Greenway Gremlins

You can always count on October to be a great month. School’s back in session, the weather is perfect in North Carolina, and Halloween candy is always at hand. That's why if you're going to run a half marathon, October is the month to do it.

Fellow scholar James Parkhill and I decided to sign up for our first half marathon this summer when we were looking for a new goal to work towards athletically. We registered for the Rocktoberfest race in Charlotte under the alias Greenway Gremlins.

Since returning from our first summer experience in Alaska with NOLS, we have had a running routine 

together. It's something we both look forward to every day. We’re regulars at the UNCC gym with the 8 pm crowd and we often frequent the Mallard Creek Greenway.

Team Greenway Gremlins (with the addition of Christie Koehler, center) in Alaska, 2012

13.1 miles is a long, long way. Especially when your background is as a sprinter and hurdler. I had to increase my mileage gradually. And, it was incredibly helpful to have a running partner-- having someone to talk to on long runs and to strategize with makes the experience so much better.

We didn’t know what to expect for race day. Especially since all of our mileage had been based on estimation. We came to a consensus that finishing the race without stopping was our first goal, and that second, if we could run each mile in 10 minutes we’d be doing well.

Well, we ran the race, gave it our all, and couldn't be happier with our results. We ran 8-minute 50-second miles and were top finishers for our age group!

James and I collecting our awards at the Annual Rocktoberfest Half Marathon

Our first half-marathon was a success. If we run another one, I will keep you posted. But for now, I'd say it's time to enjoy some candy J Hope you’ll do the same.

Cheers!

Isabel Fee

Sophomore

Class of 2016