 2. This makes for a spectatorfriendly start and you can grab some water at the first water stop. You then head into the woods on the paved trail running towards the Mississippi river bottoms or “The Dale” where you will see old hardwood forests, cypress stumps and lowwater swamps created by the flood waters of the Mississippi River. Once Coming out of the woods. you make it through the dale, you climb a hill, and at mile 4 you get to see the friendly faces of our main sponsors, Breakaway Running, at the second water stop. From there you run an out and back on flat roads returning to the Breakaway Running water stop at mile 6 before dropping back down the paved trail to the bottoms again. This is where the real fun starts. At mile 7 you reach the legendary switchbacks, also known to runners as “The Beast.” These switchbacks are sure to challenge and exhilarate runners of all levels. But don’t
worry, we will have an extra boost of motivation at the Beast to get you to the top. Once you get your breath and legs back, it’s just an easy 1-mile run on park roads to the finish line. When the race is over then the real fun begins. Runners will enjoy a great after-party inside one of the lodges located within the park. We will host an afterrace dinner complete with burgers, hot dogs and veggie burgers with all the fixings, along with chips, cookies and desserts that runners so kindly contribute to the meal. There is always plenty of room within the lodge to enjoy your meal with your running friends. You can also grab a nice, warming cup of coffee or homemade hot chocolate courtesy of Rachel and Charlie Ragan. Once you are full of good food, we settle into the lower area of the lodge to enjoy some time around a blazing fire, tell war stories of this race and races What runners can expect after finishing the Hill and Dale 8-Miler. 11
Hill and Dale course map.
2019
RACETGRACE 5K NOVEMBER 2 @ 9am
shady grove presbyterian church ) BENEFITING shady grove elementary school (
register:
raceforgrace.org
past, and hand out some magical age-group awards and special prizes from our sponsor Breakaway Running. April and I are not only the newest race directors for this one-of-a-kind race, but we are also huge fans of running. We hope you put this race on your must-do list because there is nothing like it! To register, go to hillanddale.raceroster.com.
• $15 registration for ALL educators and students (PreK through college) • $50 Fleet Feet gift cards for top male & female finishers! • 1 mile kid’s fun run, face-painting, inflatables, & snacks Race for Grace is a mission of Shady Grove Presbyterian Church 5530 Shady Grove Rd / rfg@shadygrovepres.org / tel 901-683-7329
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Women’s run program scores another hit On Sept. 7, 235 women made their way to Hope Church on Walnut Grove Road to take part in the “graduation” 5K of the 2019 Women Run/Walk Memphis program. The fact that there were 235 finishers in the race speaks to the enthusiasm of the runners and walkers, from beginner to advanced groups. Everyone involved had high praise for the program and those, notably coaches, who helped make it work. Allison Andrassy and Anne Forbus, co-directors, were thrilled with the turnout and the overall success of this year’s program. Said Andrassy: “Women Run Walk Memphis 2019 was a success!! Our Monday-night trainings started off quite pleasant, but by August, the heat of the summer came into play. We shouldn’t be too surprised by this … we are in the South. But, hey, if you can run in the summer, it should be a breeze to run in the spring, fall and winter! We made the decision to modify a few weeks of training due to the excessive heat, and the ladies did a great job of sticking with it. New this year: a brand new race course and location. Hope Church was a wonderful change of
Women Run/Walk Memphis directors Anne Forbus and Allison Andrassy.
The start of the 2019 “graduation 5K for WRWM participants.
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Sheila Swain.
Christine Bertz helped coach beginners in the 2019 WRWM program.
scenery and the participants enjoyed the adequate parking that Hope Church provided as well as a downhill finish! I’ll speak for Anne Forbus and myself by saying Women Run Walk Memphis, sponsored by Memphis Runners Track Club, has changed both of our lives in very different ways, and we are so happy to continue leading this program and touching the lives of the ladies in our community. We hope that every participant tells a friend or loved one about this program in hopes we get a lot of new faces
The Memphis City Employees Credit Union pays entry fees for employees to run a 5K each month.Team MCECU (above) had 17 runners and walkers at the Sept. 7 event. 14
Robin Ross, first in the Senior Master runner group at the WRWM 5K.
next year in addition to this year’s participants. We have lots of new and exciting ideas for 2020!! Stay Tuned!
WRWM followup
In the years that the WRWM program has been operating, it has not been unusual for women to return year after year, even in the beginner (see next page)
Pam Schultz and Joy McInnis, who are sisters, were in the walkers group.
