Mitchell Sinyard - Growing on the Run

The Boston 4, Josh Myers, Mitchell Sinyard, Perry Slaughter and Alan BlackElite runner Mitchell Sinyard tends to a three quarter acre garden located across the road from his home on twenty acres he recently purchased from what was his late grandfather’s farm.  The garden produces  squash, okra, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, watermelon, and cantaloupes from which his family along with wife Lynn feed themselves.  Daughter Jessica has already left the bread basket by marring and now resides in Concord, GA with two children, daughter Scarlett and son Hayden.  Her brother, fourteen year old son John Mitchell, (they call him by both names) is still garden dependent.  Mitchell’s farming roots run deep having been raised in Hawkinsville, GA and worked after high school graduation on his grandfather’s farm for five years.  Mitchell’s grandfather intensively farmed four hundred acres of row crop peanuts, cotton, and corn plus tended a heard of fifty cows and one hundred and fifty hogs.  Mitchell’s grandfather named him his number “one hog man”.  Grandchildren Hayden and ScarlettMitchell alleges “hogs were sent to earth to teach patience” to their handlers.  Mitchell’s patience resulted in the hogs dining on mostly corn, soybeans, and supplements while not following his directions.    

 Mitchell spent the next six years porking out working on two different hog farms prior to accepting a position as a sheet metal specialist at nearby (thirty-one mile commute) Warner Robbins Air Force Base.  Mitchell toiled seventeen years as a government service sheet metal specialist prior to upgrading to a C-5 aircraft inspector for four years.  Mitchell’s running experience paid off as he has to climb every inch of the air frame during his inspection.  Mitchell now holds the position of an Industrial Planner at Warner Robbins Air Force Base.     

Mitchell and JessicaMitchell’s first race was the Macon Labor Day 5K in 1993 and he has never looked back.  His favorite is the old Tar Baby 10K (now The Torture Trail 10K) in Eatonton, GA.   Mitchell participated in forty-nine Run and See Georgia races in 2012 with a max of seventy-six a few years ago.  Mitchell also serves on weekends as back up song director for County Line Baptist.  Mitchell muses that if the Baptists need his services, he is severely limited in the number of hymns he can summon.  Mitchell acknowledges that his wife Lynn, used to be aggravated with the time he spent doing races.  Now she only inquires which direction he is going on a Saturday morning!  His hobbies include camping, with Dillard, GA being his favorite camp venue and his favorite area camping race being the one up the mountain at Sky Valley.  

Mitchell placed third in 2012 in the 50-54 men in the Black Bag Race series only due to the limited number of races he participated in, not for lack of speed or athletic ability. Mitchell didn’t even realize he had placed in the series until he ran a race at Middle Georgia Technical School where he received his Black Bag and Black Bag Series Shirt.   Mitchell would like to see more Black Bag scheduled in South Georgia in the future.   His best 5K time was 18:26 at a Plain’s Peanut Festival race, 38:52 for a 10K, one hour and 27 minutes in aMitchell with his Tar Baby Award half marathon, and three hours 17 minutes in a full marathon.  A tribute to Mitchell’s running prowess was that he qualified and participated in the 2005 Boston Marathon (Lead photo of the event with Josh Myers, Perry Slaughter, Mitchell, and Alan Black).

Bob checking out from the back of the pack.  Look for the profiles on Mary Hayes better half Larry Hayes, and on Cheryl Cook, and on Milledgeville’s Troy Garland.

Richard Harrison - Self Deported New Yorker

Richard is a transplanted Long Island, New York runner.  Richard considered himself an average runner in high school after becoming a participant of the cross-country team when a friend left the team.  Richard attended State University of New York Maritime College and ran cross country his freshman year.  He prided himself on running six-seven minute miles and being sixty pound lighter than his current weight.  Richard alleges Maritime College was a small school with no established track program.  While the summer tours of duty aboard ship, physical activity was limited to walking the plank.  Richard’s cross country time was also impacted by qualifying for the school drinking team.  However when Richard felt sleepy during late night sessions, he would run to stay awake.  Richard once bet his college roommate that whoever scored the lowest on a math test would result in the loser running five miles.  Richard had to run the five miles on the track but felt that the punishment was not that bad!  Richard graduated in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology & Oceanography and with a Third Mate Merchant Marine’s License.   

