Roadrunner - October 2017 by Memphis Runners Track Club

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

October 2017 â&#x20AC;¢ Vol. 37, No. 8

THE ROADRUNNER

A publication of the Memphis Runners Track Club October 2017 Vol. 37, No. 8

On the cover

The 7 Greenline Half Marathon is set. th

Read about it starting on page 6.

In This Issue From the Editor’s Desk

Message from MRTC (by Steve Spakes)

Nutrition on the Run (by Ashley Holloway)

A run for the Greenline

MBA cares (by Earle Schwarz)

Tour d’Esprit is back (by Gordon Kraus)

Satisfying runs (by Bill Butler)

Life-changing events (by Rob Rayder)

Can’t keep her down (by Brent Manley)

First-timer reports (by Matt Huey)

Marathon Results (compiled by Sherilyn Huey)

Streak happy (by Kevin Prester)

Not-impossible dreams (by Cory Adams)

My French Connection (by Brent Manley)

Furry running buddy (by Rebecca McDonald)

Faces in the Crowd

Group runs

Race Calendar

Advertisements PR Event Management

Firefighter 5K

The Fast & The Furriest 5K Run/Walk

The Royal Run 5K

Nationwide

Start2Finish Event Management

Fleet Feet Sports

Inside Front Cover

MRC Recovery Run 5K

Inside Back Cover

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

Brent Manley Roadrunner Editor brentmanley@yahoo.com 901-246-6477 The Roadrunner is published monthly except January/February and July/August, which are combined issues. You can join the MRTC or renew your membership online at www.memphisrunners.com.

Article Submission Guidelines

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

MRTC Board of Directors 2016 OFFICERS President/ Special Projects/Results John Payne 901-494-8266 johncharlespayne@comcast.net Treasurer Brian Williams brianbwilliamsmrtc@gmail.com Secretary/ Race Results Jessica Suzore 901-409-9570 jessuzore@comcast.net DIRECTORS Past President/ Roadrunner Editor Brent Manley 901-383-8782 brentmanley@yahoo.com

Past President/Special Projects/Legal Matters George F. Higgs 901-528-1111 ghiggs@stonehiggsdrexler.com Volunteer Director Beverly Pickens 901-277-8950 pickensbg@aol.com Finish Line Director/ Equipment Lane Purser 901-483-8929 lpurser350@aol.com Timing/Results Rich Tutko 901-481-0498 rtutko@hotmail.com Women Run/Walk Memphis Director Allison Shelton 901-409-6620 allison.mrtc@gmail.com

Past President/ Special Projects/Photographer Sponsorship Director John Bookas Steve Spakes 901-488-2797 stevemrtc@gmail.com Jbookas@aol.com Past President/ Course Measurement Rob Hunter 901-246-1565 robhunter33@comcast.net Past President/ New Race Coordinator Wain Rubenstein 901-278-1792 wrubenstei@aol.com

Director Kent Smith kent824@bellsouth.net Director Suzie Hicks-Hurt 901-496-1377 s_hickshurt@bellsouth.net

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 It is surmounting difficulties that makes heroes.

— Louis Pasteur

The first Hero

More than 40 years ago, when The Press-Scimitar, Memphis’ afternoon newspaper, was still being published and I was working there as a reporter, I was sent to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to cover an appearance by the hospital’s founder — Danny Thomas. The comedian’s appearance was, of course, a big deal. Everyone knew who Danny Thomas was. My parents watched his TV show, “Make Room for Daddy,” every week. He was a lovable, funny guy, but dead serious about the institution he founded after a prayer to St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of hopeless causes. I don’t remember much about his appearance in Memphis except that he was smoking a large cigar and looked good for a man in his 60s. He was nice to everyone he encountered. I think he felt at home at the hospital where so much good work is done. I have talked to many people about St. Jude over the years and come to appreciate what a wonderful asset it is to this community. Three years ago, if memory serves, I learned more about Danny Thomas and St. Jude from an unlikely source — Peoria County Sheriff Mike McCoy. The occasion was an article I wrote for the Commercial Appeal, the sister paper of my former employer, defunct since 1983. The article was about the annual Memphis-to-Peoria run to help raise funds for St. Jude. It’s part of a massive fundraising effort in the Midwest. Cities all around Peoria have their own fundraisers and, at an appointed time, they make their way to Peoria in caravans for a huge celebration.

People from Peoria come to Memphis in buses and RVs to collect Memphians who are part of the run. Then everyone heads back to Peoria in a running relay. Places in the relay are coveted, and the sheriff told me that he would help me should I decide to participate in the relay. I’m hoping to make it next year. During my interviews with the sheriff and with the author of a book about the relay run, I learned that the fundraising effort in Peoria is so strong because of the large Lebanese community there. That’s significant because Danny Thomas was Lebanese. He used his fame and influence with Lebanese businessmen in Peoria to intensify fundraising for St. Jude. All that was in my mind when I toured St. Jude for the first time, in late August, The tour came about because of a conversation I had with Earle Schwarz, whose fundraising idea resulted in the formation of Team MBA (Memphis Bar Association), which you can read about starting on page 8. I met Earle while we were running the Youth Villages 10-Miler earlier this year. As I usually do when I’m running in a race, I started talking to Earle about his running and had convinced him to write for the Roadrunner about the sport from his perspective. When we were through running — Earle and I finished at just about the same time — Earle told me about Team MBA: how the team was formed and the plans for a reprise at this year’s St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend. I told Earle that a photo was a necessity, so he arranged a group shot, with as many Team Members as could make it, at St. Jude. A tour of the hospital was part of the deal. I can hardly express how deeply affected I was to learn so much about how St. Jude functions, how the staff cares for the children, their parents and siblings. It’s an amazing place. It makes me even happier to be running as a St. Jude Hero at this year’s Chicago Marathon. When I get to Corral L with my buddy Glenn, I’ll be thinking about Danny Thomas, St. Jude and the kids who need our support. Their inspiration will carry me that day.

“ Their inspiration will carry me that day. ”

PR EVENT MANAGEMENT EVENTS 2017

SEPTEMBER 30 | 9AM

4th Annual Arkansas Delta Flatlander Bike Ride and Gravel Grinder 20 40 67 Bike Ride & Gravel Grinder (rider chooses distance)

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1 Bridge, 2 States, 1 Half-Marathon chip timing, long sleeve tech tee, finishers medal, post race party with food and music

https://runsignup.com/Race/TN/Memphis/BigRiverCrossing

4th Annual Ken Novotny Memorial Chilly Chili 5K and 1 Mile Family Fun Run benefitting Concord Academy

Saturday, November 18 | 9am | Memphis, TN chip timing, cash prizes and custom awards, long sleeve tech tee, chili, live music by Evening Shade

A Message from the MRTC By Steve Spakes, guest columnist wouldn’t believe what a cone is going for nowadays. Apart from covering routine expenses, there are ways this money is used that might surprise you. Our board is committed to practicing social responsibility and supporting what’s good for the community. For example, MRTC has long been a supporter of Youth Villages. The club has a YV scholarship fund nearing $100,000. We also have a scholarship fund at University of Memphis. We make donations to organizations that you might expect, such as the Overton Park Conservancy, the Shelby Farms Park Conservancy, the stewards of Meeman-Shelby Forest and Nesbit Park in Bartlett. We have made donations to the Mid-South Trails Association, a great organization that spends many hours doing maintaining the trails we use for running and biking. We’ve donated to the Big River Crossing, Paul’s Dream Team and the Tour d’Esprit (see page 11 for news of this year’s event). Our volunteers help facilitate the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend, and two members of the MRTC board, Wain Rubenstein and George Higgs, are the St. Jude race director and assistant race director, respectively. Jessica Suzore, MRTC secretary, is in charge of taking care of elite runners for the race events. These are some reasons we think you are getting good value as an MRTC member. And don’t forget this magazine, which we think you’ll agree has excellent production value. Now, a suggestion. With the Holiday Season in sight, why not consider an MRTC membership as a gift, perhaps for a friend you might not even think would want one. We all have friends who know they need to get into an exercise program but they just haven’t found the motivation to start. This is where the Roadrunner might help with the inspiration, considering how often readers are treated to great stories of individuals who have lost weight, feel better and made new friends. It might motivate someone to give running/walking a try. I have done this, it has worked. That’s when an MRTC membership becomes a really good value.

MRTC President John Payne is sharing this space with other members of the club’s board of directors. As MRTC board members, one of our jobs is to communicate that a club membership is good value. This is often true in ways you might not be aware. The E.J. Goldsmith Jr. Memorial Road Race Series with the added (it’s never too late for a) Holiday Party is a fabulous deal for our members and a very good deal for non-members. Two other nice member perks are discounts at local running shops and for race entries. Membership is a good value in other ways, too. The generous efforts of our many volunteers enable us to generate revenue through hosting our own races and providing race services to others. We time races, cone courses, and Rob and Lane will gladly (maybe not so gladly, depending on the distance and weather) measure your course for a USA Track & Field certification. The revenue generated from this service helps support items you might expect: insurance, storage space, vehicles and timing gear, to name a few. And you

Did you know?

