Runner’s World+ Member: HelenAnn Phillips
HelenAnn is a Runner’s World+ member. Join her and thousands of others chasing their goals with day-by-day training plans, expert advice from editors and coaches, and unlimited digital access. We regularly feature members online and in print!
I started running at age 45 after some teasing and boasting by my son who was running track and field at his prep school. Immediately, I saw that as a challenge and I started running one block at a time. Running has definitely made me a stronger and healthier person. Like many runners, I am a small female at 5 feet 3½ inches tall and 100 pounds. I have defeated some harrowing medical issues and survived all so far because of my running toughness.
Because of my military family moving so many times, I have been able to run and race in many places. On morning runs, while just visiting other friends and places, I happen on to a race about to begin, sign up immediately and sometimes win my age group. Wow, happiness! I have had the pleasure of meeting runners from all over the world including major event winners. There are several elite African runners training in my current home area and one could not meet more helpful, encouraging and cheerful folks. Imagine at age 80, running my 1-mile time trial, and Caroline Rotich (Boston marathon winner in 2015) jumping on the track to jog in the last 400 meters along my side, giving me cheerful encouragement to keep the pace.
In later years my running sport has attracted surprising and rewarding publicity and I often receive compliments as being “inspirational.” However, I have never run a marathon, triathlon or even a half-marathon. My longest race was 10 miles many years ago. My racing here at 7,000 feet is usually 5K distance and I also ran the 1500 and 800 meters at our New Mexico State Senior Olympics in 2018 and at the National Senior Games in 2019. It’s all good!
Runners are very inclusive of other runners at any age. RW magazine, online bulletins, and the runners themselves, always have helpful suggestions for better running, avoiding injury, eating better, etc.
I run for health, camaraderie, competition, meeting new people of varied ages, and being surrounded by nature. It makes one feel good!
I like running. Getting out the door on the unfriendly weather mornings is daunting but after the first quarter to half-mile I never turn back until the goal of the day is completed. There have been two exceptions: a facia ligament tear at 1½ miles in and a snowfall that continued and turned to ice and caused me to quit at 4.3 when 8.3 miles was the plan (my 83rd birthday gift to self).
I am an early morning, sunrise runner and very rarely run twice a day. I have moved many times so I have run flat and hilly east coast trails and races, west coast ocean fronts, midwest country roads, Hawaii, and now at 7,000 elevation in the Santa Fe area on various roads and trails.
I love running throughout the seasons: a winter snowfall, watching running bunnies, hearing chirping birds, having a lean coyote join me for a 100 meters more or less sometimes, the short steep hill I always avoided but now charge to the top every run, the sun slowing rising over the rockies mid-way through a run, and more. As a lone runner I don’t run with music for safety reasons but would like to.
My Apple or Garmin Heart-Rate watches. I like statistics and those numbers keep me honest regarding fast runs, hard runs, easy days, and disappointing days.
To keep running and staying competitive for as long as possible.
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