We run for love
A funk on Monday drew a dark cloud over me and it’s still there. A +30-plus-year lost reminiscence occupied my psyche. I took to my running, RUNNING HARD, at times with torrential paces. I asked friends for prayers and tore into the track and road to work my way out of my slump. During my evening six-miler, the triviality of it ceased. For years, running to Rin’s hill meant running by this white home (see photo). An elderly woman inhabited the porch with her little Pug pooch. It would bark at me frantically. She would holler, “The little guy meant no harm.” Passing her brightened my run and provided encouragement when taking on grueling interval workouts up Rin’s Hill. Sometimes the sweet woman offered me a cookie or chocolate bar when my body dragged from the hard work out. Months passed, I notice she was no longer on her porch bench. She wasn’t out there on this pleasurable evening. As I approached her home, her husband drove his tractor to the front of the property. I paused and waved for him to stop. “Beautiful Day,” I said, “I notice the Missus hasn’t been around.” The elderly man pleasantly smiled, “My wife… She died now 18 months back in January 2018.” I gently grabbed his arm and replied, “I am so sorry, my friend.” He patted my hands in appreciation. “It was her time, son … You know, she thought the world of you. You were an inspiration to her with all that runnin.’ She sure loved to watch you run.” I gently tightened my grip on his arm. “Thank you, sir. God bless you.” His other hand continued patting my hands. I let go and smiled. I turned back to the road. With a sigh and deep breath, I sped on my way. My funk of previous days cleared from recollections five American Presidents past. Yet, just
group. Some, like Robin Ross, move up. Ross did so this year, training with the advanced runners. Ross said she benefited from climbing hills with the advanced group, and her effort paid off with her finish as the top runner in the Senior Master category. Ross is now running in the annual road race series and is in position to earn Road Warrior status this year. She hails the women’s program for the many options for budding runners. She says that the program has something for just about any woman, “no matter what level runner you are.” Sheila Swain had signed up for the program as a beginner a few times before this year, but life seemed to
By Rome Delasalas
The author with the special white house in the background. as inconsequential, I saw a woman on a porch waving hello now passed away. The latter put into context what I must cherish: those who care about me in the present, to be at peace with old spirits and love what is in front of me. Especially when she gives me cookies.
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get in the way and she didn’t make the training sessions. It was different for her in 2019 and she is thinking about returning for more in 2020. Swain says she liked the fact that coaches were always with the runners and walkers as they trained, and she found the atmosphere comfortable. “I liked the camaraderie,” Swains says she got a lot out of the talks by experts about the benefits of stretching and even yoga, and advice about equipment, especially running shoes, and nutrition. As for the graduation 5K, Swain was pleased with her finish time of 37 minutes, She notes that she has recommended the program to others. “It’s a really good way to get back into running and getting better.”
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Running with the Western Winds By Robert “the Lone Runner” Rayder
When we connect to the natural world, We sense the most ancient parts of our humanity: The Rock is our Bones, The Sea is our Blood, The Sky is our Breath. We stand in awe of mother nature’s wonders And see the greater reflection of a place that is, in part, only ourselves. A Campground in the Great Western Desert near the North Rim of the Grand Canyon - Summer, 1983 My dad excitedly moved into the driver’s compartment of our dusty old RV. He opened the glove compartment and pulled out a bundle of maps neatly held together by a double wrapped rubber band. He
The author at a summit near the Deer Valley ski slope. 17
carefully unwrapped the precious contents and read the titles printed on the perfectly folded rectangles. The first package labeled “California” was set aside, as was another labeled “Oregon” and a third emblazoned with big bold letters “The United States.” Instead his attention was drawn to the relatively spartan maps of “Arizona” and “Utah.” He began to unfold them with the utmost care so as not to tear a single page. There were no easy replacements to be found in this remote place. He squinted in the poor light of our aging RV’s weak battery powered lights. His fingers traced out the route we have taken thus far. My mom, younger brother Jeff and I sat opposite of my enthralled father observing the nightly ritual with varying degrees of interest. “We are here,” he proclaimed at last, pointing at an obscure and lonely section of the Arizona map. He expertly folded the paper over to make this spot the center of a new, smaller map of Arizona. He then rearranged the Utah map to highlight the relatively desolate southern portion. The northern rectangle that sits atop the bigger square that make Utah’s distinctive shape disappeared with one small, well-practiced maneuver. My dad was a geographical wizard with a paper map. A quick glance revealed that there weren’t many roads or cities here, only a lot of small print triangles which represented mountaintops sitting beside unfamiliar names and corresponding elevations. A single red
Rob and Christina Rayder at the entrance to Red Canyon (Dixie National Forest).
