Dan Williams - Tireless County Hunter

Dan grew up in Cleveland, Ohio as an “overweight and uncoordinated” son of his clerical worker mother and shop foreman father.  In High School, Daniel excelled in science and band, playing the French horn in the Cleveland All City Band and Ohio Boys Band.  Daniel earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and met his wife to be Marty at Hiram College in Hiram, Ohio.  Both fled to the promise land of Athens, Georgia where Marty earned a Ph.D. in Freshwater Ecology and Daniel the same degree in Inorganic Chemistry.  Daniel taught in temporary positons at Baldwin Wallace College in Berea, Ohio and Georgetown University in our nation’s capital before landing a tenure position at what was Kennesaw Junior College in Marietta in 1977.  Staying the course, Dan rose through the ranks to full professor at Kennesaw and helped develop the largest chemistry program in the University System of Georgia.  Dan retired in 2008 but continued to teach part time until 2014.

Dan, now age sixty seven, started running in 1985 when Marty made the “subtle observation that he was obese and told him so”.  Two years of running resulted in being fifty pounds lighter.  Dan set goals of running an officially timed race in every county in Georgia, running a race in every state capital in the USA, the counties in Connecticut, and all the southern provinces of Canada.  Dan has also run in all three counties of Delaware, the state with the fewest number of counties.  In Georgia, Dan focused on “small festival runs, charity races, or lesser known events which allowed him to see a diverse slice of Americana”.  Georgia, being the largest state east of the Mississippi, also has the most counties-159 not counting two historic counties of Milton and Campbell.  The goal was only achieved by self-help in organizing some races where a county had none.  He and Marty most notably organized among others the Polar Bear 5K in 1988 that now is a continuing successful race sponsored by Johnson Ferry Baptist.  Later he and Marty organized and directed the Hiram 7K on the Silver Comet Trail on New Year’s Day in Paulding County which did not have a timed race heretofore.  Counties among others where Daniel had to organize races to achieve his goal were Treutlen, Twiggs, Montgomery, Steward, Webster, Marion, Clay, Calhoun, and Baker.  Daniel sought out multi county races of which there were a few like Al Toll Masters 15K (Bibb-Monroe) and the Boston Mini-marathon (Thomas-Brooks).  The first race of this trek was the Marietta Naval Air Station 5K in 1987 and the 159^th and final county race was a February 2015 Statenville, GA (Echols County) race.  Four other runners have joined Daniel and are emulating his quest calling themselves the “County Hunters”.  They are Clint Watkins of Madison, Jim Scarr of Powder Springs, Matt Crowder of Atlanta and Jim Baldwin of Macon.

Dan with two other county huntersHigh points include the “Run through Hell” in Michigan and running through Helen, GA as a prelude to the Hogpen Hill Climb.  The largest race he had participated in has been the Atlanta Peachtree 10K running with the “equivalent of a small town”.  The smallest was a four person race field in Carson City, Nevada in 22 degree temperature.  Dan has run a race in each of Maryland’s counties along the Mason-Dixon Line and six of the eight counties in the state of Connecticut.  Dan has run marathons and completed the total distances of notable trail runs-The New River Trail in Southern Virginia (58 miles), the Virginia Creeper Trail near Abington, Virginia (34 miles), and the entire distance of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath in Maryland (186 miles).    

Holding his County Hunter ShirtDan’s “times have been slowed, but …enthusiasm hasn’t.  As long as God gives him strength, he will be out on the trail and roads wearing out multiple pairs of running shoes and in the words of the (legendary early 20^th century Scottish runner) Eric Liddell “feeling God’s pleasure ”. 

Bob checking out from the back of the pack.  Watch for the articles on Debbie Schulte and the profile of retired pill pusher and pharmacist Bill Tweedell.           

