Message from the President (by Steve Spakes

A Message from the President

By Steve Spakes

I recently read that St. Jude Legend, Robert than ever. The marathon weekend is St. Jude’s largest Webster, M.D., a world-respected virologist, is single-day fundraiser and with so many fundraising optimistic that science will have solutions for Covid-19 events being cancelled, I’m sure they need our support. by the end of the year. We’re certainly all hoping he’s So sign up and become a Hero! correct. St. Jude did develop their own testing with In the 1950s, polio was the biggest threat to employees getting tested every four days. Also, St. Jude will be seeking 500 So sign up and children. When a vaccine was developed, many teens and adults, thinking they volunteers for vaccine Phase 3 trials. I hope I am chosen, become a Hero! were immune, did not get the vaccine. Of course, and with the marathon everyone was susceptible, weekend going virtual, St. Jude needs our help more as we know with Franklin D. Roosevelt. Public health officials asked Elvis if he would get the vaccine on live TV. He did, then performed. All of this took place at CBS Studio 50. Vaccinations in teens went from 0.6% to over 80%. MRTC is truly thankful for the incredible support of our virtual Road Race Series. Just under 900 have registered. You can still sign up for single races. Obviously, an MRTC party won’t happen in January, but we are hopeful for later in the year. I am pleased to announce that former MRTC Board member Peter Mecredi has rejoined the Board. Peter was a scientist at St. Jude when the U.S. Navy offered him a commission as a lieutenant still working in science. Welcome back! So, in the meantime, wear a mask, keep safe distance, avoid crowds and practice hand hygiene. Elvis gets a polio vaccination. Run safe!

Did you know?

In 1990, only 25% of road race finishers in the U.S. were women. Now the ladies make up more than half of road race finishers in the US.

The first New York City Marathon was held in 1970, when 127 runners paid one dollar each to run a few loops through Central Park. Fewer than half of the entrants finished.

You can store about 2,000 calories’ worth of glycogen in your body to fuel your running, but it’s important to replenish your stores, so chow down on the carbs post-run.

Fauja Singh is the oldest person to ever complete a full marathon, finishing the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 2011 at the age of 100. So no, you’re probably not too old to run.’

On the other end of the spectrum, the world’s youngest marathoner is Bhudia Singh, who completed 48 marathons before age 5.