road stretched northward up from the Arizona state line, Interstate 15. The only visible city of any consequence sat astride that red spike, St George’s. I briefly wondered if this was our new destination. But my father’s eyes were fixed a little further north, on two spots shaded in a deep green hue. It was the same distinctive coloring that highlighted the Grand Canyon on the Arizona map. It was the color reserved for US National Parks, my dad’s Holy Lands of vacation destinations. There was little doubt about where he planned to take us next. My mother lodged her usual protest. “We’ve been in this camper for days now. Maybe we can take a break from the wild and get a nice hotel in a decent city for a bit?” My father would hear nothing of it. While he called these nightly gatherings a “Family Meeting” where “we” would decide where to go next, it was, in fact, more of a family briefing, simply there to inform us of our next destination and give my dad yet another opportunity to show off his amazing map skills. Thus, I made my way to the National Parks of Bryce Canyon and Zion for the first time. Despite the fact that this was a whirlwind tour that mostly involved pulling into one scenic turnoff after another, I was struck by the magic these places. I had never seen anything quite like them, and even at that young and sarcastic age I was impressed by what was there. Before that night in the old RV, I’d never even heard of Bryce or Zion. After that next day, I’d never forget them. They
were added to my memory as one of the most exotic and wonderous places I’d ever been. I had hoped we would spend a little more time there. But I knew better. As usual, my dad promised that this was just an “exploratory visit” and vowed that we would return one day to experience things in greater depth. By days end, however, my dad was focused on our next destination, Salt Lake City. In his mind these remarkable national parks were added to the list of “Places We’ve Been.” He would never come back. I hoped the same wasn’t to be true of me. Flash forward 35 years and I’m sitting in bed next to my wife with that rarest and most dangerous commodity, free time. I was cruising through online reviews of marathons when I came across a familiar name, “The Little Grand Canyon” marathon hosted in central Utah. This was a small race run through a state park, complete with grand vistas, ancient Native American hieroglyphs and a run through the bottom of a scenic desert canyon. I had nothing scheduled in September as far as races went and had the time available to take off at work. The stars were beginning to align for another of those great running adventures. After a quick scan of airline prices to Salt Lake City, I found a deal and presented it to my wife, Christina, who was immediately intrigued. She had never been to Utah and knew of my wonderous tales of the National Parks to be found there. Even though the race was well north of Bryce and Zion, I imagined it 18
would still be pretty incredible and very different from anything I’d done before. We signed up and booked our flights. A few weeks later we received a cryptic e-mail that announced that the marathon had been cancelled “for reasons beyond our control.” No further explanation was forthcoming, and a refund was already being processed. This was pretty distressing since my great airline deal was on a budget carrier that was non-cancelable and had a hefty change fee attached to it. If we didn’t go, we would be out a lot of cash. To add insult to injury, I had just been approved at work for my time off. Thus, we decided that we were going to Utah with or without a race. Our plans began to shift. Anyway, there was an old itch I needed to scratch there. Our sights turned further south, toward Bryce Canyon and Zion. On our first day in Utah we decided to stick close to Salt Lake City after our long flight. We booked a luxury ski resort room in a place called Park City. The small mountain hamlet of Park City plays host to the Sundance Film Festival in the summer and is home to
the famous Deer Valley Ski Resort. Deer Valley is a snow Mecca and wintertime playground for the rich and famous and played host to many of the events of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Today the resort is a premiere ski destination in its own right attracting snow enthusiasts from all over the world to tackle its stunning and challenging slopes. In the winter, there would be no way we could swing the excessive cost of staying in a swanky place like Park City. Without the snow, however, the lodging is cheap and the crowds few. For a runner not afraid of rugged, rocky trails and Rocky Mountain high altitudes, it is a paradise. Thus, I took to some of the stunning trails early the next morning. Even though it was only late September, the leaves were already beginning to change color giving splashes of amber and gold intermixed with the vast emerald carpet of lush evergreens. Temperatures were nearly ideal, in the mid to upper 50’s, without a cloud in the sky. The scene stood in stark contrast to those back home, where Memphians sweltered in the grip of a Summer that refused to relent, and
I imagined it would still be pretty incredible ...
