Runner Spotight - Trisha Perry

Why did you decide to do the Run the 502?

Started off signing up for the Polar Bear Grand Prix and found out about the others in the newsletter, so started signing up. It’s nice to keep it local.

Favorite race of the series?

I liked them all but I like the ones that have shirts I can wear and cutest shirt ever was the “run like someone said treat” from Bark in the Park, it sums up my kitties well.

Favorite distance?

I liked 10k’s but my knees are only good for 5k or so now.

Why do you like running River City Races events?

Ms Camille is the best cheerleader around she’s great and try’s to get things in my size. Also because they offer the virtual option so I don’t feel like I’m holding people up (I’m a true sloth) and I have a few health issues and virtual races give me a little leeway on when I do it.

Do you have any running/walking advice you'd like to offer?

Just do it and shoes make a huge difference

Anything else you'd like to share?

Have fun and thank you to everyone that makes these races possible I appreciate it. 

Runner Spotlight - Rob Shoaf

If you run most any River City Races race, there's been this guy on the lead bike. Rain, sunshine, sleet, snow and freezing temperatures, Rob Shoaf has been out there leading our races.

But who is he? You'd be surprised. He's a former miniMarathon Champion, member of the Auburn University Cross-Country and Track teams and winner of some of the most competitive local road races over the years.

Here, we'll let him tell you.

A little background on me. I was a competitive racer from 1982 to 2002, and continued to run up until 2017, yes, 30 years!, can you believe it. Seriously, even for me it is hard to imagine that running consumed my life for so many years, not just in my training and racing, but also being intimately involved in my running community, the running industry, and an invested commitment to growing the sport.

That said, I hung up my running shoes a few years ago and have since retired from racing, but I am still very much involved in the running community today, volunteering at River City Races, LTCOR, I help race certify and measure courses, and even work RCR aid stations in the dead of winter, brrrr. Thank goodness for warm socks and hot coffee to help us cheer others on. On a side note, be sure to say "thank you" to the volunteers who are out there supporting you for the love of the sport!

I believe that running and walking are great ways to living a healthy lifestyle, both mentally and physically. As a life long athlete and runner, I discovered that pushing through the pain and limiting beliefs, blocking out distractions, overcoming tough obstacles and injuries, is 80% mental, and just 20% physical.  Doesn't matter how far or how fast you go, just get out there and do it. If you train early in the morning, set your gear out the night before, and if need be, go ahead and sleep in your gear so you can jump out of bed, have your cup of joe, and get one foot out the door. No excuses!  

Today, I get so much joy watching my wife and daughter train and race together, having fun and sometimes overcome big barriers; and as a family we are engaged in the running community helping to grow the sport. And that is so rewarding. I personally cannot remember the number of races I've done, recall all the highs and lows, and there are many, but the story I love telling most, is about my wife and daughter training and finishing the KDF Mini Marathon together, both in 2018 and 2019! Oh yeah, the PR gong was struck in 2019!   Why do you like running River City Races events?What I love most about about River City Races is their frequency throughout the year giving runners and walkers an opportunity to compete and challenge themselves. But also because of races during the winter months that helps you stay sharp, focused, and engaged. The other thing I will say, as a former race director and running club president, is how well organized the RCR events are, not just from an athlete perspective, but also from race direction and organization. Plus, River City Races has cool swag, door prizes, and thoughtful awards! 

Favorite distance:Though to say because I have so many fond memories at a variety of distances, from 5K to 50 miles. Truth is, I've raced more 5K's that any other distance. Why? Because I could race 5k's on the weekends to test my fitness level and speed, yet still get my long run in on Sunday, and fully recovery in less than 2 days; plus I could incorporate the speed work as part of my larger training program. Short story about racing a 5K race in Fort Collins Colorado where I used to live, train, and race. I set my personal best altitude level record, but finished a distant 7th place, and was the second American finisher. The top 5 spots went to the Kenyans. This was a humbling experience. 

