Page 30 - Abilene Living

whatever goal you have.” After establishing the group, Horn, who’s a professor at Abilene Christian University, worked to become certifed as a running coach. Now he regularly works with individual members, and all but guarantees that if your willing to put in the work, he can get you across a 5K, 10K, half or even full marathon fnish line, “To actually go to the event, and run the race, and be a part of something bigger than yourself, no matter how long it takes, just to cross the fnish line is an incredibly emotional experience.”

But club members say you don’t have to be able to run 26.2 miles, or even a 5K to join the group. “People get intimidated by the Abilene Runner’s Club thinking it’s just a bunch of elite runners” said Taillon. “We have fast runners. We have slow runners. We have some walkers. We have a man in a wheel chair. I just really encourage beginners to come out,

because we have people who had never run a step in their life before joining.”

On weekends that they’re not running a race, or helping organize one; the club meets Saturday mornings at Red Bud Park. They say anyone’s welcome. “We’ll just be talking the whole time we’re running and the miles just click away, before you know it you’ve done 5, 6, 10 miles. It makes it so much easier running with a group.” Their meetings are held the second Tuesday of every month. Dues are $25 per year. Though club members spout off a number of reasons to run: weight loss, health benefts, stress relief, etc, they say the real joy of running in a club is that you’re doing something you enjoy with others. “It goes really fast when you have friends. You talk about everything other than running,” said Patrizia Rose, who is one of the founding members. Taillon chimes in, “What you talk about on the road, stays on the road.” As the clock hits the eighteen minute mark, the frst runner rounds the corner, barreling toward the fnish line. The cheers start erupting as club members recognize one of their own. In fact, it’s Rose’s son, Zach. This is the moment runner’s live for: a moment of accomplishment and victory. “It doesn’t matter if you’re the fastest runner or the slowest runner,” says Horn, “There will be members of the Runner’s Club at the fnish line waiting for you to cheer you on; even if you fnish last. Because it’s not about where you fnish in the race, it’s the fact that you had the courage to get in the race.” U ALM