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temperatures held had clearly washed stubbornly onto the away much of the mid 90’s. rocks and dirt that once covered the pipe I had a trail map to over. Now it was guide me, but the paths mostly exposed and were mostly rugged severed as a manmade and poorly maintained. hazard challenging all Many of the paths who passed. doubled as crosscountry ski routes in If I had been the winter. There was paying more attention a confusing network to the path, the pipe of access roads, bike would have posed paths, ski slopes, no real risk to me at and hiking trails all. It could easily that crisscrossed the be avoided. But I mountainsides making wasn’t paying proper navigation difficult. attention and my left foot slammed square Still the vistas into the center of the were breath taking, metal pipe at the exact and the runs through moment I was kicking my favorite tree type, forward. found only in the alpine aspen forests, It didn’t help that were a treat. Aspens I was wearing my have white bark and street shoes, which delicate green leaves, offered little toe box much like our local protection from such Ash trees. Aspen and blows, unlike the Ash trees also share reinforced fronts of that spectacular golden Christina Rayder in Dixie National Forest. dedicated trail shoes, foliage in the fall. The whose purpose is to Aspen, however, grow taller and stand firmer than Ash protect runners from just such a calamity. in order to withstand the brutal, high-altitude winters. I fell to the ground hard. Tears streamed from my This makes them a quite an impressive sight. A large eyes uncontrollably as my foot pulsated with an intense stand of Aspen trees is almost other worldly in its scale pain. I felt bones shifting around in my toe in at least and beauty. two places that they shouldn’t. It was the familiar More fascinating to my mega-geeky side, however, feeling of a broken bone, something I had experienced is that almost all the trees in a particular stand are a few times as a teenager when I played high school clones of one another. This quirk of biology has led football. Blood oozed from a wide gash on my leg some scientists to argue that a stand of Aspen trees is where the gravel, ubiquitously strewn all across the actually one giant organism, making an aspen forest trail, had torn away some of my skin like some massive the largest single organism that has ever lived on sand blaster. I was forced to just lie there in the middle Earth. Running through the Aspen is both spectacularly of that lonely, dusty trail for what seemed like an beautiful and, at the same time, more than a little eternity drowning in a private world of suffering. humbling. After a long while, however, I was able to slowly While lost in these thoughts, I made a rookie make my way to my feet. There was no one around, so running mistake that I would soon come to deeply I would have to make my way back down the mountain regret. While looking up at an impressive curtain of unassisted. These were steep and technical paths, yellow leaves high up in the ivory branches of the and it would be easy to take a wrong turn, especially mighty Aspen, I failed to notice a large steel drainage when my brain was clouded with pain, but there was pipe, only half buried, lying across my path. Erosion no other choice. I hadn’t seen a single other person on 20
these trails since I had started. The area was vast, and this was in the heart of the off season. Rescue seemed unlikely. At least the weather was good, and the day was young. I slowly retraced my steps the best I could, walking as much as possible on my left heel. Whenever my forefoot struck the ground, a shot of searing pain pulsed through me. I gingerly walked on and on until it became abundantly clear that I was lost. Fortunately, my salvation was at hand. A trail biker saw my hobbling gait and stopped to help. He had a GPS device that actually worked in the rugged hills (unlike my useless phone) and pointed me in the right direction. Turned out that I wasn’t that far off course after all, and the path back to my car, while rugged, wasn’t too long. He offered to get help, but I knew
I could make it under my own power once I was set on the right path. I thanked him for his assistance and hobbled painfully back to my car. I was elated to get back to the resort. After a much-needed shower, the maximum dose of ibuprofen allowed, and some creative taping tricks, I was able to walk more or less normally without significant pain. My wife and I then made our way out of Park City, and the stunning Rocky Mountains, and turned our sights towards the high desert of Southern Utah. It was a long and lonely drive. Once out of the mountains, Utah harbors a vast grassy plain that stretches between mountain ranges and goes on for hundreds of miles. There isn’t much exciting to see, and human habitation is rare. Often there aren’t even fence posts. If not for the occasional power and
Thanks to Sprouts for supporting the 2019 Road Race Series and the 2020 Winter Off-Road Series.
