First Quarter, 2006 eNewsletter

New Board Member: Gillis Bowden

We'd like to welcome our new board member, Gillis Bowden. If Gillis sounds familiar, he was featured in our Third Quarter, 2005 eNewsletter. I was fortunate to have met him at last year's Flying Pig Marathon. He's a member of the Avondale Running Club, Cincinnati's Black running club.

Like most runners, he travels around the country looking for excitement (i.e. races). If you were at our 2005 Event at the Lewis and Clark Marathon, you probably met him and the other Avondale members. We're looking forward to him working with us and seeing him at the New Jersey Marathon. 

2006 NBMA Event - New Jersey Marathon

The New Jersey Marathon on April 30 in Long Branch is fast approaching. The current entry fees are $55 and $75 for the half and full marathons, respectively, when postmarked by March 31. They increase to $60 and $85 when postmarked by April 15. The fees are $75 and $95 at the Expo. There's no race day registration. The last day for online registration is April 25.

We've decided to wear red jerseys/tank tops and black shorts, again. We'll be sending additional information about our Saturday evening get together in a separate email in the next couple of weeks. Until then, stay healthy and keep running.

2006/2007 High School Scholarship Program

The National Black Marathoners’ Association (NBMA) is still accepting applications for the scholarship. This program will provide awards to two students (a young man and lady) for the 2006/2007 academic year. To be considered for these scholarships, students must complete an application demonstrating that all eligibility requirements are met.

Who may apply? Applicants for the 2006 program year must:

What criteria are used in the judging? Applicants will be judged based on their:

When is the 2006 application deadline?

Application forms and instructions may be found in our Scholarship section.

For More Information Contact:

"Run a Mile, Save a Mind" Fund Raiser

The National Black Marathoners’ Association (NBMA) announced the "Run a Mile, Save a Mind" Scholarship Program. This program ran through February’s Black History Month. We'd like to thank the members who participated.

Participation was simple. A dollar amount was pledged for every exercise-mile, which was run or walked, during February. This included both training and racing miles. The participants did not solicit pledges from other individuals.

The participants benefited by improving their health (i.e. running or walking a mile) and the student benefited by going to college (i.e. saving a mind). This satisfied two of our organizational goals of promoting a healthy life style and encouraging educational achievement.

The runner or walker maintained a personal mileage log. At the end of the month, the money was donated to the National Black Marathoners’ Association’s Scholarship Fund. Since the NBMA is an IRS Section 501(c)(3) organization, 100% of the donations were tax-deductible.

It's not too late to make a donation. Credit card donations were accepted at our Scholarship section.

The checks should be made payable to “National Black Marathoners’ Association.” Donations may be sent to

Inquiries may be sent to NBMAScholarship@BlackMarathoners.org.

Member Profile: Iilonga

Hometown:  Atlanta, GA
Current Residence: Atlanta, GA; Silicon Valley, CA
Running Club: South Fulton Running Partners

The Numbers Of…

Other Highlights: I have completed the 500+ mile Bike Ride Across Georgia, and numerous duathlons, and triathlons. One of my favorite pastimes is hiking and camping. I’m a certified scuba diver. I also have enjoyed skydiving, hang-gliding, orienteering, kayaking, and adventure racing.  I’m always on the lookout for the next challenge.

Favorite Race Site: 1998 Cozumel Marathon; the finish along the palm lined beaches and sandy shore of Chankanaab National Park was correctly billed, “as the most beautiful finish in the world”.  Whether snorkeling in the crystal blue reefs off of the Caribbean Sea, exploring the pyramids and ruins of Mayan civilization, or sipping drinks at a cabana at sunset, the Cozumel Marathon’s pre-race diversions and post-race cool down couldn’t be beat!

Favorite Local Spots to Run:

Personal Reason(s) for Running : I run to stay fit, reduce stress, to take on new challenges, and to experience the world from a unique perspective.

Describe Your Most Memorable Running or Racing Experience:

If You Could Travel to Anywhere in the World to Run a Race, Where Would It Be and Why: Africa.  This spiritual and physical pilgrimage back to my roots would be profound on several levels. It provides an opportunity to emotionally reconnect with my ancestors, to retrace the footsteps of the genesis of human civilization, and to pay homage to the victims of the greatest crime in human history (the trans-Atlanta Slave Trade).  The possibility of running with the best in the world, meeting new/old faces, and becoming culturally and spiritually re-centered is invaluable.  