Many celebrities are runners. Competitor Magazine (running.competitor.com) recently listed 38of them. Actor Will Ferrell has run for years and has completed marathons in New York City, Boston and Stockholm, Sweden. He was photographed while running the Los Angeles Half Marathon with a “Funny or Die” tee shirt. The former Saturday Night Live star says, “I love what running does for your mind and the great release you get from it.” Natalie Morales, of the Today show on NBC, ran the 2014 Boston Marathon with a pink “Corcoran Strong” tee shirt to honor Celeste Corcoran, who lost her legs in one of the bomb blasts in 2013. Actress Reese Witherspoon regularly runs for fitness, and Sean Astin, of Lord of the Rings fame, has run several marathons, with a PR of 4:25. Six-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, who has a half marathon PR of 1:28:16, is an avid triathlete. 3

Ashley Holloway, MS, RD, LDN You’ve got to … Move it!

sensitivity anywhere from 2-72 hours. For many years, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) has had a position statement encouraging exercise, but late last year the ADA updated the guidelines with specific exercise recommendations for those with all types of diabetes (type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes) and those with prediabetes. “Physical Activity/Exercise and Diabetes: A Position Statement of the American Diabetes Association” recommends participating in cardiovascular, resistance, balance training, and flexibility exercises. The three main focuses of the new ADA recommendations are: more movement, more often, and more variety. More Movement - The old recommendation was to get up and move around every 90 minutes. The new recommendation is a lot stricter … get up and move around for three minutes every 30 minutes. No more being sedentary. Note that this is in addition to your regular, structured exercise sessions. More Often - How often do you get structured exercise? Working out Monday, Wednesday and Friday won’t cut it anymore. The new guidelines suggest not letting more than two days pass between exercise sessions. And the recommended total number of minutes of exercise per week has increased as well. The recommendation is to get in 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous cardiovascular activity per week. That means if you normally run three days a week for 30 minutes, you could add two additional 30-minute runs per week to get in your 150 minutes or you could add one hourlong run per week. More Variety - In addition to cardio, you should add strength/resistance training two to three nonconsecutive days per week, and also get two to three sessions of balance training and flexibility. As you can see, this is a lot of exercise! It may be time to step up your exercise game. To decrease your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and other health issues, all you need to do is … Move it! Move it!

How many days did you run this week? How many days did you do strength-training exercises? Did you do any balance training? What about any stretching or flexibility exercises? Have you gotten in your fill of exercise this week? If you are the average American, then the safe answer would be no. It is estimated that nearly 80 percent of adults in the United States do not get the recommended amount of exercise that is needed each week, potentially setting themselves up for future health and medical problems. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), being physically inactive can lead to obesity and Type 2 diabetes. No surprise there. But what may surprise you is that approximately 29 million Americans have diabetes, and one in four of them are not even aware that they have the disease. Another 86 million may be on their way to diabetes with elevated blood sugars, with 30% of them developing full blown diabetes in only five years! Having diabetes increases your risk of blindness, kidney disease, stroke, heart disease, amputations, and it increases your risk of mortality by 50% due to disease. Slowing the progression of diabetes and its complication and improving glucose management will have a long-lasting and significant impact on your health and wellbeing. It has been well established that proper nutrition and exercise pays off when it comes to overall health, decreasing the risk of developing prediabetes and the progression to type 2 diabetes. Exercise increases insulin sensitivity and blood circulation, decreasing the risk for diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke. Just one exercise session can make a difference. Every time you exercise you increase your body’s insulin 5

The races that run Shelby Farms Greenline By Rebecca Dailey

Shortly after the start of the 2016 Shelby Farms Greenline Half Marathon The Greenline Half Marathon is returning to Shelby Farms Park for the 7th run on Nov. 11. This year, a new race — a 5K — has been added to the fun! Each year, hundreds of runners hit the ground running to support the Shelby Farms Greenline at the Greenline Half Marathon, and each year, the desire to add a 5K has been shared. The Shelby Farms Park Conservancy is thrilled to add a new run that will give more people a chance to support the trail they love! Additionally, feedback from previous participants inspired Shelby Farms to move the race to a Saturday date.

This year’s course winds through some of the most scenic areas of Shelby Farms Park and neighborhoods surrounding the Greenline. Race participants will receive exclusive race apparel, a commemorative buffalo medal and complimentary lunch. At 10.85 miles, the Greenline is a great location for training runs. In fact, more than 100,000 pedestrians and cyclists hit the trail each year for daily recreation and training, and that number is only growing! With more visitors than ever before, support for the trail is vital for the Greenline’s care and growth. The Greenline Half Marathon is the largest annual fundraiser for Shelby Farms Greenline, and proceeds from registration have helped keep the trail clean, green, safe and growing for seven years. With the addition of the 5K, that support is sure to grow! Ready to run the races that run the Greenline? Register at www. greenlinehalfmarathon. racesonline.com. Runners enjoy a view of Patriot Lake during the half marathon. 6

A goal well worth the effort By Earle Schwarz The initial goal was to run a half marathon during the St. Jude Marathon Weekend before I turned 61. I missed the mark when I tore my meniscus while training. Then, after a full year off, my goal was to run a half marathon as part of the St. Jude Marathon Weekend before I turned 63. I failed again because I trained too late and, thus, too hard and too fast for a 62-year-old reprobate. Then, the goal was to run the St. Jude half marathon before I turned 64. I made it this time. I registered for the event on June 1 — the first day of registration for those not wanting to make a fundraising commitment. Learning from my mistakes, I trained slowly over eight months or so. For aerobic capacity, I participated in a spin class three days a week at the Jewish Community Center. For endurance, I ran three days a week, including a long run on the weekend, with the distance increasing slowly over time, maxing out at 12 miles two weeks before the event. I also paid careful attention to the training tips from “Coach Kevin,” whose advice is available on the St. Jude website. I suppose that I should point out that to say that I “run” is not completely accurate. My “run” more closely resembles a “waddle,” as my adult children have affectionately called it. Speed is neither a goal nor a concern for me. As I took my place near the back of the pack of 15,000 participants, I was confident that I was prepared. I had trained diligently and I had studied the course to locate the hills. I had a game plan: Go out slowly; take what the terrain gives you and hydrate often. I was fully prepared for the distance, but I was not the least bit prepared for the emotional experience. The well-wishers lining the entire length of the course were inspirational; the hundreds of supportive volunteers, handing out water, Gatorade and energy supplements were always encouraging; the bands located strategically along the route provided a steady beat for flagging runners; the teams of participants,

The author at last year’s St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend. running in support or in memory of a St. Jude patient were awesome. The kids and their families standing by, cheering and high-fiving runners as the route wound through the St. Jude campus brought tears to the eye. By the time I got there, they had been at it for a while, but the level of enthusiasm and gratitude was still sky high. Crossing the finish line, I too was sky high. This was one of the proudest accomplishments of my life (excluding life cycle events, of course). There is only one thing hanging on the vanity wall in my office: a shadow box with a photo, my number (12036) and the finisher’s medal from the event. Not because of my time, which was slow, but because I finished. As I was waddling along the river, it occurred to me to wonder why the Memphis Bar Association had not supported the St. Jude Marathon Weekend in an organized way. There are many reasons why the

... but I was not the least bit prepared for the emotional experience.

organized Bar should adopt the Marathon Weekend as a project. St. Jude is the most visible non-profit in Memphis; there are members of our legal community who have been touched by St. Jude and would be grateful for our help. Contrary to our public image, attorneys are community-oriented and generously give of themselves and their time to those in need. The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to eradicate child cancer. Who can’t get behind that? So the Memphis Bar Association formed a team for the 2016 Marathon Weekend. We not only ran for the kids of St. Jude, but also for current St. Jude patient Julia Mason, the young daughter of an employee of one of the local law firms. The team had 45 participants and raised more than $16,000. Team MBA placed 13th overall in the Corporate Challenge (12th if one were to exclude Breakaway, which is in a class by itself); and second among firstyear teams. All in all, it was not a bad first effort.

Team MBA is also participating in the 2017 Marathon Weekend with a fundraising goal of $20,000. We continue to be motivated by Julia Mason and driven by our personal fitness and charitable goals. Please note that anyone is welcome to join Team MBA. Working in the legal field is not a prerequisite. Just search for the participant, “Memphis Bar Association” and link your personal registration to us. As for me and my 65-year-old knees, I will be training a bit differently this year. In addition to the solitary training that I do (now, five spin classes a week and waddles of varying lengths on two or three days per week), I have signed up for the MRTC road race series. I expect this to bring additional discipline to my training by forcing me to slowly increase the length of my long runs as the races in the series lengthen. This will be my first year participating in the series. I look forward to seeing you at the finish line(s); most likely you will be there ahead of me.

Team MBA members pose with a check representing a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital of more than $16,000.The group’s fundraising goal this year is $20,000. Photo courtesy of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Tour d’Esprit is back By Gordon Kraus

Haiti Medical Missions of Memphis announces the 19th annual 24- HOUR Tour d’Esprit, the only 24-hour foot racing event in Memphis. The annual race starts at 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6, and ends at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7. The event includes camping, a silent auction, dinner on Friday evening, a gourmet breakfast on Saturday morning and, of course, the core event: the foot race. It is the major fundraiser for the Mission. Visit www.haitimedicalmissionsofmemphis.org and Facebook page at Haiti Medical Missions of Memphis to find out more. The Church of the Holy Spirit will again host this event. We thank them for their support. As in past years, the church grounds and Homes Park in East Memphis provide the site on which runners and walkers traverse the 1-mile loop as many times as they wish during the 24 hours. Individuals or teams may participate. In Haiti, the good work and community activities on the compound continue. The activities include a new fitness facility adjacent to the rehabilitation center. The facility is now open to the public. Folks come in daily to exercise and use the gym equipment. The club is generating some revenue through membership sales. The money goes directly to support the clinic. The 3rd Annual Soccer camp for community children, coordinated by parishioners Sue and Jeff Pierce, took place this past July. The week-long camp concluded with carnival day: fun, games and lunch. The children and their families look

forward to this all year. Running events take place throughout the year in Haiti, also generating revenue. These include runs in Jacmel, Cap Haitian and our 2K run on the compound. These are healthy, fun activities that attract others who become familiar with our project, generating support. Most important, as these healthy activities and fundraising events take place in Haiti, the day-to-day operations of the clinic continue. These include the primary medical, dental, optical and rehabilitation clinics that provide care to many thousands of people per year. Other services include vaccinations, community outreach, nutritional supplementation, pre-natal and well-baby programs. Holy Spirit Clinic also provides jobs for more than 30 full-time local employees and has become an essential fixture and resource in the area. The registration form for the 2017 Tour d’Esprit is on the back of this page. See you at the race!

