1. 2016
Who’s up for a 10K?
Changes in store for 2016
PAGE 6, 7
Rock‘N Run fun
More than 500 take part in
county’s biggest race ever
PAGE 12
Who knew?
At 40, Strider discovers
she’s faster than most
PAGE 14
Bring him back!
Community embraces
sidelined walker
PAGE 20
2. The only NCI-designated cancer center in the state
Markey is the only National Cancer Institute (NCI-designated) facility in Kentucky.
Our patients benefit from:
• New drugs and treatment options only offered at NCI centers.
• Access to trials only available at NCI centers.
• A team of expert physicians, scientists and staff offering compassionate care.
If you or someone you know is diagnosed with cancer, we’re ready to fight with you.
For an appointment, call 800-333-8874 or visit markey.uky.edu.
6-6756
3. RETURNTHISPORTION
TEAMCHALLENGE
STRIDES PAGE 3
THE STRIDE ELITE TEAM CHALLENGE IS BACK!
The only thing better than running or walking for fitness is
doing it with a group of people. They pick you up when you
are down, and you encourage them to keep going. This
year, we challenge you to challenge your friends and put
together a Stride Elite team. We will reward consistency,
with some bonus points for performance. Who will step up
and build a team, then lead that team to victory?
The winning team will get individual
trophies, special recognition at
year-end awards night, and a free
registration for any (5-mile or
under) 2017 CWS race. Rockcastle
Regional will also donate $100 to a
charity of the team’s choice.
Name: _______________________________________________________________
Email: ________________________________________________________________
Phone: _______________________________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________________________
Names and Cities of Team Members: _________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Team Name: __________________________________________________________
Return form to:
Kayla Rowe
Rockcastle Regional Hospital
145 Newcomb Ave.
Mt. Vernon, KY 40456
You may also scan and
email to her at:
kayla.rowe@rhrcc.org
HOW IT WORKS
• Each team will initially consist of four members. One member will be designated as
captain. In June, the captain will have the option of growing his/her team to five members.
• All team members must complete at least seven 2016 CWS events. Any points earned by a
member who doesn’t complete at least seven events will be forfeited.
• Deadline to register team is March 1. (points will be retroactive to January race).
• The team with the most points at the end of the year wins.
• June 1 – 7 is “free agency week,” when team captains may recruit an additional member. The new
member’s points earned before becoming a member of the team will be added to the team’s total.
• Team scores will be updated and put on Facebook quarterly.
POINTS
Members are awarded points as follows:
2 points for participation in events 5 miles or under
3 points for participation in half marathon or 10K
*Performance points (in addition to participation points):
2 points for placing third or better in age group
-or- 3 points for winning your age group
-or- 4 points for placing in race’s overall top 10 of gender category
-or- 2 points for being a top three overall male or female walker
*Performance points do not add up in a single race. For example, say you
place in the overall top 10 in the 4K for Heart Health and win your age group.
You would earn 4 points (not 7) for that accomplishment. You would also earn
2 points for participation, for a grand total of 6 points.
STRIDE ELITE
4. PAGE 4 STRIDES
Rockcastle Strides
magazine is published each
January and is distributed to
Countywide Stride participants,
Rockcastle County residents,
and others in adjoining
counties. It is dedicated to
the promotion of walking
and running as they promote
personal fitness and improve
community health.
Photography
Ruby Cline-Eaton
Tammy Sowder
Susan Turley
Graphic Design
Cathryn Hahn
On the Cover
At 78, Bernie Cornett of
Nicholasville was one of the
oldest participants in the
third annual Renfro
Rock ‘N Run 5K.
A publication of
Maintaining a race series is a little like the sport of running itself.
There was a time when you probably thought completing a 5K was a challenge, but now you
might knock out a few half marathons a year.
We once thought managing a couple of races every year was a big deal until we started
doing them monthly.
Now we might not know what to do with ourselves if we didn’t coordinate monthly races.
We’ve completed four years of the Countywide Stride 12-race series, and our community
of runners and walkers are showing no signs of slowing down. In 2015, there were 2,278
finishes, up from 2,047 in 2014. The series also helped our community raise almost $17,000
for various non-profits and civic groups.
