Irunawaysclub

Olympian glad to join NA race

BY JANETTE SEARS SUN CHRONICLE STAFF
Sunday, August 19, 2007 1:56 AM EDT
NORTH ATTLEBORO - When the fifth annual Runaways Runaround 5 Miler gets under way at 9 a.m. today at the Community School in downtown North Attleboro, it will do so with support from the cream of the crop.

World-class runner and two-time Olympian Amy Rudolph will be there to support it all the way.

Proceeds from the race benefit the Community VNA Hospice, and that’s a good enough reason for Rudolph to take time out to support it.

Rudolph, who lives in Providence with her husband, Mark Carroll, also a professional runner, says she initially agreed to support the event based on an e-mail request from race committee member Bill Beardsworth.

“Bill just sent me a great e-mail, and gave me information about what it was for, and I just was really drawn to it, so that’s actually why I’m doing it,” Rudolph said.

In addition, she says she is always looking for ways to give back to the community, and can relate through a college work experience to the people who need support, much in the way that hospice provides support.

“My major in college was health policy management, and I actually did my internship at a nursing home,” she said.

“I know it’s a little bit different, the hospice, but it’s along the same lines, so my heart always goes out to people who don’t have the support, and they just need to know that someone is out there and caring about them - someone that they can lean on when they need to.”

While at the race, Rudolph will truly be there only to support it, as she says due to a stress fracture for which she has taken the past six weeks off from running, she will not be there to try to win the race.

“I had told Bill I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to run because of this injury, but I’ve been able to get some runs in, and I think I should be fine,” Rudolph said.

“I won’t be able to race it as hard as I would normally race because I’m only just coming back from injury. I’m just really excited to be a part of it, and hopefully I can help in the future.”

Organizers of the race will be only too happy to have Rudolph participate in whatever manner she is able to, according to Karole Nicholson, marketing manager for Community VNA.

“This is my fourth year being associated with this spirit-filled race, and having a runner the caliber of Amy Rudolph participating has surely brought the energy level up a notch,” Nicholson said.

The course is a USATF-NE certified five-mile course that is slightly rolling and runs along a loop through North Attleboro after starting in front of the school.

Prizes will go to the first male, female and walker overall winners, as well as to the first three male and female runners in several age divisions.

Registration is available online at runawaysclub.org/rtm.html. Entry fee is $20. Race-day registration will begin at 7:30 a.m., and the race will be held rain or shine.

Janette Sears can be reached by phone or fax at 508-222-2442 or by e-mail at janette@janettesears.com.