This Breakaway Running team topped all competitors in a past Tour d’Esprit. 11

Ruminations By Bill Butler

Recently I’ve begun trudging around the “gerbil” trail at Overton Park in mindless loops, and running the golf course early, too. I see a cross section of Memphians in my loops; women, men, younger girls and boys, people with “they won’t bite!” dogs, bicyclers, some semi-organized groups, some friends, many strangers. To most people, I’m just another out-of-shape, gray-haired older man, trudging at a relatively slow pace, huffing up the hills with an occasional fast walk. But I speak or nod (if I’m out of breath) at each passing runner, walker, dog walker. Rarely am I acknowledged. Sharing a few miles with iconic Mike Cody, I notice he, too, speaks to all, and also is often ignored. Whether that is from the ubiquitous headphones blotting out reality or from fear or from shyness, I have no clue. But it brings to mind the past in that any runner we ever came upon in our training was spoken to and spoke back no matter the length of the run, the intensity or the gender of the passing runners. It is a different day, different times. I’m aware of that. These are days filled with real and imagined fears, and I guess some old codger lumbering along and making eye contact is something to be, if not feared, at least carefully watched. An old friend suggested I run trails at Overton Park. I demurred. With macular degeneration in both eyes (the right eye has only peripheral vision while the left has stable eyesight at present), it is difficult for me to see shadowed trails lit with bright sunlight here and there, roots, slight step ups and downs.

Trail running was such an integral part of my running life that when I was diagnosed with this, it was an emotional upheaval that felt similar to losing someone dear and important to me. The seasons’ slow passing now means only colder or warmer weather by turn and not the thrill of icecovered trail streams, the call of ducks and geese, the stuff of leaf piles parted by our feet, the warmth of mossed-up river sand in summer. Even hiking now takes a careful foot plant, a constant attention to terrain and, honestly, some huffing and puffing I never thought I would hear rattling in my chest. But that’s life. Just when you think you’ve got it by the nose, you find out it can toss you from that position as easily as ever. Survivors learn to deal with each and every corkscrew of life as we ease along its tortuous (at times) path. Now I am also lucky; I have three sons. Two are older and have families of their own. Both were athletic and both (as well as their beautiful wives) continue to seek healthy lives. I also have a 17-yearold, Bryn, a junior at CBHS. He runs. Some of you have read my previous toasts about him. He continues to tell me he loves running, perhaps as much as I do. He has suffered some setbacks and that is as how it happens in running. We train, we race, we falter then we start almost over again. He reads the columns I send to the Roadrunner. Some he likes. With others, he has no comment. A few have brought on questions about what is meant, what I’m writing about. I think now he is finding out. Running is about perseverance. It is about finding the talent one has and maximizing that talent. Recognition of talent by the runner is of utmost importance, not some “attitude” about ability, but an awe of oneself, again, a

Trail running was such an integral part of my running life ...

MARATHON RESULTS

recognition of what may lurk in the body, mind and soul of a runner. If it’s not there, no shame. Running is its own reward, but recognizing that requires maturity and awareness. Acceptance of that may be the most difficult. Listening to Bryn, his teammates and his coach (and I wish all runners had a coach such as this), brings those sweet memories of other times, other voices and other places in our hearts. Memories of lung-burning repeats on the tracks made of rubber compounds, asphalt, cinders, wood, tuned multi-compounds; long, pounding runs up and down hills; the acrid odors of earned sweat, work and the almost psychedelic nature of big races where we are but riders on our legs and with our hearts and lungs seeing nothing but moving light, shadow, open-mouthed spectators, finish lines. I know nothing of winning races, never having even been close. But I know what it is to reach the top end of one’s ability through training, being in that moment when all else is foolery — there is only the You. FOR MEMPHIS-AREA RUNNERS I know. I know that’s a Compiled by Sherilyn Huey bit overboard, Pikes Peak Marathon yet it isn’t. Manitou Springs, CO Few will August 20, 2017 reach that euphoria, but Bryan Cooper Tupelo, MS 6:51:37 for those who have, there is nothing else. Not the age-group trophy, The Santa Rosa Marathon the plastic running man or woman, not the cheap medal, Santa Rosa, CA not the “swag” but the sheer understanding that we (the August 27, 2017 body, soul, heart, lungs, legs) were One. Spencer Seal Cordova, TN 5:03:55 I love hearing the stories from such terrific athletes as are around us. The Stubbs, the Saxs. The Mohundros, the Tophams, the Haneys, Codys, the others who have briefly been here in Memphis and Renew your brought us the spectacle of elite running. I cannot lie MRTC membership at and tell you that this is what they said, but I’m willing www.memphisrunners.com to bet this is what they felt. Agreed, not all are elite. Not all have that finely wrought body for running, but we all have that drive or we don’t. Then running becomes a social exercise Attention: Fellow Runners! brought on by health needs and purposes. And for that it Do you have some unusual experiences as a is all fine! runner, or some thoughts about our sport you would For those who love it, including my son, Bryn, like to share? Don’t keep it to yourself — share with (the punishment of two-a-days, June-July-Augustyour fellow runners. September heat, hills and humidity, track workouts in You can contact the editor at any time to January, pre-race jitters, “trials and trials of miles”) this is the best there is. You and the race. discuss potential contributions: 901-246-6477 or I harken back to my mantra: Every run is a brentmanley@yahoo.com. This is your publication. workout. Every workout brings one closer to the goal. Be an active part of it. The goal is that satisfaction I speak of. Happy Trails to Brent Manley, Editor you all until we meet again (which will be in OP). 14

The goal is that satisfaction I speak of.

Running through the Total Eclipse By Robert “the Lone Runner” Rayder

At the far southeastern tip of Tennessee, US Highway 64 runs through a totally different world than the familiar Delta towns we Memphians have come to associate with that storied highway. Memphis, Bartlett, Lakeland and Arlington all claim a piece of Tennessee’s US 64 western-most terminus. But roll east along that same highway past the deep waters of the Tennessee River, and past the scenic hills of middle Tennessee, and past the doors of the Tennessee Whiskey producers, and even past Chattanooga’s famous Lookout Mountain and you’ll finally come to the Ocoee River, situated among the grand hills of the Smokies. It is here you’ll find facilities that once hosted the world during the white water events of the 1996 Summer Olympics. It is there you will find Ducktown. The rural Smoky Mountains hamlet is located within a 70-mile-wide swath that spanned the U.S. from Oregon to South Carolina. Ducktown was in the “Path of Totality” of the Great American Eclipse. My friends, longtime residents, had a front row seat to one of God’s rare wonders, and it was happening right outside their front door. They invited my family to be part of it. Who could say no?

vast amounts of volcanism on Hawaii, huge amounts of the green mineral olivine are released and mixed with the more common black sands made from volcanic rocks. The resulting colorful mixture appears shamrock green. The beach is located between two rocky outcrops that funnel waves inward toward the beach. The resulting waves are impressive and the water can be rough, especially on days like the one when we visited, when the tide is flowing out of the south. None of this bothered my son. He quickly scrambled down the cliff face, went right past the unique beach and splashed head first into the choppy seas to for some bodysurfing. I eventually made my way there, and after taking in the view, joined Chris in the water. The eclipse started right on schedule. As we looked around without our special solar glasses, nothing special could be seen at first. It was just another humid August afternoon. When we donned our specially designed glasses something amazing was happening in the sky. A little piece of the sun had gone dark. The unmistakable outer curvature of the moon was clearly silhouetted against the unimaginable brightness of the sun. As time passed, the sun as viewed through the glasses started to resemble an enormous celestial PacMan, the old video arcade game. The moon made up the cartoonish sun’s giant black mouth. Still, without the glasses, nothing seemed very different. The wider world looked just the same as always, or so it seemed. Soon, however, strange things started to happen.

My own personal eclipse had started two months earlier ...

My own personal eclipse had started two months earlier, and a quarter of the globe away on the Big Island of Hawaii. This year, our family was spending our summer vacation there and, as usual, we planned to run a marathon as part of it. During our second day on the island, my teenage son, Chris, and I found ourselves running down a path that paralleled the vast blue sea, on a dusty trail that led from South Point (the southern-most point inside the United States) to the famous Green Sand Beach. It was roughly a 5K trek and was amazingly scenic and beautiful, as are so many places in that tropical paradise. My two daughters and my wife paid about $20 each to have a four-wheel-drive truck haul them to the secluded beach. The Green Sand Beach is one of only three places on earth to have truly green sand. Because of the

I had bodysurfed as a young man in California, but that was two or three decades ago. I was awkward in the water now, my skills tarnished by age and disuse. The waves crashed around me and I was thrown about like 15

a rag doll. Still, I couldn’t let my son outshine his old man. I decided to take on one of the waves linebackerstyle, with the goal of producing an impressive splash. I miscalculated, however, and noticed that the chosen wave was huge and breaking farther from the shore than I had estimated. It smashed down right on top of me. My left leg was driven deep into the famous green sand, where it was fixed firmly in place while the rest of my body was thrown from right to left by the mighty force of the wave. My knee popped three times before it was freed and I yelled for help as I fought to get back to the shore. My left leg was useless. Mighty waves broke around me, pushing me toward the shore, where a man finally heard my cries for help and came into the rough sea to rescue me.

