An Event that Holds a Very Special Place In My Heart!

Shevaun T

Here we go with a little history on the race before I write about what it signifies to me and then a race report.  

It all started on June 3,1972 when 78 women lined up in Central Park to run what was dubbed the Crazylegs Mini Marathon.  Johnson Wax was the sponsor and they were promoting  a women's shaving gel.  The 'mini' is for the miniskirt, which was widely popular in women's fashion circles.

Each participant wore a t-shirt with their number ironed on.  (Hey, this is actually a good idea.  Safety pins create a lot of holes in my Flyers singlet!)  The two women who co-founded the event with the late Fred Lebow were Kathrine Switzer, who was the first woman to finish the Boston Marathon in 1967, and Nina Kuscsik, who had won the first official Boston Marathon in 1972 just weeks before the running of this race.  Fast-forward 40 years and boy have times changed for women's running (actually, in every area of a woman's life: sports, career, and home to name a few).

I went on the NYRR website after the race and came across a quote that resonated with me.  "The race for me is a link to both the past and the future."  I grew up watching my mom run this race.  Seeing her run the Avon Mini (as it was called then) really planted the seeds for my love of and passion for running and racing.  As a little girl, my dream was to eventually run this exact race with my mother.


Throughout the years I had observed lots of mother-daughter teams and delighted in the idea that I, too, would be doing this.  My mother passed away when I was a teenager so I did not have this opportunity.  However, when I arrived in New York fresh out of college and joined the New York Flyers 17 years ago, I ran the 1995 Mini Marathon in memory of my mother. It was my first 10K race and I was ecstatic to have run a time of 44:00.  (this time was my PR for 17 years up until the Healthy Kidney 10K last month).  So as with every Mini I have run, I would run this year's race in memory of my mother.  I also would try to break my PR from the previous month. My time of 40:41 fell short of a PR by 18 seconds but it's kinda cool that I ran 40 minutes (and change) on the 40th anniversary of the race at age 40!!

It is at this point that I mention the race and "the link to the future" -- I actually CAN be part of a mother-daughter team that I dreamed about many years ago.   Except this time I would be the mother.  I have three young daughters; perhaps one day we will run event together. Having my girls on the sidelines now as my cheerleaders I hope that I will set the example my mom did for me; teaching each one of them to be a strong woman with a real passion who works hard to achieve goals, where the possibilities are endless, and where many friends are made along the way!!

Shevaun with Daughters
Grace, Quinn and Paige

The Mini 10K also holds real significance to me because two years ago it presented me with the chance of a lifetime.  In 2010, the day before the race, I attended a luncheon to benefit the NYRR Youth Program.  It was a small gathering, and when I arrived I was seated in between Paula Radcliffe and Kara Goucher.  Like me, they were pregnant at the time, so we chatted about running and pregnancy, maximum heart rates, what we do for cross-training and the anticipation of our births.  What a thrill!!

Now for the race report:  Standing close to the start line with more than 6,000 female runners on Saturday morning on the 40th anniversary of the Mini was empowering and there was so much energy and excitement.  Of course, I had on my mini, my new Flyer singlet and a necklace that Kara Goucher sports when racing.  We all listened to the pioneers of this race speak, and Kathrine Switzer wore her Crazylegs t-shirt from 1972.  We saw Olympic hopeful Desiree Davila up on stage commanding a big presence despite her tiny frame.  It was female power to the max.  

Lisa M, Victoria S, Shevaun T, Karen H, Jodie F, and Francine A 

I felt proud to be standing with thousands of strong women anxiously awaiting the start.   The gun fired and we were off.  I was very close to the front and racing down Central Park West where I found myself running in between Elizabeth A and Deanna C.  We ran together for close to 2 miles; there was respect, camaraderie, and we were having "fun" pushing the pacing.  

I met Elizabeth very briefly at the finish line of the Coogan's  5K, and I had heard a lot about Deanna  but had never met her. What better way to get acquainted than while on the run!  It was super cool that we were encouraging one another with "come on" and "let's go." The "fun" we were having came to an abrupt end as we approached the Harlem Hill; then it was time to really focus.  Deanna powered her way up the Hill and we followed closely behind.  By the time we got to the 5K mark, Deanna was off and looking particularly strong.  Way to go Deanna!!  I was tiring but reminded myself that the Flyer cheering section and my three daughters would be at the 72nd Street transverse. The crowd support was deafening coming down Cat Hill.  

Thank You!
Flyers Cheering Station

Thank you to all the Flyers who came out to cheer us on at the E. 72nd Street Cheering Station organized by Adam H. For me, this was monumental in getting me through the last mile.


I spotted my daughters in their bright blue "running skirts" (actually tennis skirts but is there really a difference?) and gave a big wave and blew a kiss. Because I do not wear a Garmin, I didn't know what pace I was going.  My legs were feeling very heavy but I thought of the mile repeats I do with the Tuesday 6am speed work group.  I told myself I only had to do it once as opposed to the four or more repeats we do on the first Tuesday of every month.  This self-talk helped considerably and somehow got me to the finish line where my name was announced.  I then spotted Dave K volunteering at the finish line and he placed my medal around my neck. 

With Victoria S

With Kettia M

A big shout out to everyone in Francine's 6am group. You have brought my running to a whole new level and for this I am grateful! It was a great showing for the Flyer Ladies, with quite a few finishing top-ten in their age group and/or setting PRs.  We all gathered after the race for pictures and then I headed over to the playground to meet my family. My girls greeted me with a hug and then asked why I wasn't the winner!  

Congratulations to all the Flyer Ladies and I look forward to "toeing the line" with you again next year for this spectacular event!


-Shevaun T