Thanks to the support of our participants, volunteers, and of course the administration
at Rockcastle Regional Hospital, we’ve been able to build and consistently maintain an
atmosphere that make fitness fun and gives Rockcastle and surrounding counties an
incentive to keep moving.
But, as with any running or walking program, sometimes change is necessary. We all need
variety, and we sometimes realize better ways to do things.
So, 2016 will feature some significant changes in our series. For example, we’ve made our
March race a 5-miler while changing our July race to a 5K, placing the longer race in cooler
weather. We’ve also made the February race a virtual one, reducing the chances of last-
minute changes due to snowy or muddy conditions. Most significantly, we’ve dropped the
duathlon. We will instead stage a 10K that will begin at Renfro Valley and go around Lake
Linville and back.
Eliminating the duathlon, which consisted of a 17-mile bike ride sandwiched between two
runs, was a tough decision, and, understandably, many have expressed disappointment. It
was a unique event that gave those who like to cycle and run a chance to test themselves in
a different, more challenging way.
But 2015 was a bad year for cyclists in general. In Kentucky alone, there was a time when it
seemed one crash after another was occurring, accidents that resulted in severe injury, and at
least one death.
So we began to assess our duathlon for safety. In the six years it was held, we recalled three
accidents, each of which resulted in injuries of varying seriousness, though nothing life-
threatening and no head injuries.
That’s one accident for every 83 duathlon finishes. I am not sure if that’s a good record for an
unsanctioned duathlon or not, but by comparison, we’ve had no injury accidents that I know
of in more than 10,000 finishes of all of our other races combined. Running is not without
danger, but it seems much safer than competitive cycling.
So we decided that for all the fun the duathlon created, it wasn’t worth the risk. Hence the
change.
For cycling enthusiasts, we have partnered with organizers of Danville’s Smoking Butt bike
ride to make it a 13th CWS event. (It’s an 18-mile leisure ride, not a race.) So this year you’ll
actually have 13 chances to get your year-end incentive prizes, which are the same seven-,
10-, and 12-race levels as always. More details are inside, and as always, watch Facebook
and rockcastleregional.org/race for updates.
We thank you for your continued support of our series, and we hope to see you again in
2016. If you don’t participate with us, please participate somewhere. The important thing is to
keep moving!
Dwain Harris
Editor, Rockcastle Strides
Coordinator, Countywide Stride Race Series
5. STRIDES PAGE 5
2016 Race Calendar
By the Numbers: The Rundown
Survey Says
Planning for Perfection
Leading the Pack
Girls on the Run
Can’t Keep a Good Man Down
Scrapbook
8
10
12
14
18
20
6
22
CONTENTS
6. PAGE 6 STRIDES
CALENDAR
SNOWBALL EXPRESS 2-MILER
2:30 PM - The fifth annual Snowball Express 2-miler
is just what the doctor ordered if you have cabin fever.
It’s on a flat course and is our shortest race – think of it
as a warm-up for the season. It has great support from the local
fire department, school and community, and it boasts a very nice
staging area downtown at the Depot Park. Proceeds go to the
American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.
4K FOR HEART HEALTH
Feb. 18-28 - As last year’s race approached, so did a severe
winter storm, so we changed the race to a virtual event.
The response was awesome so we’re going to do it
again this year. You’ll still get a tee-shirt, and WHAS
Crusade for Children will still be the charity. The difference is
you’ll have 10 days in which to complete the distance, and
you can do so at a time and place of your choosing. We’ll
encourage you to then post a selfie or scenes from your run on
our Facebook page. No overall or age group awards, but we
will award the most creative/liked FB posts on our page – $50,
$25, and $10 for first, second and third. Check our website for
registration details.
NEW DISTANCE!
ST. PATRICK’S 5-MILE RUN, 5K WALK
2:30 PM - You look so good in green, we want to see
you for more than just a 5K. So, pay attention, here’s
a change from last year. We’re having the St. Patrick’s
race as usual, but we’re swapping distances with our
July race. The March race is now the St. Patrick’s 5-Mile run/5K
walk, while the July race is the Rockcastle Alzheimer’s 5K. Why?