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their very limits. If Red Canyon was the backdrop for the Roadrunner, then the Amphitheater is the backdrop for a Dr Seuss book. To really appreciate this place, however, requires one to hike down from the canyon rim and take a few trails through the rock formations directly. As runners, this is exactly what my wife and I planned to do anyway, and we weren’t disappointed. We ran (slowly due to my toe) past massive archways and striated pillars adorned in whimsical stripes of white, red and gold. We ran past spirals capped in white that twisted like frozen yogurt extruded from some giant ice cream machine. We ran past rocks that looked like the bulbous tops of some Eastern Orthodox Church in Russia, or some Mosque in the Middle East. There where rocks in countless shapes and formations, all massive, and they stretched out in the most unlikely poses toward the desert sky. Finally, there were cliffs that faced each other and stretched toward the heavens. In places the rock faces were only a few feet across from each other, and our path ran in between. The sky was blotted out completely except for directly overhead where it shined in a small strip of brilliant blue radiance that made us unconsciously squint our eyes. This was a place of dreams. It was hard to believe it was real at all. And yet, here it was. Nature has a way of endlessly surprising us, exceeding even the most hardened of human expectations. Then came Zion. Although less than 100 miles from Bryce Canyon, Zion is a different animal entirely. True there are fantastic rock formations and canyons and a desert backdrop from another world similar to the other two national parks to the north (and the Grand Canyon to the South for that matter.) But Zion’s beauty comes from the perspective of the bottom of a canyon, not from the rim. Here the mighty cliff walls loom over you ominously. There are sheer rock faces on all sides that stretch thousands of feet up and up and up. No picture or video can adequately capture the sheer scale of this place. Everything seems BIG, because it is BIG. The human scale of space, even with our mightiest buildings, are tiny in this place. This canyon boasts walls of solid rock that rise to heights far, far greater than anything we puny humans have ever attempted.
Rob and Christina Rayder in Bryce Canyon. telephone lines, and, of course, the road itself, no signs of civilization are visible from horizon to horizon. The vast emptiness seems to echo of another time before the arrival of man. That theme set the perfect tone for what was to come. We were travelling first toward Bryce Canyon, the northern most of the two parks. Along the way we passed through a third, less well-known national park called Red Canyon. Compared to the other parks, Red Canyon was relatively small, but it sported a neat series of hiking trail through some spectacular rock formations, all highlighted by an orangish red sand that reminded me of pictures from the planet Mars. I think it would be fair to say the whole National Park looks like a giant piece of a Martian desert had been magically transported to Earth. It was an otherworldly place, both dusty and beautiful, and could easily have served as the inspiration for the Road Runner’s and Wiley Coyote’s home turf from the old-time cartoons. Better still, the park sported tons of hiking and running trails just begging to be explored. My broken toe made our explorations a little less extensive than they might otherwise have been, but the views made me forget all about my pain. And I knew the best was yet to come. Not far beyond the entrance station at Bryce Canyon lies one of the world’s most interesting and unexpected natural creations, the Amphitheater. This natural giant bowl spans miles across and hosts some of the most amazing rock formations that mother nature has ever dared create. They push the laws of physics to
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And those walls surround you all the time, on every side. It’s humbling. Although there are many running and hiking adventures in Zion, we only had time for one. Thus, we chose the most famous and aptly named trail to navigate within the park, “The Narrows.” The Narrows trail is at the very start of the canyon (the most upstream portion) where the Virgin River (actual name, not just a “pure” river) cascades down from the high desert into the narrow opening of the canyon. It is about 5 miles in (and another 5 miles out) and the pathway is mostly underwater. Much of the run-hike is through 1-3 feet of briskly flowing river water. Even the dry portions of the trail are strewn with loose rocks, sand and natural debris kicked up by the occasional flash floods that so often close the trail to adventurers. Fortunately, there are vendors just outside the park who rent water-tight clothing, walking sticks, and specialized water shoes and socks that make the going much, much easier. Unfortunately, my swollen, broken toe forced me to rent shoes two sizes larger than normal, which did slow me down some and was a little uncomfortable.
The very start of the trail is all dry and is even paved. The cliffs start to rise on either side dramatically as the river scenically flows by. For the casual tourist the trail ends at just under a mile in. But for the more adventuresome, things just get started there. We suited up and stepped off into the brisk water and started walking (running is nearly impossible) in the waist deep river. All the while the cliff walls were rising up around us and the river was slowly getting narrower. Christina and I mustered slow forward progress against the water which constantly pushed back against us. We used our fellow adventurers ahead as guides. Some folks have a knack for finding the path of least resistance, and others don’t. Depending on what we saw happen to them, we would adjust our path accordingly. Only twice did we get into difficult water, and that was when there were no obvious guides to judge the best path forward. The farther upstream we went, the more spectacular the scenery became. Cliff walls hundreds of feet high towered above us. Less and less sunlight reached us.
Only twice did we get into difficult water ...
