Third Quarter, 2005 eNewsletter

Lewis & Clark Event Update

As of today, most of you want to have a pre-race gathering and pose for a race morning group photo. Since the marathon and half marathon begin at the same time, we'll take the group photo before the race starts. In the group photo, we'll be wearing our red jerseys and black shorts. We will begin making these arrangements. Additional information about these events will be forthcoming in late August or early September.

Again, you may register for the marathon at http://www.fleetfeetstl.com/lewisandclark.htm.

2005 NBMA Scholarship Winners

The National Black Marathoners' Association (NBMA) is pleased award college scholarships to Mr. Nthando Thandiwe (Atlanta, GA) and Mr. Giovanni Vaquerano (Dallas, TX).

Nthando Thandiwe

Mr. Thandiwe is a National Honors Society graduate of Benjamin E. Mays High School of the Atlanta (GA) Public School District. He competed in various distances on the track team. In addition to serving as captain of the cross country team, he was also active in the Robotics Club, Scuba Diving Club, Student Council, Band, and the Math Team.

He has also demonstrated his athletic abilities by placing in local road races, duathlons, and triathlons. He has earned over 75 awards for placing in various distances from the 5K to the half marathon. Additionally, he has volunteered for the Sickle Cell Road Race. This race is held by the South Fulton Running Club, one of the nation’s oldest known Black running clubs.

Giovanni Vaquerano

Mr. Vaquerano is a National Honor Society graduate of Warren Travis White High School of the Dallas (TX) Independent School District. He ran various track distances. He was involved with the Art Club, Chess Club, Dead Poet's Society, Math Club, Yearbook staff, and the Key Club. He was also President of the French Club.

He is very heavily involved in Tae Kwon Do. In 2003 and 2004, he was the Kansas State Champion. He is currently a 6th degree blue belt and is a member of his training school's team. He has also participated in the MS Walk since 2003.

Again, we'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate our 2005 scholarship winners and to thank the scholarship donors.

Member Profile: Gillis B.

Athletic Background

Favorites

List of Fitness Goals

Personal Reasons for Running:  Health and the mental & physical challenge.  It's a passion and an obsession.  Health benefits that it adds life to my years.

Most Memorable Running Experience: Qualifying for Boston at the 1999 Chicago Marathon and running Boston in 2001.

My Dream Run: I would like to run the original marathon route in Athens, Greece while wearing a tunic and having a sword in my hand.

50th Birthday Marathon - Australia's Gold Coast Airport Marathon

by Tony Reed

I am writing this article on my PDA at 35,000 feet over the Pacific Ocean. I'm returning from a long awaited trip to accomplish another marathon goal. I wanted to run a marathon on my 50th birthday.

While training for my first marathon (1982), I talked with veteran marathoners. I was struck by the number of runners, who were long term, goal setters. These goal-setters didn't care what others thought about their personal accomplishments. They set the goals for self-satisfaction, not public glory or acknowledgement. The self-satisfaction was priceless. In the pre-marathon boom days, I actually ran marathons that didn’t have t-shirts, race results, finisher medals, mile markers, bib numbers, overhead race clock, or certificates.

If you wanted music, you either sang to yourself or carried a bulky transistor radio or cassette player. A finish line crowd was a luxury. When you crossed the finish line, they yelled out your finishing time and handed you a 3x5 index card with your overall place. After you wrote your name, age, and finishing time, you gave it to the race official. (Try writing immediately after you've finished a marathon. It's not easy.) You really had to love running to compete in those races.

After my first marathon, I decided to run a marathon on my birthday weekend of July 2. The San Francisco Marathon was the closest to that date. (It has since been moved to the end of July.) However, I was never able to make it. Since a marathon is about 42K, I ran an unofficial, solo marathon on my 42nd birthday in 1997. (It’ is no fun running a July marathon in the Texas heat.) Afterwards, I decided to run an official one on my 50th birthday.

This would cap off my other goals of running 50 marathons and 50 Texas marathons before turning 50. (This did not include my unofficial marathon.) These goals were accomplished in 2003 and 2004, respectively. My next goal was to complete a marathon on every continent. Also, I thought that I might try running a marathon a month. Each one had to be in a different state or country. This goal started in November. I settled on the Gold Coast Airport Marathon in Gold Coast (Queensland), Australia for the birthday race.

Selecting this marathon afforded me the opportunity of having a two-day birthday. Thanks to the International Date Line (IDL), Australia is one day ahead of the US. Thus, July 2 in the US is July 3 in Australia. I celebrated my US birth-DATE on July 2 in Australia (pre-race party and dinner) and celebrated the actual US birth-DAY on July 3 in Australia by running the marathon. The 45-degree temperature was a lot cooler than the 100-degree Texas temperature. This trip allowed me cross the IDL and the equator for the first time. (My elementary school geography teacher would have been proud of me.)

The race was everything I expected. The race conditions and course were prefect for a fast time. However, I didn’t care about my time. I wanted to savor the excitement of actually running a marathon at 50. Although it was my 68th marathon, it was as exciting as my first one 23 years earlier. It allowed me to reflect on the previous races, all of the miles that were logged, and my personal goals. And like any goal setter, I started thinking about my next monthly marathon, the next continent, the 3PM massage, and future personal goals.

The day after the race, I joined a tour of the Hinderland region. This is a rainforest and volcano crater. I carried the gold-colored finisher’s medal with me and peaked at it periodically on the bus ride. (Subsequently, I had the back of it engraved commemorating my half-century mark.) I was still undecided about committing to another continent. A number of NBMA members have mentioned running an African marathon or half marathon.

However, an omen appeared at our first tour stop. As we walked along the rainforest trail, our tour guide stopped at a huge tree. It was the Antarctica beech tree. (Australia broke off from Antarctica.) Ironically, I actually had the deposit check in my wallet for the February 26, 2007 Antarctica “Last” Marathon. I mailed it when I returned. Between now and then, I'd like to complete marathons on the other continents.

Additional Running Highlights at 50.

Member Profile: Anjanette W

Running Background

Favorites

List Running/Fitness Goals:

Personal Reasons for Running:  I run for the personal satisfaction. I have always admired other runners, who I would see along the road. The Northeast is very fitness crazy. After I turned 30, I noticed that I was gaining pounds and inches. Unfortunately, it didn't come off easily. Also, being a healthcare provider, I know all the increased health problems associated with obesity.

Describe Your Most Memorable Running Experience: My most memorable race would have to be my first race in February, 2005. It was the Cowtown 5K in Fort Worth, TX. Two co-workers and I participated the multi-distance event. They ran the 10K, while I ran the 5K. There were many opportunities to back out. It was cold (and I don't like the cold). To make matters worse, my CD player’s batteries were missing. However, I wore my headset to keep my ears warm. I ran all the way singing the songs, that would have played, if my batteries been installed. At the finish, I was so proud of myself. It was a great feeling.

My Dream Run: I would travel to Hawaii and combine a vacation with a good run. I would imagine that the scenery would be beautiful.

Running Club Profile: South Fulton (Atlanta, GA) Running Partners

South Fulton Running Partners is a recreational, not-for-profit running organization founded in 1979. SFRP is the oldest Black running club in the United States and the originator of the Sickle Cell Road Race.  The club purpose is to promote running as a means of developing and maintaining good health; to plan, organize, and sponsor running events for worthy not-for-profit organizations and to contribute the race profits to such organizations ; to assist other not-for-profit organizations in planning and conducting running events; and to educate the community on the art and science of recreational running.