We were just kidding about the green. The real reason is this:
we think you’ll enjoy running or walking five miles more in March,
with cooler temps, than on a humid July morning. So, start
training now for a great chance at a 5-miler PR on the flat and
fast course of Renfro Valley’s Hummel Road.
FAIRVIEW BAPTIST RUN FOR MISSIONS 5K
9:00 AM - This race, in its sixth year, is staged with
skill and care by a church family who loves running
and embraces the community. You’ll be uplifted by the
atmosphere and sure to spot a few bright Redbuds along the
way. Those who live in Berea and northward – Fairview Baptist
is only a couple of miles south of the Madison County line on
Hwy. 25. Come let an April breeze push you to a great finish!
Proceeds benefit mission work.
BRODHEAD HUSTLE 5K
8:00 AM - This race takes you through quiet
neighborhood streets and down picturesque Main
Street (Old 150) before finishing back at Brodhead
Depot Park. It’s supported by the sure hands of the Brodhead
Fire Department, the 2015 CWS Volunteer Group of the Year.
Come join the fun and feel good knowing that proceeds help
support Brodhead Homecoming festivities.
FIT FAMILY RUN AND HALF-HOUR CHARITY CHASE
6:00 PM - This event is your chance to get in a
workout while raising money for great causes. The Half
Hour Charity Chase is this: Run or walk around the
track as many times as you can in 30 minutes, and Rockcastle
Regional Hospital will donate $1 for every lap you complete to
the charity you chose upon registering (a list of charities will be
provided). The popular fastest-kid-in-town race and family relay
race will also be held and are sure to be as fun as ever. As in
years past, the registration fee is a canned good that goes to
the Grateful Bread Food Pantry. (Limit 200 participants in the
Charity Chase).
*All times Eastern
JAN
31
FEB
18
MARCH
13
APRIL
16
MAY
28
JUNE
16
FIND US ON FACEBOOK:
/COUNTYWIDESTRIDE
7. STRIDES PAGE 7
COMPLETE SEVEN RACES
Complete 7 races for a long-sleeved dri-fit
Countywide Stride T-shirt
TRY FOR 10!
Complete 10 races for a dri-fit long-sleeved T-shirt
and a $25 gift certificate
COMPLETE ALL 12 RACES
All 12 races for dri-fit long-sleeved T-shirt, $25 gift
certificate, and a personalized commemorative plaque
ROCKCASTLE ALZHEIMER’S 5K RUN/WALK
8:00 AM - Our fourth annual Alzheimer’s run will no
doubt yield some faster times this year – because
we’ve changed the distance from 5 miles to 5K
(see March if you’re interested in a 5-miler). This race is still
straightforward – it’s a flat, summer run, straight out a beautiful
country road that meanders through sun and shade and by
a cool trickling stream, and then back to the finish. Proceeds
benefit the Alzheimer’s Association.
NEW EVENT!
THE REN 10 10K RUN/5K WALK BY THE LAKE
8:00 AM - We think 10Ks will be all the rage in 2016,
and we’re ready with the brand new Ren 10. It will be
staged at Renfro Valley, same as November’s Rock N
Run, starting on Hwy. 25 and running around the lake and back.
The best part about the race, besides the beautiful scenery, is
the ease of the course. Other than one hump in the road near
the end of the lake, it’s pancake-flat. This will be great for anyone
interested in a first-class 10K, and it will offer past Rock N Run
participants a chance to see our beautiful county in a more
scenic time of the year.
LIVINGSTON LEAP 5K
8:00 AM - Talk about scenery – this course takes you
near the Danielle Boone National Forest on some of
the prettiest roadway you’ve ever seen. Livingston, one
of Kentucky’s few designated “Trailtowns,” embraces this race
and welcomes participants with open arms. Proceeds go to the
Livingston Homecoming Committee.
BITTERSWEET 5K RUN/2 MILE WALK
7:30 AM - This tradition-rich 5K has been the
measuring stick of fitness for many participants for more
than 20 years. It kicks off Saturday-morning activities
of the Bittersweet Festival, and takes you down Mt. Vernon’s
historic Main Street. It’s usually cool and the course finishes on
a nice and easy downhill – it’s a good race to try for a PR.