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At the narrowest portion of the trail, the cliff faces were Our vacation was over. The next day we would take mere feet apart and the light was deeply dusky, similar a plane from Salt Lake City back home, to the world of to the light level just after sunset. I could almost put my the familiar. Yet it is impossible not to take places like hands on both walls at the same time. The sky above this with you when you go. I was touched as a teen all was barely visible. The walls were stained in alternating those years ago, even by my brief encounter. My whole horizontal bands, eroded away by the timeless river life I felt the pull to come back to this spot, to this over an unimaginably vast span of time. It was an unique part of the world, to this peculiar green spot on incredible place, that made me feel like we had fallen an otherwise barren map. into a giant crack in a sidewalk that descended hundreds Now I’ve done it, and all I want to do is go to of feet into the earth. The dusky trail of water stretched another green spot. My dad had a point all those years before and behind us through the gloom as far as we ago. He spent his life dreaming of what he would find could see. Sometimes we couldn’t see the sky at all, and at those spots on a map. It helped make him who he the world was lit by an ethereal glow from someplace was. For it is only there we can glimpse the greatness of above just out of our sight. the world beyond ourselves. And it is only on the Our world was reduced to smooth banded rockfaces trip there that we can get a glimpse the greatness that on either side and the tiny stream in between. It felt is within. like we were walking in a corridor that led straight to the underworld. I was filled with a sense of awe, and maybe just Auto Home Life Business Motorcycle a little irrational dread. It felt a little like we were leaving our familiar world of light behind and going into someplace new, a dark place. Sometimes it’s not good to have an overactive imagination. Eventually we turned around and made our way back downstream. The water now pushed us from behind and the going was much easier (and faster) than the way in. The cliffs parted, the light increased and we were back on the bus and headed for home in a flash.
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MARATHON RESULTS FOR MEMPHIS-AREA RUNNERS Compiled by Millie Jackson
Olaf Schulz
Pikes Peak Marathon Manitou Springs, CO August 25, 2019 Lakeland, TN
5:27:41
Tupelo Marathon Tupelo, MS September 1, 2019 Jim Brown Tupelo, MS Olivia Ritter Memphis, TN Ashley Dyar Spriggs Memphis, TN Bruce Dodson Tupelo, MS Todd Barcelona Atoka, TN Allison Barcelona Atoka, TN Kelli Brown Germantown, TN Jon Dougherty Memphis, TN Lindsay Crawford Oxford, MS Jeremiah Blough Oxford, MS Aaron Smith Arlington, TN
2:59:39 3:43:40 4:18:35 4:38:03 5:23:40 5:23:41 5:36:50 5:39:47 5:48:13 5:48:14 6:43:28
Heart of America Marathon Columbia, MO September 2, 2019 Houston Wolf Cordova, TN
4:04:46
Last Chance BQ.2 Grand Rapids Marathon Grand Rapids, MI September 7, 2019 Kelly Henson Arlington, TN 4:00:06
Via Marathon Allentown, PA September 8, 2019 Mallory Bader Memphis, TN Augusto Arevalo Cordova, TN
3:28:00 3:44:02
Erie Marathon at Presque Isle Erie, PA September 8, 2019 Jason Schnelle Memphis, TN Hannah Pettigrew Memphis, TN
3:27:53 4:19:35
Attention: Fellow Runners! Do you have some unusual experiences as a runner, or some thoughts about our sport you would like to share? Don’t keep it to yourself – share with your fellow runners. You can contact the editor at any time to discuss potential contributions: brentmanley@yahoo.com or 901-246-6477. This is your publication. Be an active part of it. Brent Manley, Editor
Roadrunner deadlines for 2019
December issue - Nov. 12 Jan.-Feb. 2020 - Dec. 17 If you have questions about advertising or article contributions, write to the editor: brentmanley@yahoo.com
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Happy Reading Eat and Run: My Unlikely Journey to Ultramarathon Greatness By Scott Jurek
Happy Skywalker
Reviewed by Happy Skywalker “Run for 20 minutes and you’ll feel better. Run another 20 and you might tire. Add on 3 hours and you’ll hurt, but keep going and you’ll see – and hear and smell and taste – the world with a vividness that will make your former life pale.” — Scott Jurek, Eat and Run: My Unlikely Journey to Ultramarathon Greatness
life. It’s rare to find a running book with a genuine story, food for thought, vivid characters and captivating detail. This isn’t quite a running manual. This is a revealing memoir and tale of true adventures. You will love this book if: you’re entertained by personal stories woven with race-day stories, science, philosophy, and training tips. You won’t love this book if: you just want training tips without a story or you feel rage when veganism is mentioned.
About the Book
Running, and the mental toughness of ultramarathon running, is what this story revolves around.
