FLEMINGSBURG — A 69-year-old lady from Fleming County is gearing up for the annual ‘Race for the Ages’ held in Manchester, Tenn.
Rosemary Evans has run within the race yearly it has been held since 2015, and her private report is 170 miles which she stated she hopes to beat—she has set her purpose at 200 miles this yr.
‘Race for the Ages’ is a yearly marathon held over Labor Day weekend and run on a one-mile loop at Fred Deadman Park, individuals run the variety of hours of their age with the minimal variety of hours being 40. Individuals underneath 40 can nonetheless run the race however should run 40 hours.
“Via the final three years, I’ve positioned so far as a primary, second or third lady so I’ve been actually grateful for that. Final yr I positioned as second lady,” Evans stated.
She has additionally received a money prize of $250 at a race the place she positioned first in her class.
“This was a path run in Cleveland, Ohio in 2010 after I was nearly 57. The best way it occurred was, nicely I used to be a member of the observe and area and never many older girls go up there so I’d place first, second or third each time I went so I’ve a pleasant assortment of medals. So in 2010, I completed the race that was known as the ‘Burning River’ and it was a 100 mile path championship and I received my age group as a result of I used to be the one lady in my age group who got here and completed. There was a time restrict of this one and I completed throughout the 30-hour time restrict and really received $250 and I used to be named nationwide champion of my age group,” she stated. She stated she was additionally of their path working journal that yr.
Evans has accomplished 396 marathons since she began doing them when she was 44 years outdated, she averages 15 marathons a yr. She doesn’t rely the marathons she has been wherein she has not accomplished them.
In response to Evans, she has been in 30 or extra 100-mile races and although this upcoming race is on a one-mile loop which could sound boring to some individuals—it’s truly very social.
“We giggle and we discuss and it’s amazingly enjoyable. It additionally provides you an opportunity to see how a lot endurance you will have,” she stated.
She stated she began doing marathons due to Oprah Winfrey who began a motion in 1994 when she took on the Marine Corps Marathon.
“I had all the time watched marathons on TV just like the New York marathons and all that and all the time thought how neat it will be. After Oprah Winfrey ran her first marathon I simply thought if she might do then I might certainly do it,” she stated.
The technique to finish a 69-hour marathon comes entails just a few various factors Evans defined.
“It actually comes right down to how a lot sleep you want and how briskly you might be. What occurred for me is there are quite a lot of good runners and I find yourself staying awake fairly a bit as a result of I’m not close to as quick because the younger individuals after all,” she stated.
Rivals begin the race at completely different days and occasions relying on their ages which coordinates with the variety of hours they may run and units their time restrict to complete Evans defined.
“My race will begin in the midst of the afternoon that Friday after which the race goes by means of Monday ending at midday,” she stated.
Evans has made associates over time at marathons which she sees steadily when competing, one is a 91-year-old man from Florida.
“He begins the day earlier than I achieve this I often go the day earlier than and so I get to observe him begin after which I sleep as a lot as I can up till the race. I mainly stroll or jog all evening for 3 nights as a result of my tempo will not be all that quick. There are some actually good individuals and runners going there, there are roughly 130 runners so it’s not a very massive race,” she stated.
Lots of the marathons Evans has competed in are 100-mile marathons which undergo tougher terrain than a one-mile loop in a park so she is nicely ready to do a 69-hour marathon.
“The primary yr I had a good friend with me who had by no means accomplished a 100-miler, so I wished to assist him together with his and I bought my 100 however ended up with 118 as a result of I stored going since I had further time,” she stated.
Evans stated there are lots of individuals over the age of 80 who compete on this race which she stated provides them an opportunity to compete towards one another and towards individuals half their age.
“The additional hours give them an opportunity to compete with the youthful of us as a result of if you age you decelerate fairly a bit,” she stated.
On the finish of the race there might be a banquet the place the winner is introduced, Evans defined the winner is decided by whoever has run essentially the most miles.
“We put on a bit of chip on our ankle, each time we cross this mat it measures the variety of occasions we’ve crossed it,” she stated.
Evans stated she is trying ahead to the race, beating her variety of miles for final yr and seeing associates there that she has made over time.
“My sister has additionally accomplished 9 marathons with me and we’ve been to some very nice locations, my sister doing them with me was actually particular,” she stated.
Working marathons allowed Evans to journey and see quite a lot of the world together with Amsterdam, Canada, Alaska and Hawaii plus 39 continental states and stated when strolling or working in these locations you get to see extra of the terrain than when you drive.
“The one race in Canada was quite a lot of enjoyable. It was within the woods and lots of people stated they noticed a bear that evening. I didn’t see any bears however that doesn’t imply they weren’t there. I truly wore bells on my footwear as a result of I used to be involved earlier than I went up there as a result of I had learn there is likely to be bears. Nicely, I learn that carrying bells—just like the little jingle bells you see at Christmas time—nicely I tied some in my shoelaces so each time I took a step the bells would ring and perhaps scare away any bears,” she stated.
Evans defined she was capable of have experiences she in any other case may not have had attributable to competing in marathons.