Tim and Allyson Reed - A Family of Broken Records

It is difficult to follow the Runner’s World and Newswire as the Reed family has achieved notoriety and in fairness I will paraphrase some of what has been written about them by Newswire reporter Allison Wade.  Here is a link to her article.  The Reed siblings are Hannah (age 11), Lauren (age 10), Timmy (age 7), James (age 6), Levi (age 4), Eliana (age 2), John Luke (age-1, deceased), and Natalie (age 4 months).  The four oldest children are not content to be just fast, they have set remarkable records.  Five year old James set a single-age world record on October 18, 2014 in the Hoofin for Habitat 5K in Duluth of 24:08.  This time was a whooping two minutes and nine seconds faster than the current world record for a five year old male.  The previous single age world record for a five year old was also held by James himself at 26:17 as ratified by the Association of Road Racing Statisticians. In the same race sister Lauren set a Georgia state record for nine year old females with a 20:52.  Lauren currently holds the nine year old female state 5K, 8K, and 10K record. World class speed runs literally in the family as Hannah has run faster than Lauren in the last four races, and more importantly was the top female runner in each of those races. Father Tim to date is able to keep up with the youngsters for now, with a PR 5K time of 18:57.

The day that James and Lauren set their records was a special day for the Reed family.  It was brother Luke’s birthday, who was born prematurely and died the same day.  Each October 18^th, the Reeds remember him “tenderly and privately’.  A week before the 18^th, James remarked that he wanted to break the world record on Luke’s birthday and he did making the occasion all the more special for the Reed family.  Hoofin for habitat is the family’s favorite race because it is Luke’s birthday and the race where James set the world record.

The Reeds have farmsteaded for the last six years in Crawfordville, GA, and are South Carolina transplants.  The children train by running two to five times a week on a dirt road.  Tim writes “we don’t let our children run a race until they ‘come of age’ on the dirt road. Training over time, whether it takes weeks or months, we teach them courage, determination, independence, etc. by getting them to complete the dirt road 5K without assistance.  We then build up the ‘race day scenario’ in their heads and they become eager to confront the challenge enthusiastically”.  Accustomed to small town Georgia life, the children enjoy casual bike riding and adventures on the farm when not training.

The Reed children began racing in October 2013, along with their father Tim who had been a soccer player but did not consider himself a consistent runner.  The initial motivation was physical fitness. Mother Allyson started running in the summer of 2014 and comments “We love that we have stumbled upon a hobby that our whole family can do together, and stay in shape at the same time.  Though the records are what add the extra ‘umph” and ‘fun-ness’, we are in this as a whole family.”  Breaking records started when Lauren, then age eight, ran a 24:24 5K and the race director advised the family of the possibility of Lauren chasing the Georgia state record for her age group.  James ran his first 5K race in 28:28. His incentive then was that he “got to eat bagels and other goodies at the finish”.  The Reeds later found a Newswire article about a five year old boy who had set the single-age world record at 26:43, and realized that James had reduced his time below the record though uncertified and not on a record eligible course.  After this revelation, the record chase was on for the family.  Local accolades are not ignored as the four oldest children were ranked in their age groups in the 2014 and 2015 Run and See Georgia Grand Prix series and the family all received Black Bag Race awards in 2014.     

Bob checking out from the back of the pack.  Watch for the profile on Kennesaw State Owl Daniel Williams and on Marine Corp mother Debbie Schulte

Braden Miller - Hot Dog of a Marine

Braden was born in Portsmouth, Virginia in 1973 where his father was a full time minister of the gospel for a non-denominational Christian church.  The family relocated to Elberton, GA when Braden was age three.  Braden spent his childhood and early years in Elberton and learned to love Georgia.  The family moved again to Eden, North Carolina when his father accepted another calling from a church.  The family remained in Eden where Braden completed high school at John Motley Morehead High School.

Young Braden and future wife HeatherAfter graduation Braden’s father decided to leave the ministry and open a restaurant in Albany, Georgia with Braden’s grandfather.  Braden waited three years to join his father in Albany and also enlisted in the U.S Marine Corp (USMC) at that time.  He worked in the family restaurant business while serving in the Marine Corp reserves for six years.  Braden married his childhood sweetheart, Heather in 1997, and they opened their own BBQ restaurant in Albany.  Unfortunately, like most of us, Braden was not ready for prime time and the BBQ restaurant “failed miserably”.  The failed restaurant did teach Braden and Heather some valuable lessons.  After two years and two children, the restaurant closed.  The experience resulted in Braden opening two Hot Dog King Restaurants in the Albany area that he has successfully run for thirteen years and counting.   Along with his parents, the family now operates three Hot Dog King and Kregg’s BBQ restaurants in Albany.

