Runner Spotlight - Susie Grossman

I’m a fairly recent transplant to Southern Indiana having moved from northern Indiana about 4 years ago. 

I love the area so much and running the hills is a new challenge for me!

I lead a small group that runs the Indian Creek trail at 5 am.  We run all year long and have built a great friendship over the last few years.

I’ve run about a dozen half marathons in the past and one marathon, along with countless 5k’s. 

The last half marathon I ran was with a friend from my group.  We ran in New Albany along the trail and did it as a personal half marathon. It was a lot of fun running across the Big 4 Bridge, being in two states and three towns total (Louisville, Jeffersonville, and New Albany).

Recently I have found that I really enjoy our four mile run in the mornings and have little desire to train for longer races.  I opt, instead, for 5K and 10K races.

Strange-but-true:  I’m not a natural runner.  I am an online personal trainer and my passion is lifting kettlebell and heavier weights.  I also teach yoga and lead a wild cave tour at Indiana Caverns.

However, I learned many years ago that conditioning my heart with running is the best thing I can do for my health. 

I advise everyone to get regular cardiovascular exercise and running is the easiest, most convenient way to do that. 

Advice for new runners:  If you’re like me and struggle to start or stick with your running program, get with a group (or even one faithful friend) and just do it.  Start slow and you’ll be amazed at how much better you’ll get over the course of a couple of months!  Download the Couch to 5K program to get started and invest in a pair of good running shoes!

Advice for seasoned runners:  Make an effort to encourage new runners who seem to be struggling during training or especially, during races.  An encouraging word from you can make all the difference! 

Lastly, I am living kidney donor for my cousin. She was 23 and on dialysis. 

It’s been six years and we are both doing great.  She was able to finish graduate school and is now a mental health counselor!

Being in good physical condition played a big role in my ability to donate.  The requirements are pretty strict. 

Running takes on even greater meaning for me because I know that taking care of myself helped me save someone else’s life!

Meet The 2021 River City Races Runbassadors!

We had so many great applications and it was so hard to choose we expanded the program from ten to sixteen.

Our ambassadors represent almost every type of runner from across our community. From those who used to hate running and now want to spread their passion for the sport to experienced runners reborn as triathletes!  A living organ donor (Susie Grossman), a recent Masters grad in Exercise Science (Michelle Phillips), a new Louisville resident (TJ Phillips) and a wearer of many fitness hats (Laura Weigel). With the rise in virtual racing and the addition of virtual registration we even added to former Louisvillians who now live in other states! Read more about each ambassador below.

Use a Runbassador code when you register for any River City Races owned event and every month we'll have a drawing for some cool River City Races schwag for everyone who used a code.

We want all runners and walkers to look to them as resources to the Louisville running community and you are welcome to post any questions you have to them on our Facebook page or by email to runrivercity@gmail.com.

Runner Spotlight - Jason Kratzwald

My love for running developed a bit later in life than some as I participated in my first 5K at the age of 39.  Like many amateur runners, I started out fast that morning in September 2018 but lost momentum after the first or second hill.  It was hot, I was a mess but still finished the race in under 35 minutes (my goal at the time).     As I crossed that first finish line, I felt a sense of personal accomplishment that can become fleeting.  I was on the doorstep of 40, but once again felt youthful again as I had pushed myself beyond what I thought capable of prior, RUNNING 3.1 miles!

I have since trained and built up both stamina and speed, competing in countless races with my best 5K time of 25:50 achieved last Fall.    This past spring I completed the Triple Crown of Running.  I am always on the lookout for my next race and enjoy the Louisville running scene and friends made along the way. 

How did I get into running?: 

Several years ago, I made a commitment to my health.  I quit smoking, rebalanced priorities and made time for exercise  My wife gifted me a Fitbit and I immediately began tracking my steps.  At first, I would walk a few miles per day.   After a few months, I began to jog and from there, run.  After a year or so of testing my abilities, I finally became confident enough to attempt that first race.  From the moment forward, I was hooked and now look forward to each mile. 

Favorite distance:

Without a doubt, the 5K.  The distance is perfect to get your blood pumping but does not require a huge time sacrifice.  Whether you want to walk, jog or run, there is a 5K out there for you. 

Why do you like running River City Races events?:

Whether it be the Grand Slam 4 Miler, the Run for the Health of It or the Polar Bear Grand Prix, all River City Races events are professionally managed and fun.  The organization is welcoming and encourages all types of runners to participate while benefiting charity.   

Anything else you'd like to share?:

Running can be a lot like a round of golf.  On most days, you are only competing against yourself.  Remember that not every race or distance can be run the same, terrain and weather will vary just like your conditioning.  Appreciate the challenge and your results will speak for itself.   Listen to the winner in you!

Runner Spotlight - Kelly Flowers

My name is Kelly Flowers. I contact not really so much to spotlight, I suppose, as much as to encourage those who may benefit from realizing that it's never too late to start running, being healthier, and maybe doing some good in helping others along the journey. I plan to do more of the races River City Races sponsors in the future. I ran the Downtown Doubler 30K, in 2019.

I decided to run my first half marathon in 2007 at 51. Then as a bucket-list item I wanted to try to accomplish a full marathon the next year. I was so new to running I didn't even know anything about Boston Marathon qualifying. Someone told me that day I'd only missed it by 6 minutes, running a 3:41 on a 3:35 for my age group.

I couldn't walk away from that challenge. At 55 and 56 I ran 11, and 7 minutes under my qualifying time in my 3rd and 5th marathons, in Carmel Indiana and Chicago.

Unfortunately my first year to experience the Holy Grail Marathon in Boston had me ready to turn onto Boylston for the final home-stretch sprint in 2013. The 2nd bomb explosion happened right then and I was in the middle of a horrific nightmare.

I returned to run the next year and fundraised for the Martin Richard Foundation, raising $23,800. He was the 8-yr-old boy who was one of 3 killed that day, and near the 2nd, of 2, of the backpack bombs. That was a very emotional day, to say the least.

I went on to complete the 6 world major marathons after that. New York (2011, 2017, and 2019) Chicago (2012), Boston (2013, 2014, 2017, and 2019), London and Berlin (2015) and Tokyo (2016). The day I crossed the finish line in Tokyo, I was one of only 138 in the US to have run the 6 World Majors.

I returned to run, and fundraise, for the Martin Richard Foundation's MR8 Team in Boston and New York in 2017 and 2019. I was training and fundraising for the 2020 Team when it was canceled. Between the 4 Boston and 2 New York MR8 Teams I raised over $100,000.

I've now run 16 marathons, and begin my first of 16 weeks, next week, training for this year's Boston Marathon on Oct 11th.

Runner Spotlight - Michelle Phillips

Hello, my name is Michelle, and I am 51 years young.  Let me tell you about my love of running and unicorns.  I am born and raised in Louisville but never liked running as an overweight child I did not want the negative attention and was not active.  However, I did attend summer youth programs at the University of Louisville that taught us track, football and swimming. Even with access to many parks in the metro area such as Central, Chickasaw and Shawnee running did not interest me. 

After becoming a mother, I often worried that my kids were ashamed of me for being overweight, but I still did not become active.  Then in my mid 40’s I did my first 5k and was ashamed that I could barely walk the course.  I made a mental note to myself I would change it.  Initially, I stopped and started walking routines several times.  That all changed when I became an empty nester in my late 40’s.  With both of my children gone I told them I would take control of my health.  However, I suffered a mild heart attack and vowed to my sons I would stop saying “tomorrow”.  I now run 3-4 times a week in different parks, my neighborhood or the gym.