Marge Finnerty-Redefining the Golden Years of Running

Marge was born in rural Churchville, Iowa in 1933.  The same year that, according to Wickepedia, the Catholic Church in the community was destroyed by fire.  Life got more exciting when the family moved to nearby Ames, Iowa when Marge was in the third grade.  After graduation from Ames High School, Marge met and at age twenty-two married her late husband Bill while both were matriculating at the University of Iowa.  This union produced six children and ten grandchildren.  Not being prejudiced, three were girls and three were boys.  Marge became qualified as a medical technician at the University Hospital while Bill was obtaining degrees in Bio Chemistry and Micro Biology.  Marge worked for two years as an x-ray technician in Iowa after earning her certification.

Bill and Marge moved to Oak Ridge, Tennessee where Bill completed post doctorate work in Micro Biology.  Later they relocated to Athens, GA where Bill did what overeducated people in Athens do and worked for the University of Georgia.  Bill and Marge were married for forty years before his untimely demise fifteen years ago.

Marge began running forty five years ago when she accepted a challenge from one of her children to “run around the block”.  Marge never stopped from that point and is still running at age eighty-two.  She can still run an age defying 38 minute 5K and has done so this year at a race I participated in at Watkinsville, GA.  She was running 5K races with a time under thirty minutes until she hit age seventy.  She now only runs three or four races a year in the Athens area and admits she always wins because of her competitive spirit and that competition in her age group is scarce.  Marge’s favorite race is the Human Race in Athens.  She likes the races that support the Special Olympics and any that “help other people”.  Marge has participated in three triathlons, the most recent three years ago at Lake Lanier at age seventy-nine.  Her favorite runner is Athenian Wilson Page, whom we all admire for his spirit and durability.

Marge keeps her mind young by doing volunteer work and “word puzzles” like filling out race registration forms.  She has exercised at the Athens YMCA for over forty years and still does so.  Marge routinely swims three times a week.  Marge will turn eighty-three in January and has a goal next year of running more frequently but not long distances.  The motivation is partially for her health but more to “be the best she can be”.     

Marge does not have or use a computer and declined to have any photos posted.  However, if you become curious and want to know who she is, just listen for her name at the awards ceremony for her name at an Athens area race.

Bob signing out from the back of the pack.  Look for the profile on sassy Herman Sasser, and one on Amber Reeves in 2016.