The Miller FamilyLike all agile, mobile, hostile military service types, Braden had to run in the service and continued to do so when it was no longer a job necessity.  Braden reemerged as a runner in December 2010 when he and his oldest daughter, Ramsay, participated in the Albany Jingle Jog 5K.  After several more races, they were introduced to the Run and See Georgia series by the South Georgia running ambassador Brenda Gail Wall.  Daughter Ramsay and dad have run in hundreds of races in all three series over the last few years.  They both earned Clover Glove jackets in 2014 and Ramsay took her age group in the Black Bag Race Series while Braden finished 3^rd in his competitive age group.  Running in all those 5K races have led to running in 10K races which has led to half marathons and now full marathons, culminating in the upcoming New York City Marathon in November 2015.

Braden and Ramsay in ChicagoBraden credits running with providing quality time spent with his supportive and active running family, wife Heather, children Ramsay age 15, Mattie age 13, and Jax age 10.  Braden has extended his expertise into teaching several running classes at Albany Christian Church and joining the cross country coaching staff at Lee County High School as a community coach.  Braden has learned that “inspiring others to run is so much more important that setting personal records”.  He is so thankful for the way other runners have encouraged, supported, and welcomed him and his family into such a great group of inspiring runners.

Bob checking out from the back of the pack.  Watch for the profile on the running Reed family (Allyson, Hannah, and Lauren) and on Kennesaw State Owl Daniel Williams.

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.

Sherri Price - No Longer Looking for Juvenile Offenders

Sherri is a proud North Georgia country girl born and raised in Royston, Georgia and returning to her roots (origin not hair!).  Her mother was a homemaker and her father worked in construction.  Sherri inherited good genes as her father, nearing eighty years of age, is still active as a construction superintendent in a third generation commercial construction business.  Sherri attended grade school in Royston but traveled to nearby Carnesville for Middle School, and then Franklin County High School. After graduation Sherri begin a thirty year career with the Juvenile Court System of Athens-Clarke County where she progressed from secretary to Deputy Clerk before retirement.  Sherri derived a lot of satisfaction from assisting young people in her position with the court system and enjoyed the interaction with the public. 

Sherri and Keith as Square DancersSherri is currently relocating from the Athens area back to Royston and a less hectic pace.  She has two children-a daughter, Autumn, who is a Brenau University college student.  She also provides Sherri with the opportunity for time well spent with a grandson age two.  Her son Myles works with chickens (in a poultry enterprise).  Sherri and her partner Keith Lester have formed a budding lawn care business named Lester’s Services that Keith started part time twenty-years ago.   Recently, the business has taken off  with over thirty accounts at present and growing.  The clients are in both the Athens and Royston area.  Keith and Sherri are so busy they have few hobbies, those being square dancing and running series races.  Both require stamina!

Sherri started running with Keith in her forties as a form of exercise but after four years found it to be an “addiction”.  Sherri and Keith run in at least one race a weekend, but usually more.  Sherri and Keith ran over one hundred and ten races in 2014, winning a coveted Black Bag Race Series Hoodie and has a goal of qualifying for a Clover Glove windbreaker in 2015.  Sherri completed the 2014 running campaign in first place in the competitive female 45-48 age division in both Run and See Georgia and the Black Bag Race series.  Her best 5K time was Sherri and Keith as Runners28:50 in a 5K, and slightly over an hour in a 10K.  She and Keith have run the last two Athens Half Marathons.  Her favorite races are any without “hills”.  Sherri has met many friends on the race course and admires them for their tenacity displayed weekly.  She notes that the running family “encourages each other and that the support is wonderful”.   Sherri appreciates race coordinators presenting the awards starting with the senior members of the running community first. She does not consider herself in that category but finds that she receives her award quicker when the awards are presented in that sequence.  

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