Jacque Cousteau and the Weather Service were not hiring when Richard graduated.  After a couple of temporary jobs Richard got a “real job” with a grain export firm in lower Manhattan arranging commodity shipment  abroad.  Richard found time to run at lunch with his favorite routes being over the Brooklyn Bridge and up on the old abandoned West Side Highway near the World Trade Center.   Runner, Bill Rodgers, inspired Richard to participate in his first race, the Cross Island Marathon in 1978.  He admitted not preparing for it and suffering thereafter.  Richard has never competed in another marathon but has run in all the 5Ks, 10Ks, and five milers he could find plus an occasional half marathon.   

Richard married his first wife Anna in 1977 with their daughter Janelle born in 1982.  In 1987, Richard was laid off from his position as grain exports declined.  He disliked northern winters and large cities, and as his to be ex wife had relatives in North Georgia, he self deported in 1987 like many predecessor carpet baggers.  Upon arrival Richard participated in local races and found the Run and See Georgia series.  Richard recalls being told that Will Chamberlain put on races and stated that if “You don’t know who Will is, you soon will!” Richard and Bob Slowpants both lament what a big loss Wills’ passing has been to the running community. 

Twenty five years ago Richard accepted a position as the Environmental Nazi of Barrow County inspecting restaurants, motels, pools, permitting septic tanks, doing rabies control, and “other duties as assigned”.   Richard currently works in the same capacity for the Jackson County Health Department.  Richards’s first marriage disunion followed with a 2000 marriage to Teresa, a floral designer.  Teresa is a walker who endures Richards’ running mania remarking once, that Richard has more clothes than her but they are all running shirts!      

Richard’s daughter and son in law Mark reside in St. Augustine, FL and have produced two grandchildren for Richard.  They live two blocks from the fountain of youth.  Richard advised that when he drinks the water it does not seem to help.  Once he reaches the 65-69 age group, he will realize that those of us in the age bracket are desperate!

 
Unless sick or traveling, Richard can be found at a race on the Black Bag circuit. He has four 1,000 point Run and See Georgia jackets to his credit, and has placed in his age group finals since 2002. Richard qualified for a 2012 Black bag and tech shirt. Unfortunately Richard only qualified for a left Clover Glove in 2012, which has come in handy when checking septic tanks and field lines.  Richard admits to having met a lot of great people running and is proud to be a part of the extended running family.  When not running, Richard enjoys gardening, Yoga, and photography.  His favorite races are the Hartwell Dam 5K, Soque River Ramble 5K, and of course Clay Sims Red Barn Ramble.  His best time is anytime he crosses the finish line.   

 Bob checking out from the back of the pack.  Look for the profile on Mitchell Sinyard and late the profile of Mary Hayes’ better half Larry Hayes.   

Amber Hodor - Running with Reservations

Amber at the Red Barn Ramble 5KAmber Hodor was born in Margate, Florida just north of Miami.  She attended High School at Fort Pearce Central in Port Saint Lucie, Florida where she and her parents resided.  She ran cross country in high school only as a conditioning exercise for soccer.  Running did not agree with Amber when she tore the ACL in both her knees requiring surgery her senior year in high school.  Amber played soccer from age eight until she graduated from Florida State in 2007.  There she earned a Bachelor Degree in Business Hospitality.  In college she lifted weights to build stamina for soccer in lieu of running.

After graduation Amber moved to Dothan, Alabama to accept a position as guest services manager at a Hampton Inn and Suites.  After the culture shock of trading the bright lights of Tallahassee for the nonexistent social life of Dothan, her three aunts, whoAmber and her aunt Joni were runners, encouraged her to seek out a local running group.  Her first foray was the 2010 Critter Run 5K (nothing to do with road kill) where she placed third in her age group with an athletic time of 24:30. She was hooked and continued attending area races.