RENFRO ROCK ‘N RUN HALF MARATHON AND 5K
8:30 AM - Runners and walkers come from far and
wide and can’t say enough about the homespun
flavor of this race, the challenging but scenic course,
and the enthusiasm of the volunteers. Heck, the race even has
its own theme song. Whether they run the half marathon with
its views of the lake and countryside or sprint through the 5K,
which benefits Girls of the Run, most leave saying they’ll be
back. Proceeds from the Half benefit the Christian Appalachian
Project.
JINGLE BELL 6K
8:30 AM - Put your bells on, hope for snow, and
expect some special Christmas surprises as we work
to make this race - Rockcastle Regional’s oldest -
special every year. Proceeds go to Rockcastle Regional’s Miracle
Fund, which benefits our respiratory care patients.
GO TO
ROCKCASTLEREGIONAL.ORG/RACE
FOR MORE RACE DETAILS
JULY
9
AUG
20
SEPT
3
OCT
1
NOV
19
DEC
3
BONUS EVENT!
SMOKING BUTT BIKE RIDE
This year, you have an additional
chance to earn incentives. Send us proof of
participation in Danville’s Smoking Butt bike
ride, and we’ll count that toward your CWS
race total! Kentuckybbqfestival.com
SEPT
10
8. BY THE NUMBERS
PAGE 8 STRIDES
2015 RUNDOWN
TOTAL
PARTICIPATION,
ALL EVENTS:
2,278
One of the unique aspects of the Countywide
Stride series is our year-end awards ceremony. This
year, 55 CWS participants attended the December
event. Pictured on this page, and at top on the
opposite page, are the winners of the CWS prizes for
completing seven, 10 and 12 races. In the photo at
bottom, opposite page, is the winner of the Stride Elite
team challenge. Team “We Run This Town” consisted
of, from left, Teresa Hamilton, Becky Hardwick,
Carolyn Collins, and Richard Birney. Also honored
were Girls On The Run volunteer coaches Bryanna
Mullins, Kay Carpenter, and Jennifer Peavie, in
addition to the Brodhead Fire Department, recognized
as the 2015 CWS Volunteer Group of the Year.
Snowball Express
4K for Heart Health
St. Patrick’s Day 5K
Fairview Run for Missions
Brodhead Hustle
Charity Chase
Rockcastle 5-miler
Run, Bike or Hike
Livingston Leap
Bittersweet
Renfro Rock N’ Run
Jingle Bell 6K
$2,047
$1,255
$962
$3,100
$469
$806
$1,024
$874
$411
$527
$4,400
$1091
235
176
186
144
138
127
149
147
123
153
521
179
RACE
DONATIONS
TO CHARITIES PARTICIPANTS
COMPLETED 10 RACES
COMPLETED 7 RACES
9. STRIDES PAGE 9
COMPLETED AT LEAST
7 RACES
Eldon Baker
Joshua Blaylock
Matthew Bray
Dylan Bullen
Curtis Cash
Willis Coffey
Walter Durham
Ahenewa EL-Amin
Audy Faulkner
Amy Gosser
James Gosser
Chelsie Hasty
Norma Hopkins
Patrick Jenkins
Rhonda Knight
Michelle Martin
Monica Martin
Jonathon McKinney
Toni McKinney
Jimmy Osborne
Jil Pillion
Dustin Poynter
Joshua Ramsey
Johnny Rodriquez
Matt Sherrow
Harper Smith
Macon Smith
Ed Talbott
Emily Valentine
Janet Wells
Jenna Wells
John Wells
Talia Woodall
Jessie Wright
Heather York
John York
36 FINISHES
COMPLETED AT LEAST
10 RACES
Joanna Albright
Tiffany Barron
Tabitha Bell
Richard Birney
Teresa Blair
Misty Blaylock
Tara Boone
Morgan Bray
James Bullen
Nikki Bullen
Twila Burdette
Charon Burton
Lauren Burton
Shannon Burton
Marcia Cain
Doris Caldwell
Rhonda Childress
Samantha Couch
Jerry Cox
Kim Crawford
Rebecca Durham
Jen Eich
Taylor Elam
Becky Hardwick
Chelsen Larkey
Cheryl McClure
Anastasia McKinney
Becky McKinney
Leo McMillen
Melinda Osborne
Ken Pillion
Roger Proctor
Shari Proctor
Tasha Ramsey
Kristi Reynolds
Mary Robinson
Kristi Sparks
Jeff Tyree
Cheyenne Willis
Rachel Wright
40 FINISHES
Danielle Abed
Ann Abney
Rita Brown
Marcus Carmicle
Ginger Cash
Paige Cash
Carolyn Collins
Tommy Craft
Gayle DeBorde
Barbara DeChambeau
Rachel Denney
Regina Elam
Jarrett Foster
Teresa Hamilton
Trevor Hemsley
Jones Hiatt
Ramona Hiatt
Stephanie Hines
Annette Lawrence
Cheryl Mullins
Rodney Mullins
Walter Norris
Emily Sanders
Wendy Sowder
Karen Wilson
25 FINISHES
FINISHED ALL
12 RACES
COMPLETED ALL 12 RACES
10. 34SURVEYED
26RUNNERS
4WALKERS
4RUN/
WALKERS
SURVEY
SAYS1. Do you have any pre-race rituals?