About the Author
Eat & Run opens with an intimate, vulnerable look into the author’s mind as he is either going to quit the Badwater 135 mile Ultramarathon or keep going. From here, Jurek weaves a raw and honest story spanning his life, from running to family relationships to career and friendships. At times the writing moves between being humorous, philosophical, touching, or helpful running tips and exercises.
Scott Jurek holds a long list of running accomplishments. You may have read the smash hit Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen, in which Jurek competes with indiginous Mexican super-runners through Mexico’s Copper Canyons. Eat & Run is his first book, which was later followed by North: Finding My Way While Running the Appalachian Trail.
This book title fits Jurek’s busy running life, but also alludes to his dual focus on diet and sport. Scott Jurek is vegan, and the book follows him and his concerns as he explores whether one can be both vegan and a great athlete. He even includes recipes and information about food options you can try for fueling runs.
Renew your MRTC membership at www.memphisrunners.com
There is a simple joy to reading a story where running is as much a natural piece as it is in your own 27
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
LifeGreen Checking 1.800.regions | regions.com/green © 2009 Regions Bank.
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6/9/09 2:06:05 PM
Wednesday morning
Thursday afternoon
Wednesday afternoon
Run: Sea Isle Park Runners Time: 6 p.m. Place: McWherter Senior Center 1355 Estate Drive Distance: 1 mile-5K Contact: Sea Isle Park Runners Facebook group Notes: One mile loop around Sea Isle Park and two miles of hills in wooded neighborhood east of the park. Beautiful and safe course!
Run: Fleet Feet Run: Southaven Striders Time: 6 p.m. Time: 6 a.m. Fleet Feet hosts individualized Place: Central Park in Southaven speedwork sessions including track (Tchulahoma ent., east side of park) and tempo workouts for runners Distance: 3-5 miles (9- 12-minute miles) who want to get a little quicker. Contact: Kyle McCoy, 901-299-8630 or No fees. kalmac220@gmail.com Contact: Feb at 901-761-0078 or lovetorun@fleetfeetmemphis.com Run: Breakaway Running Time: 6 p.m. Place: Wolf River Store 1223 Germantown Pkwy. Contact: Barry, 901-722-8797 or 901-754-8254 Run: Midtown Run Time: 6 p.m. Place: Corner of Madison and Tucker, across from Huey’s Distance: 6 miles
Saturday morning
Run: Bartlett UMC Run: Breakaway Running Time: 6 p.m. Breakaway’s Marathon and Place: Bartlett United Methodist Church, Half Marathon Training Group 5676 Stage Road; group meets in meets each Saturday morning the gym lobby through December to help Distance: Varies prepare our friends for the Contact: Sam Thompson, St. Jude Memphis Marathon. 901-386-2724 or Check website or Facebook page sthompson@bartlettumc.org for location and time. Join us! 901-722-8797 for more info. Run: Bartlett Run Time: 6:30 p.m. Run: Black Men Run Memphis Place: W.J. Freeman Park, Time: 6 a.m. 2629 Bartlett Blvd. Place: Code Enforcement, Distance: 4-6 miles Farm Road at Mullins Station Contact: Paul “Spunky” Ireland Distance: Varies h. 901-388-5009 c. 901-826-7496 Contact: Shannon Chisenga, or paulireland@att.net 215-834-4687 or shannon.chisenga@blkmenrun.com
Thursday afternoon Run: Breakaway Running Time: 6 p.m. Beginners group Place: Breakaway Midtown 2109 Madison Contact: Barry, 901-722-8797 or 901-754-8254
Run: FIT4MOM Run Club Time and day of week: 8-week sessions. Location: Shelby Farms Park Distance: All distances Contact: Amy Earnest memphis@fit4mom.com or visit www.memphis.fit4mom.com 29
Note: This information is provided as a courtesy in an effort to help MRTC members enhance their running experiences. MRTC encourages members to run with groups of their choice, but the listed running groups/group runs are independent and not affiliated with, nor endorsed by, the MRTC. The club makes no representation that the information provided is accurate. Persons who wish to participate in activities with these groups should contact the individuals listed for further information and participate at their own risk.