Anything else you'd like to share?:Have you ever felt stuck... or do you know people who have been stuck in some part of their life, maybe it's a health or fitness rut, a career rut. I help solve those OMG my plane is crashing problems. Today, through my journey, experience, and knowledge, I help transform lives and empower people to get out of their own way, to breakthrough their limiting beliefs to live a life with passion and purpose. It is something I've done throughout my running career, both professionally and as an athlete, and now I use it to inspire others and give back.

Rob is a 100% volunteer, he won't let us compensate him so the next race, give him a high five and tell him how much you appreciate him keeping everyone on course and safe.

Runner Spotlight - Corey Queen

We have all had struggles and I want to see everyone succeed.

So January of 2021 I tested positive for Covid and would start my journey as a Covid Long Hauler and this would halt my running and all of my fitness. I spent all of 2021 in and out of the hospital and got up to 284lbs. On September 29th, 2021, I had Gastric Sleeve Surgery and have lost over 120 lbs and have kept it off. Since then, I have returned to running and racing this year. So I am releasing everything, including speed I have never had in the previous 12 years of being an endurance athlete.

That being said, as I am rediscovering my new body and new speed, I am not sure what my favorite distance is. As I am rejoining racing, every distance is my favorite distance, because I am moving again, and getting to be active again!

My Running/Walking advice that I have always had since day 1 has always been simple, and I still use it 12 years later: Run The Mile You’re In. Meaning, let go of the last mile you ran, don’t stress about it, or worry about it; and don’t try and calculate how fast you need to run the rest of what you need to do next. All of that will have you not enjoying the NOW that you are in…missing the whole point of why we are out there.

Running River City Races is like all of the best parts of a high school reunion 😜. I’m not only surrounded by the running community, but it is always people that I know and haven’t seen in a while, so the post race good feeling is compounded by friendship love and showering each other with unselfish pride and love.

Running, like anything else is hard. Stick with it. One step at a time and lean on the community’s around you. We have all had struggles and I want to see everyone succeed.

Runner Spotlight - Niki Workman

Chicago Marathon: The race that almost didn’t happen

The Chicago Marathon has been a bucket list of mine for a few years and finally after 3 years, I ran it on October 9th 2022! 2020 was to be the year I would check that race off my list, but then, Covid. Then in 2021, due to months of being ill and having my gallbladder removed, I would not have had time to properly train for the race, and that was a difficult pill to swallow. So finally, in May of this year I started running again. I started out slow and steady and even signed up for a duathlon! However, during that duathlon I suffered a concussion from a bike accident I incurred during the second loop of my bike ride. I thought to myself, “Is Chicago not an option again this year?” I listened to my doctor’s and took time to heal from my injury. Once I was healed, training began and I enjoyed every minute of it because I knew I was finally on my way to Chicago!

Race Weekend:

We got to the hotel late Friday and just took it easy. Saturday consisted of a shake out run Team Challenge for Crohn's & Colitis and then heading to the expo with a long lost friend who is now living in Chicago. The expo was both exciting and intimidating at the same time. We then went to Chinatown and had an amazing late lunch! Saturday evening consisted of me resting, getting my race day gear ready and an early bed time.

Sunday morning I woke up to music that I could hear from the start line and then the adrenaline kicked in. It was chilly and I took my time to get ready and eat. Headed to the start line and at first I was all alone, I missed all of my Louisville/ SoIn crew, but thankfully we found each other before entering into the start line area where only runners could be. I told Brett (my husband) and Alexis (my daughter) goodbye and then, it was me, in my head and getting nervous. As I walked into my corral I spotted someone I knew! I had seen them on TikTok some time back and was star struck! I knew I just had to go say hi and get a selfie with Mrs. SpaceCadet. I was totally fan-girling it and trying to not come off too star struck! After chatting with her, I felt better. I was at the Chicago Marathon and about to run 26.2 miles with 40,000+ people.

I then settled in and found my "Corral M Crew" and we slowly made our way to the start line. The crowd was getting excited and so wasI! As we walk to the line people are dropping their jackets, robes and other "throw-a-ways" as they step to the line and then... off we go! I knew I had to just run "my" race and not allow myself to get too caught up in the speed of others.

