Glenda is 80 and signed up to run the Skinny Raven Half Marathon! Here is her inspiring story about running.
I grew up tramping around our 100 wooded acres in Michigan, so I love being outside; and running/walking is great exercise. Fellow runners tease me about my bear bells, but every state has bears!
I covered 1424 miles in 2023. I turned 80 that October. My son Fu flew down from ANC to celebrate. When I turned 70 my son suggested I have a time-it-yourself race. Have continued that tradition every birthday since with a race at Muskegon State Park. One of my young friends ran 50 miles for his fiftieth. Not me. Seven for that first race…7.9 for 79 yrs, 8 for 80 yrs. But for my 80th many of us gathered in Grand Rapids for the GR Marathon, Half, 10k, 5k. Later that week I ran 8.
Running races are a great way to celebrate! Went to Hawaii to celebrate the 70th birthday of Sharron Fisherman, Anchorage RunFest’s Race Director Emeritus, by running the Great Aloha Run!
I run/walk my errands rather than get my car out. It’s 4.4 miles round-trip to the post office, 6 to the library, 4 to the donut shop, only 2 for groceries.
Running/Walking is my social hour. Even though I’m usually alone, I can see what’s going on in my maximum 13-miles!
One good thing to come out of the pandemic was virtual races. I love Skinny Raven Sports’ Virtual races! Just ask Matt Fleetwood.