Two days after my wave-related injury, we were at the Kona Marathon. My good friend Mike Samuelson had come to run the race and renew his vows with his wife in paradise. I envied his strong and healthy legs as I hobbled around in a knee brace and balanced myself precariously on a cane. The physical pain of my torn MCL was bad, but watching my family and friends start their various races without me was outright torture. I decided to make the best of the situation after reluctantly accepting that there was no way I could run. I elected to become a supportive spectator. If I couldn’t run, at least I could cheer on others who could. Chris was running the half marathon and whisked by with seeming ease, well out in front. “Hi Dad,” was his usual greeting. I did my best to encourage him whenever he passed. At one point, a participant from Southern California who was running the quarter marathon collapsed in front of me. He was clearly unused to the heat and humidity of Hawaii and had given up only 500 meters from the finish.

Thousands of eclipse images were literally right at our feet ...

After the sun was about halfway covered, the temperature started to drop noticeably. The humidity vanished and things were becoming distinctly darker. Shadows became sharper. Tree canopies that used to offer a solid blanket of shade now allowed in shafts of light between the leaves resulting in thousands of “pin hole” eclipse shadows being cast upon the ground. When we set our shaded eyes at the crescent sun, it was the same shape as we saw mirrored on the ground under the tree’s canopy. Thousands of eclipse images were literally right at our feet, no glasses required! The clouds to the northwest started darkening. Things were about to get very interesting. The stage was being set.

I went out on the course to assist him. Another spectator and I helped him up off a grassy median. We helped him cross the finish line, after which we helped him make it to the medical tent, with his finisher medal. Oddly, my pain disappeared during the time we walked together. Only afterwards did the strain of that walk come back to haunt me. I was forced to sit at the finish line after that. I watched Chris cruise to victory in the half, although hardly anyone took notice as he finished buried in a pack of 5K finishers. No matter. Sometime later, we watched as my daughter Rebecca and my wife Christina finished their races. I gave them both some leis I had purchased to celebrate the occasion in true Hawaiian The author clowns around in Hawaii. 16

style. They both wore broad smiles. I forgot how much fun it could be spectating. I imagined I would have a lot more opportunities in the near future. As the sun was reduced to a mere sliver, darkness began to march in. The feeble light, such as it was, had turned white, like a florescent bulb at a gigantic stadium. I recalled from some long-forgotten science class that sunlight was not actually yellow, but was white. It was a trick of refraction in the atmosphere that made it look so yellow to us. Only here, where our star was 99% blocked by the moon, could the sun’s true nature be revealed on the surface of the Earth. The view to the northwest was awe-inspiring. Clouds on the horizon darkened abruptly, as the streetlights of the city suddenly switched on. Crickets chirped. Fireflies flickered. The birds went silent and bats swooped around our heads. From afar, a dark curtain raced across the western clouds at 1500 mph. It was the shadow of the moon, and it was so huge that it was hard to comprehend what we were seeing. These were events unfolding on a cosmic scale, dwarfing our tiny human experiences. One last look at the sun revealed a tiny sliver glowing like some spectacular glowing diamond mounted on the largest ring imaginable. Then, suddenly, the sun was gone.

I was headed back to the pool in our neighborhood. Hawaii was now a fading memory and the real world was hanging onto me like an anchor attached to my soul. I couldn’t run. It was the activity I did to alleviate stress, to have fun, to stay healthy, to interact with other people and to swap stories. Now I walked around with a painful brace and exercised in a shallow pool. I chose to “pool run” with a flotation device strapped over my chest. It was my best chance to keep some strength in key running muscles while I recovered. It was also mind-numbingly boring. I hated it, but one does what one must. I set my timer and walked into the over-chlorinated pool water. Time to get started. I tried to imagine myself running in all sorts of exotic places as “ran” in the pool. Sometimes I made the mental leap. Most of the time, I just felt stuck. I splashed another dead bug out of my way. “Only 58 minutes to go,” I cheerily told my inner self. “Ugh!” I answered myself.

Rebecca and Christina Rayder, half marathon finishers. little light, but not much. I could make out the shapes of the people standing next to me but all the color had been drained from the world. It was like being outside 15-20 minutes after sunset. It was more like night than day. Then there was the horizon. There was a twilight glow coming from every direction. It was like having a 360-degree sunset or sunrise: north, south, east and west. What I was really seeing was the edge of the shadow of the moon. It is unbelievably massive. I could hardly comprehend the sheer scale. I was standing smack in the middle of our planet’s largest possible shadow. It was easy to see why so many ancient cultures have considered eclipses bad omens. There was something disturbing about the whole scene. It stirred a primitive reflex from deep inside me. I was filled with wonder, but I also felt some inexplicable sense of doom. A part of my mind felt like there was powerful magic at work, bent on sinister intentions, and I was small and powerless. And then the sliver of the sun again forged a

I had seen a couple of partial eclipses as a child. They were impressive, but could not have prepared me for the reality of totality. It was much darker than I expected. There was a 17

Christopher Rayder wins the Kona Half Marathon. giant diamond ring facing the opposite direction of the first one. The spell was finally broken and I felt both saddened and relieved. It had been a moving experience, to watch our familiar world transformed so completely. Fortunately, I knew the world would slowly return to normal, as the eclipse ran itself in reverse on the far side of totality. I, however, would be changed forever.

I wasn’t seeking to overcome the elements, but to overcome my body’s limitations. I had to see if I could do this sport anymore. The thought of life without running filed me with despair. I had to try to finish. I “ran” each lap at a snail’s pace, making sure to rehydrate and to tend to my every need, big and small. After the halfway point, my knee started to ache, and I briefly considered dropping out of the race. Something inside said to keep going, so, for better or for worse, I did.

I bandaged my knee with so much of that stretchy athletic tape that I should have bought stock in the company. I couldn’t run that well yet, but at least I could get out and give the race a try without that torturous knee brace. The Blister in the Sun Marathon in Cookeville Tennessee is a loop race where each runner passes a central point in the “figure of eight” course 10 separate times. It is a great spot for an aid station and an impromptu medical supply hub. My wife stood watch to make sure that I didn’t push myself beyond reasonable limits and made sure that I stopped and took care of myself during each of the 10 passes. This was all familiar territory to me, since I was a veteran of most of the previous renditions of this summertime masochistic classic. Only this year,

Eventually, after what seemed like an eternity, I reached the finish line. I was hot and tired and in a fair amount of pain, but I had done it. Maybe it wasn’t pretty, but I had run another marathon. Some hope flowed through me for the first time in a long time. The time of darkness and dread had passed, and a new sliver of light was cast upon me. I was a long way from healed, but I knew sooner or later that my world would be restored. And for that I was immensely grateful. I had a new appreciation of all the things it takes to run, and all the gifts running has bestowed upon me. God willing, slowly things would return to normal. I, however, would be changed forever. 18

n December 2016, Jill Thelen ran the 10K that was part of the St. Jude Memphis Marathon weekend. She did well in the race, but it wasn’t her time — or the fact that she ran with her 14-year-old son, Austin — that she was thinking about as she completed the 6.2mile run. It was the fact that she was there. Seven months earlier, she wasn’t sure when, or if, she would run again after breaking her left ankle in three places and spending months in rehab. Not being able to run was tough for the 43-year-old nurse, who has been a regular exerciser most of her life, mostly in gyms. She has also done some running and learned to love the sport. She is taking part in the 2017 road race series and confesses that “for some reason, my goal is to run a marathon.” Thelen was born and raised in Fayette County, moving to Memphis when she was in the seventh grade. She attended Colonial Middle School, graduated from Overton High School in 1992 and finished Nursing School at Southwest Community College in 2006. She now works at Regional One Medical Center. The odyssey that was her recovery from the ankle injury began in May 2015 when a work friend told her about an unusual race that involved obstacles. She found the event online that night and signed up. It was a 12-mile race that took place in September 2015 on farmland in Sedalia MO. “There was a lot of mud,” she recalls, “and a huge amount of fun.” She notes that she avoided the obstacle that involved live electric wires. Thelen enjoyed the adventure so much that she signed up for a similar race in Atlanta GA, where she and her boyfriend, Joe French, went in May 2016. The injury happened on the last obstacle on the course. She recalls that she had to climb 20 feet up to a wooden platform and jump out to touch a flag before landing on her back on a padded part of the obstacle. Instead of landing on her back,

however, she landed on her feet. The injury was so severe she could not work for 14 weeks, and she wore a cast and walking boot to help with the healing. She says the recovery “wasn’t horrible,” but she was eager to get back to work and to running. She says the rigors of nursing school prepared her for the tough recovery period she faced after the injury. “Nursing school was really hard,” she says. “There’s a lot to learn and you’ve got to know it. There were a lot of late nights.” Thelen returned to running when she was able to put weight on the ankle. She signed up for the St. Jude 10K in late summer and started training. The act of registering for the 10K was a big motivator. “If I sign up for something,” she says, “I’m going to do it.” On race day, Thelen was prepared to run 6.2 miles despite some lingering pain. Even now, she says, the ankle hurts every day and she wears compression socks to work. “My goal for the 10K,” she says, “was to finish. I felt a little bit of pain, but nothing that would stop me.” Once the race started, Thelen had a rush of feelings. “It felt phenomenal,” she says, “and I had overwhelming feelings of joy and pride.” It is likely Thelen will remember those feelings when she begins preparing for the marathon she hopes to complete. One thing’s for sure: If Thelen sets her mind to it, she’ll be ready on marathon race day. “I know if I want something,” she says, “I have to get it myself.”

