Club celebrates 1,000 milestones

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Summerfield resident Regina Morris doesn’t measure success by how many age-group awards she’s won or T-shirts she’s accumulated.

Instead, Morris’ success hinges on the number of miles she runs and the feeling that comes along with successfully crossing the finish line.

“There’s a popular bumper sticker out, ‘Running is My Therapy,’ and that pretty much sums it up,” Morris said. “My initial reaction when the alarm goes off early in the morning may not always be positive, but the feeling of accomplishment I have as I walk into the house after a long run (or any run) is the best.

“Simply put: I run because I can,” she said.

For the past nine years, Morris has been worn out numerous pairs of tennis shoes as a member of the Lakewood Ranch Running Club; and this past year, Morris was one of 17 club members who participated in the 1,000-Mile Club.

In 2011, the participants kept track of their monthly running mileage with the goal being to run 1,000-Miles in a year. The group charted its miles on the club’s website each month, so club members can see how many miles other members are running and to see how they stack up.

“It’s just a fun way to keep track of everyone’s mileage,” 1,000-Mile Club member Joni Reid said. “It’s great for accountability to keep you running your consistent miles, and it’s a nice goal to hit.”

To do so, runners must run an average of 19.23 miles per week. The majority of the members accumulate a good portion of their miles while training for marathons and other races and use the 1,000-Mile Club as an incentive to continue their training regimen throughout the year.

“I enjoy running with the other club members, the camaraderie with the other runners and the challenge of testing my limits,” Harvest United Methodist Church co-pastor and 1,000-Mile Club member Steve Price said. “The 1,000-Mile Club also serves as an incentive to keep me running throughout the year.”

The club began two years ago as a unique way to bring in new members to the club. In 2011, the group ran a combined 28,188 miles. Thirteen members ran at least 1,000-Miles and four members, including Morris, ran more than 2,000 miles.

“I think just the satisfaction of knowing that I am taking care of my body and doing what I can to stay healthy and fit as I get older,” Price said.

In addition to being recognized, members of the 1,000-Mile Club also received a T-shirt for their accomplishment.

“I think it’s great to be recognized for doing something I totally enjoy doing — and I got a cool shirt for it,” Morris said.

For more information on the Lakewood Ranch Running Club visit www.lakewoodranchrunningclub.com.

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].