Opportunity came knocking in the form of a position as Assistant General Manager of the Hilton Garden Inn in Macon on the edge of the Mercer University campus.  Amber accepted the position and began running in Macon.  She recalls taking the same tack as Dothan and seeking out local running groups, like Macon Tracks.  Amber recalls participating in a 5K race at Howard High School in Macon where she was asked if she wanted to venture to Dublin, GA for a race via carpool.  Amber accepted the challenge from Eddie Lamberth, who is her frequent companion at Run and See Georgia, Black Bag, and Clover Glove Races as she describes “every Saturday and Sunday”.  She also enjoys riding bicycles, hiking, water sports, and visiting Georgia State Parks.

Clay Sims will appreciate that Amber’s favorite race is the Black Bag Race Series Red Barn Ramble 5K. She enjoys the cow fields, excellent fare and adult beverages available for the post race cool down.  A close second is Clover Glove/Black Bag races at Camp Fortson 4H Center in Hampton where the “scenery is beautiful, runners are really nice, and the races are low key and easy to earn points”.

Amber placed first in the 25-29 female age groups in the 2012 the Black Bag and Clover Glove race series and is not letting up in 2013.  Her PRs are indicative of her racing prowness-2012 Macon Labor Day 5K time of 20:20, 2012 Jim Heron 10K time of 45:38, and 2013 Museum of Aviation Half Marathon time of 1:42.  RaceAmber at Leggin' it for Lincoln coordinators note that Amber recommends that if you win overall male/female you should receive extra points beyond just those normally awarded for being first in your age group.                        

Bob checking out from the back of the back.  Look for the May profile on the Hawkinsville flash Mitchell Sinyard and June will feature Richard Harrison.  

Charles Jackson - Running with Adult Supervision

Parents Jeff Jackson and Deborah Snyder “look at each other in amazement when they watch Charles run and win consistently”.  Jeff acknowledges that neither he nor Deborah are particularly athletic. Charles’ journey toward running started one spring day in 2011.  At the age eight, the second grader announced after school that he was excited about joining the running club at Livsey Elementary in Tucker.  Each week the club practiced stretching, running laps and learning about running basics.  Many of the club members, including Charles, were participating in the Tucker Road Race so his parents signed him up for the one mile fun run.  On race day Charles begged his parents to allow him to participate in the 5K.  They reluctantly did so and Charles won his age group with a time of 29:32. Since the 2011 Tucker Road Race, Charles has run an average of three 5K or longer races per month logging fifty-five races in 2011 and sixty-nine races in 2012, many of which were Black Bag Race Series events.

Charles is proud of his time of 2:01 time at the January 2012 Calloway Gardens Half Marathon even though his PR was achieved at the December 2012 Monroe Half Marathon. Charles with his father Jeff and friends Casey and Ed Hall His day was made at the Monroe Half when adult runners congratulated the young runner and advised him that “try as they might, they could not catch him” as he ran a 1:49 race pace. His only mishap was at the 2011 4^th of July Lake Sinclair 5K when running on gravel he was knocked over by the crowd of adult runners.  Charles badly skinned his knee, arm, and face.  Charles got up and ran to his parents, who were distraught and seeking medical assistance.  Charles noticing the pack moving ahead without him stopped crying and ran after them spurring medical aid.  He caught up and finished second in his age nineteen seconds behind the winner.  Charles received medical aid after the race and was featured with a half page article in the local newspaper sports page written by a reporter in attendance who was impressed with his perseverance.

Charles with his father on a skiing tripCharles recalls his most exciting race was the Dental Dash for Diabetes 5K in March 2012 in the old fourth ward of Atlanta.  The course was three laps with Charles trailing a fast ten year old participant. Charles gained on the faster lad each lap only to finish six inches behind him.  Both boys shook hands and walked away smiling-a lesson in life for adult runners.  Charles  runs mostly with adults and has met several area youth runners his age.  He admits in a rare instance slowing down at the end to allow another boy to win who “had never won a race”.    

Charles won his age group in the 2012 Black Bag Race Series with 340 pointsCharles with Georgia Congressman John Lewis and ran a total of 171.6 Black Bag Miles.  Charles greatest accomplishment was getting his proud parents “off the couch” with Deborah slow jogging in races and Jeff participating as well.