Determination Determination

wins out By Brent Manley

MY FIRST MARATHON EXPERIENCE By Matt Huey I was sitting on the couch one evening next to my wife, watching TV after a long day at work. “Which one?” she said to me. I snapped out of what I was watching to reply with, “Huh?” “Which St. Jude race do you want to do?” I just stared back, thinking about it. We both had been running for about five years and the subject has come up many times, but we never felt ready to commit. We both felt some envy seeing all the posts and photos on Facebook from local runners that first weekend in December and would say next year we would do the race. Well, now “next year” was here sitting in front of us. “I don’t know, let me think about it,” I replied. I spent the evening and part of the next day thinking it over. I really wanted to run a marathon but could I really run that far? As I thought more about it, I thought about how it had been a goal of mine and it is for a great cause, plus it’s a landmark race for the area. To get the final bit of input, I spoke about it with a good friend who has done races of all distances and he said to me “Go for it!” The next evening, I told Sherilyn that I was going for it all. Sign me up for the marathon. She smiled and asked me if I was sure. “Yep,” I said. “I might as well go all in.” Over the next few days, I started telling people that I signed up for a marathon. I was not trying to interject it into conversations. It just came out. One interesting thing that I noticed is that you get this look from people and then questions start coming out. They ask, “How far is that?” and, ”Have you ever done one?” When I would tell them that it would be my first one, I got a lot of impressed looks. To be honest, it was a great feeling telling people that I had signed up for a marathon and I understand why now people talk so much about them. Once I had made my announcement, I had to think about preparation. I started researching training

The author with his wife, Sherilyn, displaying the bib from his first marathon.

programs and talking to local runners about how to start getting ready. I found a training program for a firsttime marathon runner and I mapped out all the runs in a planner my wife gave me (she was particularly proud that I used a paper planner). The training plan was great, the runs gradually increased over the weeks and, even better, I was doing MRTC’s road race series, which fit in quite well with the training distances. I was so excited for that first run in the program. It was that first step toward the marathon and now I could tell people that instead of just having signed up for a marathon, I was training for a marathon. Again, more looks from people who were impressed to be talking to someone who was training for a marathon. The feeling was great and I thought that I don’t even have to run the marathon, I can just tell people I’m training for one. As the weeks of training went on, the distances got longer and harder. I felt worn out most of the time and I started struggling to get the miles in. I knew the training would be hard, but this was almost more than I could handle. Then a minor setback happened in the middle of my training. I strained my calf, not running, but rather just walking in my clinic. I spent the next two weeks rehabbing and stopped running to heal. I ran the first road race series 10-miler and made it just past 4 miles before the injury flared up, causing me to walk the remainder of the race. I spent another two weeks rehabbing, determined to be healthy before the next 10-miler and to get back to training. I did complete the second 10-miler by walking most of it, and I did not have any pain in my calf.

I was able to return to running but was not able to get in the long runs because of fear of re-injury. The next test was the second half marathon of the series. (I missed the first to a continuing education course). I ran the half marathon great and felt really good at the end. I was pumped and ready for the St. Jude Memphis Marathon. The weeks seemed to creep along, but finally it was the weekend of St. Jude. My wife and I were excited. This was finally it. After all the weeks of running and fundraising, it was time for the race. The expo was amazing. We picked up our bibs then checked out all the vendors. It was just so much to take in but we needed to turn in for the day and rest up. Luckily, my brother lived near the start and allowed us to stay at his place. We enjoyed a nice dinner, discussed the plans for the morning, laid out our clothes and gear, and then got to bed. I lay in the bed with so many things running through my head, but finally drifted off to sleep. The morning came, we woke up on time, had our breakfast, dressed and headed out. I was excited, anxious, nervous, and scared about what was about to happen. As we were driven to the start, I saw the 5K runners making their way down. It was now getting more real, seeing part of the course. We got as close as we could to the start before hopping out of the car and going to check in our gear. I have never done a gear check, so this was also a new experience I really did like. I did have a time debating what to keep and what to put in the bag, but ended up ditching the long sleeves, figuring I would get warm during the race. Sherilyn and I started to walk around to keep loose and warm. We slipped into the Peabody Hotel and went downstairs for a restroom break and to keep warm. About 20 minutes before the start, we decided it was time to find our corrals. It was overwhelming to step outside into a massive wave of people, all making their way to the corrals. We found my corral first, so we kissed and said good luck to one another. I found a small open area to stand and do some light dynamic stretching. A strange feeling came over me, but it was a familiar one, the one of feeling alone despite being surrounded by people. Standing in a street with large buildings looming overhead and surrounded by thousands of people, I felt that I was all alone and everyone was watching me. I told myself to calm down and take it all in. I could watch in the far distance as the time counted down to the start of the race. First, the wheelchair corral, then the elite corral, then a few minutes later the next corral, then the next. Slowly, the mass of people I was standing

The author just minutes from completing his first marathon.

amongst started moving forward. It seemed like it would take an hour to make it to the start, but I did find myself somehow walking along the center stripe of the road. As I got closer, it felt like it was all for me, the music, the cheering crowd, this was my race. Finally, my corral got to the starting area. The horn sounded and we were off. This was what all those weeks and miles were leading to. I was given the advice to not go out too fast and to enjoy myself so I made sure to follow that advice. Hearing the screams from the hundreds of people lining the streets was almost overwhelming. Everyone was smiling and cheering, so I figured I would hold off on listening to any music until after the first mile because I want to soak this all in. I ran to the edges of the course and gave out high fives to everyone who had a hand up. After running down Beale Street, I decided it was a good time to pull out the music. I slowed down a bit to get out my iPod, hooked it all up, put the earbuds in, clicked play and heard … nothing. I had remembered to charge it but forgotten to upload any songs. “Well,” I thought “I guess I’ll keep enjoying the sights and sounds.” I kept a steady pace and was going through occasional “system checks” to see how I felt. Was I 21

getting tight? Was anything hurting? Was anything chafing? Did I need water? Do I need to pee? Everything that a runner might have going through his mind. I stopped at the first water station for a quick drink (Joel Lyons gave me the tip to get a drink at each stop to keep my hydration up). The first few miles were great. People everywhere were cheering, high fives and beer flowed freely. Everything was great. Then we came to the split where the half marathon runners went to the finish line and the marathon runners continued on. That is when it all changed. The cheering crowds stopped, there was now more traffic around me, and a feeling of loneliness set in. “It’s okay,” I thought. “All part of it, and there will be more people.” At that point, my legs started getting heavier and my pace started to slow, but I continued. I noticed my left foot starting to hurt, but I thought it was just some mild soreness from the beating my feet were taking. I kept checking my watch to see when the halfway point was coming up. I had run a half marathon just a few weeks before and it felt easy. I was not quite feeling the same way at this point. My legs felt heavier, my feet hurt, my hips felt like they wanted to cramp, and I was getting hungry. How could I be hungry? I had never felt hungry on a run before, not in a race or in training. I thought to myself, “It’s because you’re running a marathon.” That made me smile. and gave me some motivation to pick it up briefly. I was thinking about all sorts of delicious food just waiting on me after I crossed that finish line. Finally, the 13.1-mile sign came up. “Halfway,” I thought “now just another half marathon to go.” Now, anyone who has ever muttered the words “a marathon is just two half marathons” has obviously never run a marathon, because even a half marathon is a pretty far distance in itself. Honestly, the second half of the race is a fuzzy blur. I can close my eyes and remember bits and pieces: running down empty streets, then streets full of people, past lines of cars with people hanging out cheering, but the most enduring memory is the pain. I have not felt a pain like that before. Everything on me hurt, and each step was worse than the last. It hurt to run, to walk and to stop. My left foot was hurting terribly, but I told myself “if it’s broken it will be broken no matter if I keep running or stop running.” Everyone around me at that point seemed to be in the same boat. People were shuffling along looking like the walking dead. I do know that at this point, many of the words that I said and the promises I made mean I will be in church for quite a while.

After passing the 20-mile mark, I knew that I was getting just a bit closer. I knew that the pain would be over soon, I just had to keep going. The miles started ticking down one by one even as I was moving at what felt like a snail’s pace. I got to the 24-mile point and saw people making their way to the final stretch. I thought about being there shortly. At the 25-mile mark, I thought about how short a mile is when I did my training runs. All of a sudden, I felt a burst of energy. I believe that it was from knowing that I did not have to keep anything in reserve. My feet quit hurting and my legs were able to turn over quicker. I could actually hear the cheering people again. Random strangers calling my name (it was on my bib) and telling me to keep going, that the finish was right around the corner. I made the final turn behind the stadium and saw my brother. I ran over to him to give a high five, which he videoed. I made the turn into the stadium and saw Sherilyn and the finish line. When I crossed, I felt like I had won the whole thing. I always dreamed of winning a gold medal and when that finisher medal was given to me, it was my gold medal. I knelt down to give my legs a rest and to be thankful for what I had just done. I felt tears well up in my eyes, not due to pain but from the huge physical accomplishment I had just done. I hugged and kissed my wife and we compared our medals (she ran the half marathon). The next battle was getting to the car. For this, I used the ultimate motivation for me: food. I hobbled out of the stadium and down a few blocks to the car. Sitting down never felt so good but I was afraid I would never be able to get up. We picked out a local deli that served fresh food. I pulled myself from the car and limped in, still wearing my medal, mind you. I went to the counter and just started pointing at things to have them put into containers. When we got back to my brother’s place, I took off my shoes, placed my medal on the table beside me and ate like I had not eaten in weeks. We all sat around talking about the race, the things we saw, the people, just everything. From what my brother said it was an event for him to just watch the people around the race. That evening as I lay in bed, I thought about the magnitude of what I had just done. I had run farther than I had ever dreamed of doing. I did an event that so many people talk about yet so few actually complete. I looked at my medal one more time, kissed my wife and petted the dog good night and drifted off to sleep ... thinking about the next year’s race. 22