2. What do you think about most often while running/walking?
“Coffee”
“Delusions of grandeur”
“Finish line and pancakes.”
“Getting to the finish line in one piece.”
“How good I will feel when finished.”
“How much longer do I have to go?”
“Why can’t I run up front?”
3. Favorite race all year? BY FAR The RENFRO ROCK ‘N RUN
4. How did you get started running/walking?
“A friend said I couldn’t do it.”
“Encouragement from James Bullens!”
“I hated taking pain medication so I started running and it worked.”
“Ran in high school and should have kept it up, but on December 17th, I
will have 28 years and 6 months without missing at least a 1-mile run.”
“Walked for exercise then started entering
5Ks walking and running a few feet,
then decided I needed to train to run!”
“Wanted some quiet time for myself.”
“Wanted to lose weight and get healthier.”
“Coffee, potty, stretch, banana.”
“Coffee, then more coffee.”
“Drink a pop on way to race.”
“I pray.”
“Multiple pit stops.”
“On longer races, half and full, I like to lay things out 3 days ahead. Then I end up with the
best set of clothes for the weather.”
“Stretch, prepare equipment (Garmin, water bottle, hat, sweatband, etc.), chew gum, RUN!”
“Walking in circles and tying my shoes.”
PAGE 10 STRIDES
11. STRIDES PAGE 11
5. What are some songs on your playlist
right now that you run or walk to?
(on the treadmill, of course)
“Fight Song” “Happy” “Eye of the Tiger”
“I listen to books!” “Welcome to the Jungle”
“Old school runner. Don’t listen to anything except
my legs and head fighting.”
“Don’t Stop Believing”
6. Rate your overall health
(1=excellent, 5=poor)
AVERAGE: 2
33% answered Excellent
7. Favorite running quote
“Be stronger than your excuses.” “Gonna run til I don’t jiggle.” “I run to burn the crazy off.”
“You can feel sore tomorrow or you can feel sorry tomorow.”
“Every morning in Africa a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must move faster than the lion or it will not survive. Every
morning a lion wakes up and it knows it must move faster than the slowest gazelle or it will starve. It doesn’t
matter if you are the lion or the gazelle. When the sun comes up, you better be moving.”-Maurice Green
(attributed to Roger Bannister shortly after running the first sub-4 mile)
8. Funny stories from the races:
“At the Rock N Run last year I kept catching up with the Girls on the Run gang. I said‘you going to let
this old lady beat you?’and they screamed and ran like crazy. I kept catching up and they would
scream and run harder again. It was funny. Later on this year I was helping out with a sewing class
at school and one of the girls said‘Hey, it’s the old lady!’I laughed.”
9. Have you had any
runner/walker injuries
this year?
1. Knee
2. Plantar
Fasciitis
3. Achilles
tendon
10. How many miles do you run per week?
AVERAGE: 22 MILES MOST: 65 MILES
11. How many races do you have planned for 2016?
AVERAGE: 19 MOST: 65
12. What’s your best advice to a new runner?
“Don’t try to win a race or run more than 3.1 miles if you’re a beginner.”
“Get the best shoes with good support. Change them out every 4-5 months.”
“Go for it. Don’t be afraid to sign up for a race. It’s a big motivator.”
