Runner’s World+ Member: Ruby Ghadially
Ruby 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 was the ultimate cross-trainer until I was five months pregnant with my first child. I cycled with one friend, played tennis with another, and ran whenever. With children, that ended. But at age 58, the same day my second child received her college acceptance, I headed back out the door. Then, two years later while training for my third marathon, my life changed again.
I met Ruth while running in Golden Gate Park and our conversation ended with me joining the Impala Racing Team, a woman’s elite running team in San Francisco. These amazing women had been running all their lives, while I never knew there was such a thing as a running team. I felt so cheated. As an ignorant newbie, I learned all I could from coaches Tony Coffey and Pete Cushman as well as my teammates. I ran nearly every race for the team, whether I felt like it or not, because I wanted to give back to this wonderful group. Soon, I too was running elite-level times. During the pandemic my personal coach, Pat McCurry, has helped me achieve my personal best so when our team can practice together again I will be even stronger.
George Mallory, who climbed Everest, said he climbed mountains because they were there. I run the trails and roads for the same reason—because they are there. Whenever time has permitted it in my life, I lace up and run for no goal, no reason. I just love the feeling of freedom. I ran on a track for the first time when I was 60 and it was a new high. There is nothing more exhilarating for me than the feeling of ‘flying’ around the track (despite that my ‘aircraft’ is a lot slower than that of many younger runners).
When I arrived in San Francisco 30 years ago, I participated in the “Escape from Alcatraz”. I was a terrible swimmer, but it seemed like such an adventure to swim from jail, cycle over the Golden Gate Bridge, and run in the Marin Headlands. Now, be it running or cycling, I still love to cross the GGB when it is not busy—usually early morning in the mist. I love San Francisco.
I am so busy I don’t get around to buying much gear, but I love the new carbon plate shoes. The decreased weight and forward tilt feel so great.
Music is my master; I would die rather than miss a beat when running with up-beat music. My key to success is my pre long-run/race fueling strategy which is a large cupcake! You feel like you ate nothing but you had 500 calories of carbs (for the early part of the run) and fat (for the later part)! Also, mid run there is nothing like a coca cola for sugar and caffeine and hydration in one. It’s a new meaning for guts of steel?
Right now my goal is a 6 minute mile, which is 98% age graded according to Masters Athletics. My coach says I can do it.
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