I ran the first couple miles feeling good and when I got to the first water stop, I knew it was time to start my 2 minute/30 second intervals. I was able to stick with my plan of my pacing, stopping at water stops and running my race. I would get texts from Brett letting me know where he was on course so I knew where to look for him. At one point I passed off my jacket and gloves to him and Alexis. My music playlist  was on point and I was feeling great... then mile 11 hit. At this point the sun was out and it was getting warm. I started feeling warm and not feeling like I was hydrated enough ,I knew then, it was time to lose my base layer.

I texted Brett letting him know that next time I saw him I was gonna have to do a wardrobe change, and that's what happened. Somewhere between mile 11-13 I found Brett, pulled off my hat, headphones, sunglasses, tank top and under shirt. Alexis attempted to shield me as I stood there in my sports bra LOL.

I threw on my tank, grabbed my headphones, shades and hat and ran off as I was putting things back on. This was the best thing I could have done.

The next 1/2 of the race I did my best to stay on my pace and intervals but the heat had gotten to me already. I had to slow down and walk more than I wanted to, but, I was moving forward! Mile 20 hit and I said to myself, "Only a 10k left!" Mile 22 I saw my coaches Marc Blandin and Kat Gunsur-Smith. Talk about the pick me up I needed. They ran with me, chatted with me and cheered me on in those last miles. Then at mile 25 my headphones died! I was actually happy they did because at this point, the roar of the crowd and the cheering was so amazing to hear! I took off my headphones and just took it all in. The sights, sounds, the feeling of knowing I was nearing that finish line! I was grinning from ear to ear and soaked it all up. I found Brett and Alexis at the "400 meters to go" mile marker. I ran to them, gave them both a hug and kiss and set off to cross my finish line.

There is this gradual incline that you feel as you slowly turn to the left to see the finish line. I laughed, that incline felt like a mountain but I put my head down and kept putting one foot in front of the other. As the finish line grew closer and closer my smile got bigger and bigger. I pushed to the finish and when I crossed the line I was in a haze. I paused my watch and then BAM  the exhaustion and body shocking pain hit me. I slowly made my way to get my medal and had no idea where to go from there. Eventually I called Brett to see where they were and made my way to find them. I FaceTimed Julie to talk to her. My first words to her were "I fu$%ing did it!". My body was so sore and I felt so off and needed to rest.

Once I found Brett and Alexis, we all hugged and they told me they were proud of me. I was so happy and so exhausted at the same time. But I JUST RAN CHICAGO! I slept about 14 hours that night and woke up sore as could be. This was a race that was 3 years in the making and I am so happy I finally was able to cross this race off my bucket list!

And a fun fact about our Runner Spotlight, she has turned her passion for creation in to a small business. Niki is the owner and creator at “Nottingham Designs” and makes customized shirts and holiday glitter ornaments.

Runner Spotlight - The Galloping Geezers

The Galloping Geezers are a group of five Louisville-area senior men interested in improving and maintaining their health through running. We met through frequently seeing each other at the various Saturday morning races, like the ones put on by River City Races. We began running together after talking about it after a Polar Bear Grand Prix run in December of 2018.

Generally, we meet and run at Pope Lick Park on Saturday mornings, unless there is a race that morning or a member has another commitment. Most of the time we run a 5 mile “Post Run.” The “Post Run” is a 2.5 mile out-and-back route with a turnaround at a bridge post. This route was frequently run by our member, Ben King. Running as a group is enjoyable, motivates us, and makes us accountable to our group and ourselves.

We push each other during the group training runs, but we do not denigrate a member for having to or wanting to run a slower pace. As a group, we all run within a similar pace range and tend to like cooler weather. We are a hearty bunch. We ran one Saturday morning when the temperature was 8 degrees Fahrenheit and as long as there isn't lightning, we're running! During Covid when we could not run together, a few of us met a couple times in the Pope Lick Park parking lot. We sat several feet away from each other, but it was nice to catch up. We tease each other, joke, laugh, and catch up on family news while on our group runs, which makes the time go quick.