Run: Run & Play Time and Place: meet the first Saturday of the month at 9 a.m. at various locations in town (see website for each month’s location) This group is geared for moms with strollers and/or toddlers. Info: www.seemommyrun.com/tn/ Run: Mommies on the Move Time: 9 a.m. Place: Shelby Farms Visitors Center Details: For mothers with strollers and toddlers Contact: www.seemommyrun.com/tn Run: DAC Fitness Collierville Time: 9:30 a.m. Distance: from 5K beginner to half marathon training at various paces Contact: Heather Nichols 651-1065 or Brandy Heckmann 443-653-0385
Various Days Run: Tipton County Road Dawgs Time: Friend us on Facebook under Road Dawgs and check posting of upcoming runs, usually on Sat. a.m. Place: Check Facebook Distance: All distances, all ages, all paces. Runs are in Tipton County and north Shelby County Contact: djroaddawg@yahoo.com
Date & Time: Saturday, Jan. 4, 11 a.m. Race name: Hill and Dale 8-Miler Location: Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park Contact: www.racesonline.com
Race Calendar
Date & Time: Sunday, Jan. 12, 2 p.m. Race name: Winter Off-Road Series 3K Location: Overton Park Contact: mrtc/@gmail.com
Date & Time: Saturday, Nov. 2, 9 a.m. Race name: Race for Grace 5K Location: Shady Grove Presbyterian Church 5530 Shady Grove Road Contact: See ad on page 12. Date & Time: Sunday, Nov. 3, 7 a.m. Race name: E.J. Goldsmith Jr. Memorial Road Race Series 1st Half Marathon Location: Singleton Parkway and Austin Peay Highway Contact: www.memphisrunners.com
Date & Time: Sunday, Jan 26, p.m. Race name: Winter Off-Road Series 5K Location: Nesbit Park (Stanky Creek Trails) Contact: www.memphisrunners.com Date & Time: Saturday, Feb. 1, 9 a.m. Race name: Mike Cody 4-Miler Location: Rhodes College Contact: www.racesonline.com Date & Time: Saturday, Feb. 8, 9 a.m. Race name: Valentine 10K/5K Location: Bartlett Baptist Church 3465 Kirby Whitten Pkwy. Contact: www.racesonline.com
Date & Time: Saturday, Nov. 9, 8 a.m. Race name: Shelby Farms Park 10-Miler and Buffalo 5K Location: Shelby Farms Park Contact: www.racesonline.com
Date & Time: Saturday, Feb. 22, 9 a.m. Race name: Frosty 5K Location: Overton Park Contact: www.racesonline.com
Date &Time: Saturday, Nov. 16, 9 a.m. Race name: Tim Creager 5K Location: Bartlett Hills Baptist Church 4641 Ellendale Road, Bartlett Contact www.racesonline.com
MRTC bad-weather policy
Date & Time: Sunday, Nov. 17, 7 a.m. Race name: E.J. Goldsmith Jr. Memorial Road Race Series 2nd Half Marathon Location: Singleton Parkway and Austin Peay Highway Contact: www.memphisrunners.com
MRTC contracts to provide finish-line services at local races. When there is inclement weather, the race director has the option to postpone or cancel the race and is responsible for notifying the MRTC and participants. In the event of a cancellation, rescheduling is unlikely because of the number of races already on the MRTC calendar. For MRTC races (the Road Race Series, the Winter Cross Country Race Series and the Hill & Dale 8-miler), the policy is that the race will go on, rain or shine. The start of a race may be delayed to let bad weather pass, but scheduled races will be run.
Date & Time: Saturday, Dec. 7 Race name: St. Jude Memphis Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K and 5K Location: Downtown Memphis Contact: www.stjude.org Date & Time: Saturday, Dec. 28, 6 p.m. Race name: Buffaglo 5K (non-timed event) Location: Shelby Farms Park Contact: www.racesonline.com 30
Saturday, November 23, 2019 | 9am | runsignup.com/Race/TN/Memphis/ChillyChili5K $450 cash prizes top 3 female and male 5K runners, chip timing, custom awards, long sleeve tech tee Firehouse chili, live music by Evening Shade
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38TH ANNUAL MEMPHIS IN MAY TRIATHLON
MAY 17 & 18, 2020 | REGISTRATION OPENS DECEMBER 1, 2019 | $5,000 AMATEUR CHALLENGE MAY 17 MIM SPRINT TRI | 1/3 SWIM | 12 MILE BIKE | 3 MILE RUN MAY 18 MIM OLYMPIC TRI | .93 MILE SWIM | 24.9 MILE BIKE | 6.2 MILE RUN | REGISTER AT: runsignup.com
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Memphis Runners Track Club P.O. Box 17981 Memphis, TN 38187-0981
Sharon Murtaugh, first runner to cross the finish line in the Women Run/Walk Memphis "graduation" 5K. She finished in 22:28.29.
Non-Profit Org U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
MEMPHIS, TN Permit No. 960
Corina Sackett was the first walker to finish in the WRWM 5K. Her time was 41:08.80.
For more on this year's women's program, see page 13.