Runners On A Mission

By Tommie Kendall

"Running is not for me."

"Only the fit can do it."

"I'm too old and out of shape."

These are some common excuses that hold people back from hitting the pavement, breathing that fresh spring air and starting a routine fitness regimen. But if more people would follow Stacy Cohen's footsteps, these phrases would not be excuses, but mere fuel for conversations on the run. Cohen, a nurse for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, began to live an active lifestyle as a result of her own personal health two years ago.

"I started walking and running consecutively because my cholesterol was elevated," she explained. "I couldn't even run a mile at first, but gradually, I built my mileage."

Soon thereafter, her walking turned into running and her running turned into a passion. In 2003 and 2004 Cohen ran all three Kentucky Derby Triple Crown races and capped off her second year of running with a five-hour finish at the Chicago Marathon in October 2004. To prepare for that marathon, Cohen followed a four-month training program with Fleet Feet in Louisville . She trained for a four and a half hour marathon, but back problems caused by scoliosis forced her to slow the pre-planned pace down a few notches. Cohen said just finishing the marathon was a success in itself.

The Fleet Feet training group, along with her desire to help other inspiring walkers and runners, gave Cohen the motivation to start her own running group.

"I felt like I could do more for others through fitness," Cohen said.

The group started in January of 2005. Cohen said the name of the group, Runners on a Mission , just came to her. "It's a mission for people to get out there and run, especially people who have not been running," she said. "I felt like everybody should be on a mission, so that's how I got the name."

With a motivator in Cohen and a name, the group was formally started earlier this year. Only eight people showed up for the first meeting, but many soon followed. The group, formed of walkers and runners, meets every Saturday and has an average of more than 20 runners each Saturday and 50 members total.

"The numbers grew because of word of mouth," Cohen said. "The other runners are going out and getting others to run with us."

Runners on a Mission has been meeting at 8 a.m. at Seneca Park on Saturdays where they run or walk as a group. An 8.5-mile loop is laid out for the runners, while the walkers use a shorter course. Cohen said the group is not competitive; each member runs at his or her own pace.

If you have been to one of the first two Triple Crown races you may have seen Cohen's runners wearing their blue and yellow race shirts. In all, 45 group members participated in the Anthem 5K Classic and 29 ran the Rhodes City Run 10K. Members participated in the Papa Johns 10-Miler and the Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon and miniMarathon. The runners who cannot run the entire race joined to form relays, something that was new to the marathon race this year.

Runners on a Mission may seem like your normal running group, but they are not. The runners and walkers have a more laid-back approach to running and enjoy each other's company. They even have pasta dinners before most races.

"We inspire each other," Cohen said. "At races, people come up to us and say it looks like we are having a good time and that they want to join."

In the future, Cohen wants to start meeting with her newly formed group more than once a week and incorporate a speed day of training each week. Cohen said the group has motivated her to keep running in times when she may have chosen to quit.

"They inspire me to get up and go on Saturday mornings," Cohen said. "I look forward to it each week." If you ask the runners in Cohen's group, I'm sure they will say she inspires them just the same.

Tommie Kendall is currently the Sports Reporter for the Henry County Local. He is a 2000 graduate from Shelby County High School and a 2004 graduate from Cumberland College . Kendall ran on the Patriots' cross-country and track teams, where he qualified for both the NAIA National Cross Country Championship Meet and the NAIA National Marathon race. He currently resides in Shelbyville. Kendall can be reached at hcsports@iglou.com.