“Take it slow. Build a base. It does get easier and better.”
“Keep pushing yourself and find a buddy who will hold you accountable.”
“Get out and run; don’t worry about time.”
“Seeing the goat on the Renfro course is so unusual that it is still surprising
every race that someone has a goat in their yard. Never gets old.”
13. PLANNING
FOR PERFECTION
T
hough the Renfro Rock ‘N Run began just three years
ago, you could say it has been in the planning stages
for decades.
Planning first began when the state split some of
the prettiest countryside in Kentucky with winding roads that
would one day provide breathtaking vistas and rolling terrain.
It continued in 1939 when John Lair built the Renfro Valley
Entertainment Center, which would give our race its theme
as well as a fantastic staging area, complete with wide open
spaces for parking. And when work crews created Lake Linville
in 1968, little did they know that they were also creating another
unmatched scenic backdrop for running and walking.
The result is what many call the perfect setting for a music-
themed, homespun, naturally beautiful and perfectly enjoyable
distance race. As word continues to spread, the race continues
to grow.
The third annual Rock ‘N Run on Nov. 14 grew by 23
percent from 2014 and became the largest race ever in
Rockcastle County. Five-hundred, twenty-three (327 of
them half-marathoners) came from across Kentucky and
six other states to participate.
“Thanks for putting together such a fun and well organized
race,” Erin McMahon wrote on our Facebook wall. “This was our
first time, and it was such a perfect event.”
Rockcastle County’s scenery was mentioned time and again.
“The most beautiful race course I have run,” wrote Denise
Wright. “Things I loved about this race: Running around the
lake twice; challenging hills; flat areas with views of rolling hills;
downhill near the end with wooded views… thanks to all the
volunteers too!”
We can’t thank all of the volunteers enough either, as well as the
sponsors and organizations who gave their time and energy to
make this race possible.
Not to mention the hard workers and visionaries of a different era.
Nature and music come together to make one great race
STRIDES PAGE 13
Photo by Ruby Cline-Eaton
Photo by Ruby Cline-Eaton
Photo by Tammy Sowder
14. FEATURE
PAGE 14 STRIDES
T
o see Tabitha Bell after a race,
invariably draped with a medal or
holding a trophy, you’d never guess
that she had no inclination for running
or any other sports until about three
years ago. Growing up, the soft-spoken
41-year-old never had the “opportunity,
motivation or money” for sports.
But surely someone caught a glimpse of
her talent sometime in all of those years.
Surely some little boy on the Jamestown
Elementary School playground
challenged her to race, then watched
helplessly as she sped away.
If it didn’t happen then, something like it
now happens all the time. A Countywide
Stride regular, she almost always outruns
the field of females and beats most of
the males.
It started in 2012, when Tabitha began
exercising and making healthier eating
choices. She ran the straight stretches
and walked the curves of the Russell
County High School track until gradually
she could run the whole lap. Her first
race was a 4-miler later that year. She
finished in a mediocre 42 minutes, but
something clicked inside her. Maybe it
was trophy envy, or just the simple idea
that she wanted to see just how fast she
could go.
“I was so impressed with all the winners’
times at the award ceremony,” she said.
“It motivated me to keep training and try
to win anything the next year.”
Did it ever. She began to run at least five
days a week, and her times plummeted.
She ran the same 4-miler the next year
in an eye-opening 31:51, capturing
second in her age group in a field of
741 runners. Since then, she’s run 140
races, logging almost 4,000 racing
and training miles and bringing home
countless awards. Her 5K PR (personal
record) is 20:28, which translates into a
6:36 mile.
She began running the Countywide
Stride series in January 2014,
completing all 12 races that year and
(continued on page 15)
WHO KNEW?
At 39, a surprised Tabitha Bell
discovered something about
herself: she’s really fast
“NOW I FEEL LIKE MY
DAY ISN’T COMPLETE
WITHOUT RUNNING.”
Photo by
Susan Turley
15. 10 of 12 in 2015. Of those 22 races, she’s been the overall
female winner 12 times and second overall female six times.
Put simply, she’s the most dominant female runner the series
has had, and she’s as surprised as anyone.