My running streak During the streak I would run the mile anywhere from low 9s (minutes- By Kevin Prester per-mile pace) to 13s. One day I was at my office on a Saturday and got to run on the third floor and just did about 12 loops from one end to the other, the Garmin doing an excellent job picking up while I was inside. One day I had gotten home late and went out at 11:45, ran a mile and then the next day’s mile at midnight. Now, I’m not the fastest, nor as fast as I used to be, but I still enjoy getting out for a run, and that goes to show you that you can get a run in anywhere, anytime. I noticed around August or September that my street clothes started fitting a lot looser. I enjoy a cold Heineken or a Little Debbie cake like the next person, but I believe doing the runs every day shows that if you set a goal all you have to do is stick to it and you get the benefits of better-fitting clothes and healthier lifestyle. I really enjoyed the places I ran last year, and I didn’t need a running partner, although I did run with friends during the year. Also, you don’t need an iPod or even shoes. All that is needed is that little inkling of desire to go out and run. I know the benefits that I got during the last year will lay the groundwork for running in the future. Some days you can’t be out there because of some unexpected situation or injury and can’t run but if you set the goal ahead of time to make the time and effort to get that one mile run in before midnight then you go at it the next day again and again. I made it all the way to 505 days before twisting an ankle. I thought I had really torn it up, but an X-ray at the podiatrist showed only some arthritis. I was told to take a break and rest for a bit. I ended up taking off 33 days from May 20 this year, so the streak of running has started again. I am at one month straight and will just go and see how it turns out. I was more upset with having the streak stopped than not being able to run. The doctor suggested I take a rest and some Advil, then get back out there and start at it again. Toward the end of the 33 days, I could tell my ankle was starting to feel better so I started out slowly and am now doing slow buildup training to get back to where I want to be. I had a blast, and recommend starting a running streak to anyone trying to get some consistency in their training routine.

How many days could you have run last year? I set out on Jan. 1, 2016 with a goal to run at least one mile every day during the year. Considering that 2016 was a leap year, that gave me one extra day to get a run in. Runners know that there is no one out there twisting your arm to lace up the shoes and go for that one mile or more. Most people I would tell about my streak would say, “I could never do that” or “That’s crazy.” It’s not rocket science — just a desire to stay active along with the benefits you get health wise. During the year of the “streak,” I managed to get in 10 half marathons, the first six races in the road race series and numerous 5Ks and 10Ks. I also helped with the Women Run/Walk Memphis program as a coach. Getting in a mile before the training and working with all the lady runners was one part of the streak that I enjoyed most because I could rely on my own commitment to try to inspire those I was coaching. It was hot for those eight weeks of coaching during the summer, but the women I coached stuck it out and made it through the training. Some days it was so hot I would go out and run one of my one-mile routes at midnight. I could run the mile fast, slow or any way I wanted, but my goal was to run one mile before midnight each and every day. I had to get on the “hamster” wheel (a/k/a the treadmill) a few days, but most of the time I could get out and run on the road or the grass. Some days I would run barefooted in the grass at the soccer fields in Collierville. In the summer, my running buddy Roger and I would play a set of tennis then go run barefooted around the croquet courts in Johnson Park. My wife, Jackie, who is faster than me, and I were staying in the Peabody for our anniversary and I did my mile on the roof up by the duck pens. It was about 11 trips around the skyway according to my Garmin. It wasn’t the fastest mile in the books, but I did get a mile in. One day, I ran in the Clark Tower parking garage because it was going to rain, so I just started at the bottom and went up to the fourth floor — round and round up and down — to get the mile in. There was a bonus up on the seventh floor that I had heard about: 10-15 high-end classic cars parked there. Ford G, Porsche 911, Lamborghini, some Ferraris and others. That made my run that enjoyable to say the least. 23

Passing the torch By Cory Adams I grew up in the middle of nowhere in Northern Michigan, but that’s okay. So did George Blaha, the voice of the Detroit Pistons. Every once in while, some of the Pistons and their coaching staff would make the drive north to put on clinics for the kids in the area. One year, I was lucky enough to get into one. That’s when I got to meet Vinnie “The Microwave” Johnson and coach Brendan Malone. Vinnie Johnson was known for having one of the ugliest jump shots in the NBA, but I listened to every word he said. He talked about ball rotation on jump shots and not being intimidated when going up against bigger and faster guys, and that hit home for a bunch of grade-school kids in the middle of nowhere. After Vinnie got done with his demonstrations and speech, Malone started in with his. He talked about putting the time in and that if you want to get better you have to get out of your comfort zone and keep going up against guys who are better than you. He went on to say that no matter how many times you get beat, no matter how bad you get beat, keep working and keep coming back for more. After some serious knee injuries and a brief stint of playing at the local junior college, I was done with basketball. I spent another 10 years doing the gymrat thing, but the thrill was gone until I found my way to my first running event. You’re supposed to start small, so I started with a 10K. When I finished my first marathon it was time to admit that I didn’t know what I was doing. After doing the trial-and-error thing on my own, I found some groups that were about my pace but had a lot more experience than I did. I learned about pacing and tapering as well as how to hydrate properly. Little by little, I started taking Malone’s advice and started applying it to running. Every once in a while, I would find a group of runners who were faster than I was, and I went out to hang with them for as long as I could. More often than not, it was an exercise in futility, but at every running event I signed up for, I kept shaving a few minutes off

my PRs. The knowledge I was accumulating from the good folks of the Memphis running scene was really starting to pay off. I started to think I knew what I was doing, so I bought some real running shoes. Next came the Garmin and before I knew it I was spending all my money on running gear. Running shorts, shirts, hats and even a fanny pack with a bottle designed for runners. I finished the marathon in Memphis, so I thought it would be a good idea to run a marathon in Knoxville and run through Neyland Stadium to finish on the 50-yard line. People tried to warn me about how hilly it was in Knoxville, but I wasn’t able to wrap my mind around it until about three miles into the run. When the pacer blew a hamstring at the halfway point, I knew I wasn’t going to PR, so I made it my goal to just finish. I finally made my way into the stadium, and when I crossed the 50-yard line I learned just how many hills there are in Knoxville. I beat the cutoff time and I felt like I was on top of the world. I learned that finishing a difficult race is just as good as setting a PR. When I realized that I was fond of tough races, I started looking around for new challenges and I found one in Boone NC. The Grandfather Mountain Marathon was supposed to be one of the hardest marathons east of the Mississippi, so I signed up for it. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but somebody told me if you can run Memphis in the summer, you can run in anything. I had no idea how to train, but I applied blunt-force trauma to my training because I knew that I had bitten off more than I could chew. It was miles, miles and more miles. That’s all I did because I knew running a marathon up a mountain would break me. I put in the time, and before I knew it I was standing at the start

... I applied blunt-force trauma to my training ...

line talking to some folks who were using this marathon We listened to his story of how the tornado had leveled as training for a run up Pike’s Peak. his house and that he had to move in with his motherI wound up actually finishing the race. The bagpipes in-law. He went on to admit that he took up running as were blaring away as I crossed the finish line on top an excuse to get away from his mother-in-law and that of the mountain. I was dehydrated and half dead, but I this was his first marathon. finished. I was on top of the world and then I realized He had no running gear, no gels, and no water bottle that running is more than a hobby. It’s a calling. on what was supposed to be a really hot day. Nobody This calling took me to Joplin MO for the second really said anything to the guy. We just started handing running of the Mother Road Marathon. I ran the first the guy extra stuff we had. I handed over some gels, one and I felt called to come back and do it again after some guy from Kansas threw in some jelly beans and a tornado leveled half the town. The point-to-point somebody else gave him a water bottle. race goes through six communities in three states along I realized that I had helped pass the torch that day. Route 66. There are some tough hills in the latter stages To my surprise, the guy did very well and finished an of the race. hour in front of me. It was my turn to help someone I got on the first bus to the start line with a bunch step out of their comfort zone so they could accomplish of other people who thought it would be a good idea to something they never thought possible. wait around in the heat until the other buses got there. A couple of us were swapping stories about the marathons Auto Home Life Business Motorcycle we’d run when one of the local guys joined our little circle. The basketball shorts and the cross trainers screamed that this guy had no idea what he just signed up for.

From the minds of runners

As a local agent, I’m here for you.

Runner logic: “You’re right, I don’t need any more running gear – but it’s on sale!”

ServIng Tn for 18 yeArS. #

At LOFTON WELLS INSURANCE , we have a long history of doing what’s right. That includes a tradition of personal attention, and being right here in MEMPHIS to help you protect what’s most important.

“You could sleep in on Sunday . . . or you could drag your butt over 13.1 miles just for a cheap medal and a glass of wine. Welcome to insanity.” Seen on the back of a singlet: “Faster than the speed of . . . something slower.”