The NBMA One-Year Anniversary

By Tony Reed

I decided to meet my god-sister, Sheryl, in Myrtle Beach, SC last month. She was running the half marathon, while I was running the full marathon. Prior to the trip, I discovered that one of our members, Chole, was also in the race. A few hours before the race packet area closed, I received a frantic phone call from her. They were running late and would not be able to get their race packet. This happens when you have a six-month old baby.

Needless to say, Sheryl and I picked up the packet. Later that evening, Chole retrieved the packet from me. We were able to talk about "the loneliness of the Black, long distance runner" for a few minutes before she went back to her family. Ironically, Sheryl also has a baby, who was about the same age.

This simple, momentary exchange is what the NBMA is about. Runners meeting other runners from around the nation and offering support to one another. During the past year, I've run (excuse the pun) into members at large marathons, such as Cincinnati's Flying Pig, where I met the Avondale Running Club, to the Abilene, KS Eisenhower Marathon (145 finishers). I even ran into members in the heavy downpour at the Hartford Marathon.

We held our initial Event at the Lewis & Clark Marathon in St. Charles, MO. Black runners from around the nation showed up to share stories, exchange contact info, and run and walk the half and full marathons. Everyone had fun. We also announced our second Event at the 2006 New Jersey Marathon on April 30. We're expecting an even larger crowd and more fun. We no longer have to feel that we're alone in our sport.

We have members who

"Are you a member of the National Black Marathoners Association?" has become THE "icebreaker" question for Black distance runners. This shows that we've come a long way in a short time period. Thanks for your support.

Sickle Cell Road Race

When: Saturday, April 8, 2006   9:00 AM

Where: Welcome All Park, 4255 Will Lee Road, College Park , GA

The Sickle Cell Road Race is put on by South Fulton Running Partners (SFRP). The SFRP is the oldest Black running club in the United States and the originator of the Sickle Cell Road Race. They are a recreational not-for-profit running organization founded in 1979. The club is listed in on our Black Running Clubs web page. Their purposes are to (1) promote running as a means of developing and maintaining good health, (2) to plan, organize, and sponsor running events for worthy not-for-profit organizations, and (3) 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.

The event consists of a challenging 7K run (4.3 miles) and 4K walk (2.5 miles).  Registered runners and walkers will receive a t-shirt and an opportunity to compete in one of the oldest road races in South Fulton County. You may register at www.active.com.

Additional information about the SFRP may be found at http://www.sfrp.org.

Information about the sickle cell disease may be found at http://www.sicklecellatlaga.org/.

African Running Adventure in 2007

Since our inception, many of you have mentioned running a race in Africa. However, you wanted to make the trip with a group of like-minded runners. While there are several tour operators that offer African running vacations, it would be nice if the NBMA members selected a tour and went as a group. Personally, traveling with a group of bid-whist, domino-playing, partying friends sounds a lot more attractive than traveling alone.

Also, I have a personal, vested interest in this type of event. One of my goals is to run a marathon on every continent. Somewhere in Africa is on my 2007 schedule. If you're interested in this type of event in 2007, drop me a line at NBMAInfo@blackmarathoner.org. Let me know which African marathons may interest you. Also, like our Annual Events, the race should also have a half marathon, 10K, and/or 5K to allow everyone to participate.

We can start working with tour operators to develop possible itineraries and to get pricing information. If you're coming to the New Jersey Marathon, we can certainly talk about this possibility.

Member Profile: Gail G

Hometown:  Coatesville, PA
Current Residence: Duncanville, TX
Profession: Facilities Specialist/Telecommunications

Number of Years Running: 10 Months

Favorites

Personal Reason for Running:  To maintain my weight and health.

Completed Fitness/Running Goals: Ran first half-marathon and completed it within my goal of 2 ½ hrs.

List Current Running/Fitness Goals: My current running goal is to complete my next half marathon in 2 hrs.

Most Memorable Running Experience: That would be my first 5k, I didn't think I would even finish let along come in 2nd place in the 50 to 54 year old age group. That was a good feeling. I was proud of myself for getting out there. It gave me the encouragement I needed to continue running.

My Dream Run Would Be: Paris would be the first of many places I would like to run, "Springtime" in Paris would be a great vacation.

Cleveland (OH) Team Marathon Running Club