Bob checking out from the back of the back.  Look for the May profile on Macon speedster Amber Hodor and June on the Hawkinsville flash Mitchell Sinyard.    

Mara Nance - Runner Who Pinned Her Hopes

Stacy “Mara” Nance was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  Her parents, a brother and three sisters relocated to Augusta, GA when Mara was age five.  Her father, a civil engineer by trade, moved back to Coco Beach, Florida where he worked for NASA while Mara graduated from John F. Kennedy High School.  Mara was a cheerleader in high school and enjoyed an active social life.  Mara was fit and worked while in high school at Elaine Powers Fitness in Florida.  She accumulated enough spending money for a summer trip to Europe. Not bad for a high school student.  At the age of eighteen, on May 23 in the year before her graduation, she was as a struck by an automobile while walking.  She does not recall many details about the accident other than waking up from a coma with one arm and the rest of her body in a cast.  Mara spent the better part of two years in rehab with head trauma, her left leg shattered, left arm and fingers damaged.  Operations placed pins in the left leg, left arm, and the fingers of her injured hand.   These severe injuries explain Mara’s unorthodox running gate.  If you have ever run behind her, you will see she kicks one leg out as she strides. Mara acknowledges that this kick out motion is getting “worse” as she ages but she still remains competitive in the female 50-54 age group.   

Recovery led to attendance at Augusta College.  She continued her education in Winter Park, Florida at a community college.  While pursuing her education in Winter Park and working part time for a fitness center, Mara found ends were not meeting the needs and a financial crisis was looming.  This dilemma was remedied by a friend “daring” Mara to perform at an adult club as a stripper.  A dare became a career.  Mara was suffering back spasms that eventually led her to give up her dancing career after two years.  The money was good and solved the financial crisis. The high point of Mara’s “show” business career came when her physician, who was treating her for the spasms, came to view the performance one evening unannounced.  The low point was when a drunk jumped on stage, slung Mara over his shoulder and attempted to leave the establishment carrying Mara until confronted by the bouncer.  

Mara returned to Augusta, GA where she had back surgery to remove an offending budging disc.  After recovery Mara returned to school graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.  She teamed with her father who had returned to Augusta in semi retirement doing consulting civil engineering work.  Mara would do the site preparation and information gathering portion of an engineering project for her father.  Mara found an opportunity in the lawn service industry to supplement her engineering income and started H & M (Holly and Mara) Lawn Care.  The lawn care business expanded over the years with a current stable of forty clients.  Sadly, her father passed away a year ago.  Mara is assisted in H&M by twenty-five year friend  and significant other Jerry Justice.  Some of you may recall Jerry as he accompanied Mara to races and served as the Holly (her pet Dachshund) keeper while Mara was running.  Mara’s life is consumed with lawn care eight days a week and caring for her two current pet Dachshunds Lucy Lu and Molly, both rescue dogs.

She has commuted to races since 1989 with Steve Strickland of Augusta.  Mara encountered Steve at local Augusta races and found he was willing to drive her to the races.  Mara can not drive long distances due to a lack of depth perception, a side consequence to her severe head trauma that occurred when she was a teen. Her running career started in Florida participating in the Sun Coast Race Series and continued with Run and See Georgia and now competes in the Black Bag Race Series.  Her first points race was in June of 1989, The Tar Baby 10K now known as the Torture Trail 10K.  Her favorite race is any one where she places first in her age group.  Mara participated in one hundred and thirteen races in 2001 and one hundred a year in following years.  She took a year off after her father’s death (her mother still lives in Augusta) but has become active again in the Black Bag Race Series.  Although not running the entire 2012 season, she was able to accumulate 136 Black Bag Points.  Enough points to finish fifth in her age group.  Her best 5K time was 21:39, 10K time 49:34, and she has participated in fifteen half marathons and three marathons.                 

Bob checking out from the back of the back.  Look for the March profile on Tucker’s own, pre teen runner, Charles Jackson.  In April Amber Hodor from Macon will be featured.