Pamela Lofton Wells LOFTON WELLS INSURANCE 901-388-SAVE (7283) wellsp1@nationwide.com loftonwellsinsurance.com Not all Nationwide affiliated companies are mutual companies and not all Nationwide members are insured by a mutual company. Nationwide, Nationwide is On Your Side, and the Nationwide N and Eagle are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. © 2016 Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. NPR-0784AO (08/16) ##

2017 OCTOBER SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

www.s2fevents.com 26

In mid-August, I flew from Memphis to Atlanta, then to Paris. From there, I rode a train for two hours to Lyon, France, to work at a bridge tournament. I do this kind of thing three to four, occasionally five, times a year. I enjoy the work but I’m usually too busy to run — or the situation isn’t right. For example, I went to Italy to work in June but the hours were long, it was brutally hot and humid and I had no time at night for anything but dinner and heading for bed. I did not run even once. I came home feeling tired and lamenting a loss of fitness. I came back from Lyon feeling much better and, more important, fitter. The difference was La Parc de la Tete d’Or. Translation: The Park of the Golden Head. The name comes from a legend that a sculpture depicting Christ’s head was buried in the area. Anyway, to get from my Lyon hotel to the large, modern convention center where I was working, I cut through the park on a walk of 15 to 20 minutes. When I was done working, I went back through the park to the hotel. At night, lights come on so people can see where they are going. The park, opened in 1857, sits on about 300 acres. Inside is the Lyon Zoo, botanic and rose gardens, a large lake with an island in the middle, lots of tall trees and wide boulevards that are closed to cars and trucks. The park is open until 10 p.m. daily. There are running trails all over the park, and if you circle the park, you’ve done a 5K. As I walked to and from work each day, I noticed more and more people running along, passing me as they made their way around the park. This was true

In this park, they say ‘Allons-y!’ By Brent Manley Runners in the Parc de la Tete d’Or

even at night — and every day of the week. There were always people running, walking, riding bicycles and scooters, and roller-blading. It wasn’t long before I was rising earlier than I needed to and heading to the park in my running clothes. I ran three times in the daytime and three times at night after getting back to the hotel and changing into running clothes. One night, I started running at about 9 p.m. and made it about 1.75 miles before turning around. On my way back, I was surprised to hear a piano playing. I looked over and, even in the dim light, I could see a gazebo with a man sitting at a grand piano, working the keyboard. I was determined to check out that gazebo in the daylight. I went back to the park twice more but forgot my camera both times. Fortunately, Donna, my wife, did get a shot of it. A sign near the gazebo notes that it is located on the Ile de Mahatma Gandhi. One night, I entered the park and turned a corner only to see a police car slowly moving toward the entrance (a tall, iron gate). From a loud speaker came an announcement that the park was closing soon. I got out before the park gate was locked — which would have made me a captive for the night — and just ran up and down the Boulevard de Bataille de Stalingrad, which runs next to the park, until my Garmin told me I had achieved 3.5 miles. I was running in part to train for the Chicago Marathon in early October, but also because it just felt good to get outside and join the citizens of Lyon running in a beautiful, welcoming place — even when it was A piano player does his thing at the Park of the Golden Head. almost dark. Photo by Donna Manley P.S. Allons-y means “Let’s go!” 27

The most energetic (and obnoxious) running buddy By Rebecca McDonald I have always believed in the power of running buddies. Without running friends, my runs would be limited to a slow and boring three miles around the neighborhood a couple times a week. Nine years ago when I was divorcing my daughter’s father, I started running again with my high school track/crosscountry friends. Our runs helped me through a rough time and gave us all a little friendly competition to help us get stronger and faster. Besides countless races, we have seen each other through divorce, death of parents, weddings, job changes and baby showers. Those women are my running buddies and friends for life. Life, of course, always brings changes. I had my daughter, Alana, at a relatively young age (26), but my friends were yet to be married and were concentrating on their careers. Now that my daughter is 11 and can basically raise herself (just kidding), I’m able to fit in more runs and “me” time. My friends, meanwhile, have toddlers and infants at home and are now experiencing the years of limited freedom. When Alana was young, my running friends would help me push the running stroller when I got tired. Now I try to do the same for them, but our runs aren’t nearly as frequent as they used to be. Life just gets busy, and sometimes we end up having more “baby parties” and cook-outs than runs. So while no one will ever replace my running friends, my newest running buddy comes with benefits all his own. A few months after the death of our beloved dog — as sweet and gentle as a pet could be, but a reluctant runner — my daughter and I started to look for a rescue dog that would not only be a good family dog but also energetic enough to keep up on runs. Alana, who isn’t crazy about running but loves to bike along while I run, was super-excited about finding a dog that we could take with us on our “bruns” (biking and running). And, boy, did we! We found a young lab/pit mix that is 60 plus pounds of pure muscle. We quickly found out that if he had

The author with her running buddy, Scout.

been born a human he would be the anomaly that could medal at the 100-meter and marathon. After our first 10-mile run, he had enough energy to come home and tear up nine rolls of toilet paper while I was in the shower barely having enough energy left to shampoo my hair.

The first several runs kept me on my toes because Scout, still technically a puppy, ran like one, weaving back and forth. I always got a good arm workout thanks to his obsession with small mammals. After I was sure he’d stay with me, we starting running through the off-leash dog park at Shelby Farms Park. This is heaven for him because he gets to sprint ahead and jump in all the lakes and then wrestle and play chase with the other dogs when we’re done. It’s heaven for me, too, because my arms get a rest from his obsession with catching small animals, I get to avoid concrete and get in lots of hill work. Scout’s second favorite place ever to run is on the Wolf River trails so he can jump in the river when he gets hot. Our “bruns,” although not as easy on my arms as off-leash running, have benefits also. Scout doesn’t understand the concept of slow runs anyway, but when my daughter is biking ahead of us, he wants desperately to keep as close to her as possible, causing us to speed up. It has definitely occurred to me that he needs much more on-leash training, but a five-mile run with Scout happens much faster than if I was just running solo. There are other benefits to running with a four-legged friend. I run when able, which, during the middle of the week in the winter, means at night. It’s comforting to know that even though my dog would most likely just lick someone to death, he at least looks scary enough to deter most anyone who might be threatening. I’m still alert and aware of my surroundings, but it is nice to have the extra comfort of a running buddy with sharp teeth. That said, the best benefit of having a dog that loves running is that he doesn’t let me skip runs. He always seems to know when it’s Saturday or Sunday morning, and he whines at my bed until I get up. If I’m so selfish as to do a few chores before heading out for a run, he follows me around constantly, not so subtly reminding me that he still exists and is still annoying. He could easily go on five runs a day, but he does eventually lie down and let me have some peace when we get home. That makes it motivating for me to get energy out of him early in the day. As much as he loves playing tug-of-war and

The author with her daughter, Alana, and running buddy, Scout.

jumping on the trampoline with us, there is nothing that tires him out like a hard run. If he’s had a hard run that day, he’s more likely to cuddle with my daughter and me during our nightly family cuddle sessions, instead of play-biting us while we’re trying to read. There are times when I leave him at home when I’m heading to a race or a bike ride, or I want to go to the track workout without him insisting on being the front runner, or times that I want to run with my girls and help with their stroller without a dog on a leash. The look he gives me when I leave in running clothes without him is quite guilt producing, and I always end up running extra with him the next day. I do wish, however, that he would understand when I remind him that he used to eat out of dumpsters and that other dogs spend their lives chained in their owners’ backyards. He has it pretty good. About a year after getting him, I started hitting PRs like crazy. I was running faster than I ever was in my youth. I felt healthier than ever. After I ran the road race series half marathon in 1:38, six minutes faster than ever before, I finally realized I was faster because of Scout. He has pushed my pace and gave me no excuses to miss runs. Our sweet and wild dog has brought so much joy and fun to our family, and while I sometimes would just love to be left alone and be able to sleep in on the weekends, I couldn’t imagine life without my most obnoxious and energetic running buddy ever.

My name: Tamara Germany (Tammy) My age: 49. My occupation: Special-education teacher. Why I like running/walking: It relieves stress, and I need to lose another 20 pounds. My favorite race(s): Both 10Ks at Shelby Farms and the Coca Classic 10K in Corinth MS.

My name: Balakrishnan Ramachandran My age: 39. My occupation: Senior systems analyst. Why I like running: It makes me feel healthy. Whenever I complete a run, no matter the distance, I take a deep breath knowing that I just did something to improve my health and wellbeing. There’s nothing like a good cardiovascular workout to achieve that! My favorite race(s): The series half marathon, Winter off-road series plus the St. Jude and Andrew Jackson marathons.

My name: Allison Scallions My age: 19. My occupation: Student at Northwest Mississippi Community College. Why I like running/walking: I love the feeling after a walk/run. The feeling of accomplishment as I strive to reach my goals and push myself to conquer them. My favorite race(s): St. Jude Memphis Marathon and 5K and the road race series.

My name: Kathy Stuart My age: 47. My occupation: Homeschool mom. Why I like running/walking: It de-stresses me and I feel strong and empowered after a long run. I also love the friendships I’ve made in the running community. My favorite race(s): St. Jude Half Marathon because it makes me thankful for what I have and allows me to give back; the series 10-Miler because it’s so challenging, and Run the Bluegrass in Lexington KY. The hills on that course are crazy and it’s such an accomplishment to finish.

My name: Nathan Turner My age: 37. My occupation: Document solutions technician at Memphis Communications Corporation. Why I like running: I like knowing that I am doing something about my health. I enjoy events and seeing friends I have met in the running community. My favorite race(s): My first 5K was the Bardog 5K, so that has a soft spot in my heart. The St. Jude Marathon is a breathtaking race that I will continue to do or support for the rest of my life.

My name: Jason Scott My age: 41. My occupation: Process improvement advisor and Air National Guard officer. Why I like running/walking: Running is life! I completed a 50-mile challenge during the fourth grade (a few laps at the end of each school day) and have been running ever since. Running is my go-to for fun, to think, to challenge myself or simply to relax. Taking my 2.5-year-old to this year’s MRTC Kids! run was a blessing. I look forward to many runs with him. My favorite race(s): On the track: 800m “long sprint,” the road race series and the St. Jude Memphis Marathon.

Time to renew your MRTC membership?

You can do it at www.memphisrunners.com 30

My name: Leanne Hinkle My age: 40. My occupation: Teacher. Why I like running/walking: Running can be either a social or a solitary activity — whichever one needs at the time. My favorite race(s): The road race series is awesome (I really do it for the sticker!). I’m hard-pressed to find better race entertainment than at the St. Jude Half Marathon (and there’s no better cause) and the Starry Night 4K is a great way to end the year.