“If you had told me three-and-a-half years ago that I would
be a runner, I would have said ‘you’re crazy.’”
But to her it now seems crazy not to run. “I used to think I
didn’t have time to exercise, let alone run,” she said. “Now
I feel like my day isn’t complete without running. It gives me
some much-needed time to clear my head.”
She admits she is also spurred on by competition. Maybe her
daily runs clear her head, but she empties her tank at races.
“Signing up for a race is the best motivator, then always
striving to reach a PR.”
STRIDES PAGE 15
Tabitha Bell leads the pack early in the Brodhead Hustle in
May. Below is her trophy and medal display from the 140
races she’s run in three and half years.
Photo by Ruby Cline-Eaton
16. “I am furthering my
career at a hospital that
inspires and fulfills me
with its compassion.”
-Katie Sharpe, RN
Want to make a difference?
Inspired? Compassionate?
Rockcastle Regional Hospital and Respiratory
Care Center is looking for dedicated professionals
like Katie Sharpe and the many other outstanding
nurses and respiratory therapists who make our
facility one of the best in the country.
We are expanding to 121 beds, making us one of
the nation’s largest free-standing ventilator units,
and we need top talent to join our team.
It’s a tough job, but please be advised there are
days that are almost unbearably rewarding.
WE ARE SEEKING:
Licensed Practical Nurses
Registered Nurses
Respiratory Therapists
SOME OF OUR BENEFITS:
• Employee wellness program
(get paid to exercise)
• On-site daycare
• Matching 401K
• Competitive salary
• Scholarships/tuition reimbursement programs
• Attractive health & dental benefits
Apply at rockcastleregional.org/careers
17. STRIDES PAGE 17
2016
CONCERTS
MORE TO COME! “LIKE” US ON FACEBOOK
OR VISIT WWW.RENFROVALLEY.COM
FOR THE LATEST CONCERT SCHEDULE!
www.RenfroValley.com
THURSDAY 6:30PM Hilarious hijinks with Boss,
Roscoe and The Dukes!
Hazzard County
Hoedown
Where you write the show!
A 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s review.
6:30PMFRIDAY
Renfro Valley
Bandstand
The best Southern, Country &
Bluegrass Gospel that you will find!
3:00PMSATURDAY
Mountain Gospel
Jubilee
The show that started it all at Renfro Valley!
America’s longest running Barn Dance.
Renfro Valley Barn
Dance ShowSATURDAY 6:30PM
2016
ALL NEW
SHOWS!
WELCOME TO
19. STRIDES PAGE 19
Talk about growth! The Rockcastle
County Girls on the Run program
took huge strides this year as it
expanded from one school-based
program to three. Volunteers of
the local GOTR, a national self-
empowerment and fitness program
for elementary-school girls, started
programs at Brodhead Elementary and
Roundstone Elementary, joining Mt.
Vernon Elementary, which has had a
GOTR program since 2011. The result:
Forty-two third and fourth graders
completed the 12-week program,
which culminated in the Renfro Rock
N Run 5K. Special thanks to coaches
Kay Carpenter, Bryanna Mullins and
Jennifer Peavie, and to long-time
coordinator Selena Thompson.
THE RUN
Photos by Selena Thompson and Ruby Cline-Eaton
20. PAGE 20 STRIDES
FEATURE
H
ere’s the thing about a run/walk
series in a small town: No matter
where you are from, when you
register for your first race, you sign up for
a kind of citizenship in a new community.
Just ask Ambrose Wilson IV of Midway,
who was sidelined in March 2014 from
hip surgery complications. He and wife
Karen had been participating in the series
since January 2013, when they were
looking for a winter race and spotted
the Brodhead Snowball Express via an
online race calendar. They became well
known in their new group – Karen is the
fastest female walker at every race, and
Ambrose, who
also walks at a
fast pace, never
meets a stranger.
As the former
commissioner of
the Department of
Housing, Building
and Construction,
Ambrose’s signature is on nearly every
elevator in the commonwealth. But when
you are immobilized, and the uncertainty
of your health lingers, it can be difficult to
find the buttons that will lift your spirits.
Unless you happen to be part of the right
community.
“When I would come to races without
him,” Karen said. “Everyone would ask
about him and send him messages of
support. It was a challenging time and he
was always glad to hear these words.”
