Donnie Chaffin - A Real Running Hero

Donnie was born and raised in a rural area near Hampton, Georgia and was the oldest of three children. His mother was a bookkeeper while his father kept the peace in the family and as a metro area Atlanta Police Officer for twenty years.  Donnie’s father transitioned to the local community from the city and served as Donnie as a young 4-H'ersheriff of Henry County for twenty-six years until he finally retired from a distinguished career in law enforcement.   Donnie recalls fondly his early years as “almost everyone living near was related somehow” so it was hard to get away with anything.  When he got in trouble, he was subjected to a most cruel punishment, he had to go inside.  Time was spent outdoors playing sports of all types, riding go-karts, and motorcycles, or just exploring the woods.   

Donnie played Little League baseball, which was his only organized sport participation until his days at Henry County High School where he was on the tennis team.   Donnie graduated from high school in 1978 and was accepted at the University of Georgia (UGA).  Upon graduation from UGA with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry, he found it difficult to find a job.  He relates that he “pestered the personnel at Delta Airlines” until they found a position for him-he was placed in a computer programming class.  This must have been his calling as Donnie has been a computer programmer for Delta for thirty-two years. 

Donnie started dating his future wife Cheryl when they were both working a summer job at Wendy’s.  This also was the right move for Donnie as well as he and Cheryl have been married for thirty-five years. Cheryl is a middle school math teacher.   They have three children. Jennifer, age twenty-nine, was born with a brain tumor.  Jennifer has had over fifty surgeries and is disabled from multiple strokes.  Being able to work from home, Donnie has been able to care for her and continue his career with Delta.  This is a remarkable tribute to Donnie’s compassion and love for his family.  His oldest son James also works for Delta as a computer programmer.  The youngest son Mark is a frequent participant with Donnie at races.  Donnie has earned the distinction in 2014 of completing all ninety-four Clover Glover series races.  Mark recently graduated from UGA and is seeking full time employment.

Donnie began to run when he took aerobics classes in college but did not run competitively until the late 1980’s.  Donnie became hooked on Run and See Georgia a few years ago when he was one of the first “crazies” who would work it out so he could do two races in one Saturday morning.  In 1994 he ran fifty-four races and finish second overall.  His PRs in those days was 18:31 for a 5K and 40:52 for a 10K.  He has consistently run in the Run and See Georgia, Black Bag Race Series, and Clove Glove series since then but cut back temporarily to pursue another active hobby-martial arts.  Over the years Donnie has progressed up to the Fifth Degree Black Belt designation and recently “retired” as a karate instructor.  He also enjoys gardening, hiking, white water rafting, and scuba diving.  Mark began to run with his father in 2013 and became “hooked” as well.   They have raced every weekend since, with Donnie finishing second overall in the Black Bag Race Series and third overall in Clover Glove series in 2014 competing in 151 races combined. 

Bob checking out from the back of the pack.  Look for the profile of the Reed family of runners (Allyson, Hannah, and Lauren), and Braden Miller.