While all of us are competitive to some degree and enjoy winning age group awards, we encourage each other and exchange training information to make us better runners. We have entered races as a team to see how we stack up against the younger competition or just as a social experience. Surprisingly, we have finished in the top three in several of the races we entered as a team. Often we talk to other senior runners after a race. It’s important to congratulate them for completing the race and encouraging them to continue the running journey. River City Races encourages this running camaraderie, which is why our team enjoys and participates in its races.

The Polar Bear Grand Prix is becoming a tradition for all the Galloping Geezers. The most important belief that we all share is to keep moving for as long as we can at our own pace. Now, we would like to briefly introduce each of our Galloping Geezer Team.

Richard Goranflo

At the age of 75, I am the oldest team member. I retired 5 years ago after 44 great years of practicing veterinary medicine in Louisville. I began running 10 years ago thanks to the encouragement of some very enthusiastic animal owners that kept expounding the virtues of running. I was also inspired by the story of Dr. Ed Morgan, a local icon of running, that started running in his mid-sixties.  My first race was the 2012 Snowman Shuffle and I have been racing ever since. There have been so many terrific races and venues, but the Kentucky Derby Mini of 2015 with the constant rain drizzle and the Run the Bluegrass races have been my favorites. The Geezers are a great group to run with and remember, there’s nothing like the excitement and camaraderie on a brisk morning at the starting line.  Hope to see you there.

David Keely

I am the only member of the group who is not retired - working as a chemist for a large materials company.  My job takes me all over the country so it's nice to get back to Louisville and run each weekend with the guys!   I am a native of West Virginia but have been living in Louisville since 2005 and consider it home.  Running keeps me healthy and allows me to have a regular social outlet - I have found the running community in Louisville to be unbelievably supportive and that has what has kept me running and racing since I began running again in 2014 after an almost 30 year hiatus.  I like the shorter distances best but try to run at least one half marathon every year to help keep me motivated in my training. 

Ben King

I retired in 2017 after working exactly 40 years to the day at the U of L library. I am a south end boy at heart having gone to Iroquois High School, but have called Jeffersontown home since 1973. I started running in the organized races for the first time in May of 2012. For my practice runs I run mostly at Pope Lick Park, and Skyview Park. My favorite race distances are 10k and under. I am a crossword puzzle fiend, and an avid reader. When the idea came up to form a team several names were bantered about. Davd Keely suggested "Galloping Geezers". I remember putting my thumb up to indicate I thought that was a great name. The Galloping Geezers are a fun and motivating group. 

John Reesor

I did some high school running at Trinity but didn’t run much after that until, at age 29, I decided to run my first road race - the 1979 River Banks 10K. At the start in Louisville I was wondering what to expect and at the finish in New Albany I was hooked on road racing. In 1980 I ran my first of 21 Mini Marathons (so far). I’ve since run many races from 3K to 26.2 miles. I especially like RCR races because they are held year-round. I’ve run the Polar Bear races since 2012 when I outran my sister Karen Carter by 13 seconds in the 5K. Within weeks she outran me by 5 seconds in the Triple Crown 5K. She’s 15 years my junior but like a twin as a runner. My favorite RCR race is the Doubler 15K, in which Karen last outran me by 51 seconds. In addition to being fun, running with the Geezers has helped me maintain my age-adjusted race times. 

Dave Sedlak

I am a retired Systems Engineering Manager, who worked for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. I am a Baltimore, Maryland native but now call Prospect, Kentucky, home.  I started running again at the age of 58 after a 30-year hiatus.  I enjoy running in my neighborhood, as well as the many running routes found in the Louisville area.  I especially enjoy the Parklands and running over the Big Four Bridge to the Indiana Ohio River Greenway.   My favorite race distance is anything 10 miles or under.  When I am not running, I volunteer at the Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve and research my family history.  The Galloping Geezers have enabled me to become a better runner and more knowledgeable of Louisville.