My name: Jackie Hall My age: 51. My occupation: Training Consultant. Why I like running: I enjoy the sense of accomplishment and how healthy running makes me feel. It is also a great way to clear my mind. My favorite race(s): The 2015 road race series (my first). I absolutely loved the St. Jude Half Marathon and everything about the weekend. I knew during mile one that I would be a St. Jude Hero in 2016, again. My name: Don Rossman My age: 71. My occupation: Driving a before-andafter-care school bus for Farmington Presbyterian Church in Germantown. Why I like running/walking: I’ve been running since my track days in high school (1960s) with the major aim of staying in the best shape I can until I drop dead. Unfortunately, my race running days are over because of a stupid injury — a really sad, short story! My favorite race(s): The Rhodes 4-Miler, as a participant and as a volunteer. You can see how the runners are doing half way through the race and watch them finish on the Rhodes track. Then you get to go inside and drink hot chocolate!!

My name: Philip Cummings My age: 45. My occupation: Teacher. Why I like running: I enjoy the camaraderie and the feeling of crossing a finish line. My favorite race(s): The St. Jude Memphis Marathon/ Half Marathon and road race series 10K and half marathon. My name: Madison Maddock My age: 30. My occupation: Elementary school art teacher (best job on the planet!). Why I like running: I started running when I made a New Year’s resolution to run 12 5Ks in 2014. After achieving that goal I decided that in 2015 I would take it further and run a half marathon. Running is not only a great way to stay healthy, it also represents hard work and determination to meet my goals! Running has given me a sense of accomplishment and pride in myself, as well as inspiring me to push myself to the next level. My favorite race(s): The St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend, the road race series 10-Milers and Move It Memphis! My name: Ryan Sterling My age: 9. My occupation: Third-grade student at Crosswind Elementary. Why I like running: God gave me legs to run. I like running for the challenge and knowing that the reward is finishing even if I don’t win anything. I like running races with my family and having their support. My favorite race: The Running of the Rams 5K at Oak Elementary because I used to go to school there. The trail the run at Stanky Creek was so fun. I got muddy and it was my first trail run!

My name: Nora Murriel My age: 44. My occupation: Sales associate. Why I like running: It is a good source of exercise and an excellent way to reduce stress. My favorite race(s): The Navy 10 Nautical Miler, the St. Jude Half Marathon, the Little Rock Half Marathon and the road race series. My name: Janna Hacker My age: 40. My occupation: Speech therapist and clinic director. Why I like running/walking: It’s a great way to exercise outdoors. My favorite race(s): St. Jude Half Marathon.

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

Sunday morning

Monday afternoon

Tuesday morning

Run: Germantown

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

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

Thoroughbreds

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

Association Runners Group

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

Run: Southaven Striders Time: 6 p.m. Place: Central Park (Tchulahoma entrance, east side of park) Distance: 3-5 mi. (9- to 12-min. miles) Contact: Kyle McCoy, 901-299-8630 Kalmac220@gmail.com Angie McCoy, 901-233-0168 anggail09@gmail.com

Tuesday afternoon

Run: Salty Dogs of

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

Time: 7 p.m. Place: Bardog Tavern, 73 Monroe Ave., downtown Distance: 3-5 miles run through historic downtown Memphis and afterward enjoy food, drink and camaraderie. Contact: Jessica Grammer 901-734-5731 or jessgrammer@gmail.com

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: Roland Woodson: roland@blkmenrun.com

Bardog Tavern

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.

32 REL-TN-P91348 RoadRunners.indd 1

6/9/09 2:06:05 PM

Wednesday morning

Thursday afternoon

Run: Cordova Early Birds Time: 5:30 a.m. Place: Breakaway Running store on Germantown Parkway and St. Philip Church at Davies Plantation (alternating weeks) Distance: 5 miles Details: Meets year-round if road conditions permit Contact: cordovaearlybirds@gmail.com

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

Run: Fleet Feet Time: 6 p.m. Fleet Feet hosts individualized speedwork sessions including track Run: Southaven Striders and tempo workouts for runners Time: 6 a.m. who want to get a little quicker. Place: Central Park in Southaven No fees. (Tchulahoma ent., east side of park) Contact: Feb at 761-0078 or Distance: 3-5 miles (9- 12-minute miles) lovetorun@fleetfeetmemphis.com Contact: Kyle McCoy, 901-299-8630 or kalmac220@gmail.com

Saturday morning

Wednesday afternoon Run: Breakaway Running Time: 6 p.m. Place: Wolf River Store 1223 Germantown Pkwy. Contact: Barry, 901-722-8797 or 901-754-8254 Run: Midtown Run Time: 6 p.m. Place: Corner of Madison and Tucker, across from Huey’s Distance: 6 miles

Run: Breakaway Running Breakaway’s Marathon and Half Marathon Training Group meets each Saturday morning through December to help prepare our friends for the St. Jude Marathon. Check website or Facebook page for location and time. Join us! 722-8797 for more info.

Run: Fleet Feet Time: 7 a.m. Place: 4530 Poplar (Laurelwood Center) Fleet Feet hosts long runs on Saturday mornings geared toward upcoming Run: Bartlett UMC races. Many distance options are Time: 6 p.m. available. Place: Bartlett United Methodist Church, Call 761-0078 or email 5676 Stage Road; group meets in lovetorun@fleetfeetmemphis.com the gym lobby for more information. Distance: Varies Contact: Sam Thompson, 901-386-2724 Run: Run & Play or sthompson@bartlettumc.org Time and Place: meet the first Saturday Run: Bartlett Run Time: 6:30 p.m. Place: W.J. Freeman Park, 2629 Bartlett Blvd. Distance: 4-6 miles Contact: Paul “Spunky” Ireland h. 901-388-5009 c. 901-826-7496 or paulireland@att.net

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. For more information: http://www.seemommyrun.com/tn/ 33

MRTC bad-weather policy MRTC contracts to provide finish-line services at local races. When there is inclement weather, the race director has the option to postpone or cancel the race and is responsible for notifying the MRTC and participants. In the event of a cancellation, rescheduling is unlikely because of the number of races already on the MRTC calendar. For MRTC races (the Road Race Series, the Winter Cross Country Race Series and the Hill & Dale 8-miler), the policy is that the race will go on, rain or shine. The start of a race may be delayed to let bad weather pass, but scheduled races will be run.

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 at 651-1065 or Brandy Heckmann at 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 Saturday mornings Place: Check Facebook Distance: All distances, all ages, all paces. Runs are in Tipton County and north Shelby County Contact: djroaddawg@yahoo.com

Race Calendar Date & Time: Saturday, Sept, 23, 8 a.m. Race name: Bark on Broadway Location: Broad Avenue Historic District Contact: www.racesonline.com

Date & Time: Sunday, Nov. 5, 7 a.m. Race name: E.J. Goldsmith Jr. Memorial Road Race Series 1st Half Marathon Location: Singleton Parkway at Austin Peay Hwy. Contact: www.memphisrunners.com

Date & Time: Sunday, Sept. 24, 7 a.m. Race name: E.J. Goldsmith Jr. Memorial Road Race Series 2nd 10K Location: Shelby Farms Park Contact: www.memphisrunners.com Date & Time: Saturday, Sept. 30, 9 a.m. Race name: Judge Freeman Marr Panther Pride 5K Location: Freeman Park, Bartlett Contact: www.bartlettrunners.com

Date & Time: Saturday, Nov. 11, 8 a.m. Race name: Greenline 5K and Greenline Half Marathon Location: Shelby Farms Park Contact: www.racesonline.com Date & Time: Saturday, Nov. 18, 9 a.m. Race name: Tim Creager Memorial 5K Location: Bartlett Hills Baptist Church 4641 Ellendale Road, Bartlett Contact: www.racesonline.com

Date & Time: Saturday, Oct. 7, 9 a.m. Race name: Foster Care 5K Location: Overton Park Contact: www.racesonline.com

Date & Time: Sunday, Nov. 19, 7 a.m. Race name: E.J. Goldsmith Jr. Memorial Road Race Series 2nd Half Marathon Location: Singleton Parkway at Austin Peay Hwy. Contact: www.memphisrunners.com

Date & Time: Sunday, Oct. 8, 7 a.m. Race name: E.J. Goldsmith Jr. Memorial Road Race Series 1st 10-Miler Location: Meeman-Shelby Forest Contact: www.memphisrunners.com

Saturday, Nov. 25, 9 a.m.

Date & Time: Race name: Location: Contact:

Friday, Oct. 13, 6:30 p.m.

Date & Time: Race name: Location: Contact:

Saturday, Oct. 21, 9 a.m.

Date & Time: Saturday, Nov. 30, 6 p.m. Race name: Starry 4K Location: Shelby Farms Park Contact: www.racesonline.com

Firefighter 5K 118 Adams Avenue downtown See ad on page 4. Fast & Furriest 5K Shelby Farms Park See ad on page 7.

Date & Time: Saturday, Dec. 2, 7 a.m. Race name: St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend (Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, Kids Marathon) Location: Downtown Memphis Contact: www.stjude.org

Date & Time: Sunday, Oct. 22, 7 a.m. Race name: E.J. Goldsmith Jr. Memorial Road Race Series 2nd 10-Miler Location: Meeman-Shelby Forest Contact: www.memphisrunners.com Date & Time: Saturday, Nov. 4, 9 a.m. Race name: Race for Grace 5K Location: Shady Grove Presbyterian Church 5530 Shady Grove Contact: www.racesonline.com

MRC Recovery Run 5K Overton Park See ad on facing page.

Renew your MRTC membership at www.memphisrunners.com 34

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

Non-Profit Org U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

MEMPHIS, TN Permit No. 960

Some of the 40-plus members of Team MBA posed for a photo after touring St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. To learn more about the team and its mission, see page 8. Photo courtesy of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.