Of course, Karen is his biggest supporter.
“It was a struggle,” Ambrose said,
“because basically it changed so many
things we had done together, but we just
became closer in the things that we could
do. She was just such a huge help.”
As he gradually improved, he was able to
tag along with Karen and be the “official
photographer” for her
and others.
“I just transferred
my energy from
competing to taking
pictures and emailing
them to friends. It was
my way of being part
of the group,” he said.
“One of the things that impressed me
about the Mt. Vernon folks, even though
I wasn’t competing, people would
approach me, and everyone was so
nice, offering hugs and prayers and
well wishes,” Ambrose said. “It was just
wonderful.”
Even better was Ambrose’s return to
competition. His first Countywide Stride
race since his illness was the Livingston
Leap in September 2015.
“It was a great day,” he said, because
he was back in the pack, slapping
hands and trading stories with people he
wouldn’t “even know if it weren’t for the
series.” He also was glad to see another
old familiar friend – the finish line.
“When you go through illnesses, all those
kind words and prayers help you to see
the finish line,” he explained. “And if you
can see it, then you just kind of keep
moving forward until you get there.”
ABOUT AMBROSE
Age: 64
Occupation: Retired Dec. 7,
2015 as Secretary of Kentucky’s
Public Protection Cabinet
Favorite CWS race: Fairview Run
for Missions
PR: 18:40 (Though he walks
races now, he was once a very
fast runner)
Why run/walk?: Started at age
40. Had quit smoking; didn’t want
to gain weight
“AND IF YOU CAN SEE IT,
THEN YOU JUST KIND OF
KEEP MOVING FORWARD
UNTIL YOU GET THERE.”
CAN’T KEEP A
GOOD
MAN
DOWN
Photo by Jana Bray
21. The 4th Annual
HALF MARATHON AND 5K
The only half marathon with its own song!
You won’t believe running 13.1 miles could be so much fun.
November 19, 2016
www.renfrorocknrun.com
Look for us on Facebook
22. PAGE 22 STRIDES
SCRAPBOOK
2015 SCRAPBOOK
Do you recognize any of these faces? Be the first to e-mail IDs of one of the photos to kayla.rowe@rhrcc.org and receive a free
extra t-shirt at your next Countywide Stride event! (Limit one ID’ed photo per person). For example, type “Number 17 is John
Smith,” then type your name. (Note: you may identify yourself). For photos showing multiple people, you need only to identify one.
Photos 1 and 6 by Jana Bray. All others by Ruby Cline-Eaton.
1 2
3
4 5 6
7 98
10 11 12 13
23. STRIDES PAGE 23
5801 Kingpost Ct.
Lexington, KY 40509
859.263.2800
Integratedsign.com
Serving your signage needs
for over 28 years
SAFETY
FIRST!
Safety First! We say to our children daily, we practice it
in our jobs, yet we don’t always adhere to it when we
have those few extra minutes to take a run. Safety is essential.
• Never run alone, especially if you are on an open road or
in a rural area. Not only is it safer to run with friends, it is far
more enjoyable and you might find that you go farther and
faster. There is always safety in numbers!
• You and your friends must always be visible. If you are
not, then you are in danger. Wear bright, reflective clothing.
Don’t run at night. You may think that just because you know
the area, that it’s safe. This assumption puts you at risk.
• Limit what’s going on around you. If you are using your
iPod or phone and it’s a busy street, you might find yourself
more concerned with changing your song than the oncoming
traffic. You can’t control the person behind the wheel, but you
can control how quickly you have the ability to respond.
So, the next time you think to yourself that this may not be
safe, it probably isn’t. Ask yourself, “Is it worth the risk?” When
in doubt, go to a gym, find a treadmill and keep running!
For more safety tips, visit:
www.active.com/women/Articles/6-Running-Safety-Tips
(606) 256-8504
Mt. Vernon, KY
‘Like’ us on Facebook!
24. 145 Newcomb Avenue • Mt. Vernon, KY 40456 • 606-256-2195
Keeping our community moving
Through the Countywide
Strides series, more than 440
people have begun their fitness journey by
participating in their first organized run/
walk. It’s one of the many ways we keep the
community moving.
