Running Away from the Silly Things

Don’t worry about silly things! Get out there, have fun, and keep on running.

Linda Tice is a member of the Baltimore Road Runners Club and progressed like many others. The start was one step at a time and as others shared advice Linda turned to help others. You can read the journey which Linda has taken.

In 2016 with the club, she earned the Female Senior Runner of the Year and Valor Runner of the Year. In 2019 she was inducted in their Hall of Fame, which honors extraordinary contributions to the Club and the community.

What is your attraction to running as a form of physical fitness?

You can run Anywhere or anytime with no equipment other than running shoes.

When did you start the sport?

I started running in my late 30s. I had done little running when I met a man who was training for the Marine Corps Marathon. He was the first to encourage me and to give me my first goal: run thirty minutes without stopping.

It didn’t matter how fast or how far I went. The first time I was able to accomplish that goal, it felt like I was floating all the way home! My three young daughters also started running at the same time. We had a lot of fun entering 5 and 10Ks together!

What were the benefits which you receive?

While I never had a weight problem, running sculpted my body and gave me lots more energy.

When did you realize you were improving and became competitive?

I was an inconsistent runner who was always motivated when I signed up for a race. That’s when I would start training harder. In my late 40s, I eventually won a couple of age-group awards but was never running more than 6-7 miles.

Shortly after my 50th birthday, I met a group of Baltimore Road Runners Club (BRRC) members after a 5K race, where I had won my first first place medal. I hooked up with this group and started regularly running with different people.

I learned something different from everyone, but most of all, I learned to practice long, slow distances. I quickly advanced from 6-7 miles to 10–12-mile runs. As I increased my distance, my race times began to drop dramatically! Within a few years, my best 5K time went from 24:14 to 21:11.

What changes have seen in the sport since you have been involved?

Long distance running has become much more popular. Ultras have become almost common place. Trail runs and races have also increased in popularity.

How did you balance the sport with family and work?

The wonderful thing about running is that you can run when and where it is convenient with your schedule. It wasn’t a problem for me.

What running club were you involved with and what were the benefits?

I started running with the Baltimore Road Runners Club. I met lots of people who helped me develop as a runner by their coaching and encouragement. Some of my best friends are members of the BRRC. 

What performance stands out where you did all things right?

My third Cherry Blossom Ten Miler was the fastest ten miler I ever ran (2001 – 1:14:38). I was 55. My first Cherry Blossom I went out way too fast and could not maintain the pace (1997 – 1:18:58). My second found me in the potty line, so I missed the start by 2 minutes. 

How did you manage races where your performance was not what you expected?

Learn from it! Try to analyze what happened and try to avoid making the same mistake again.

When your health changed, how did you process it all, both mental and physical?

Over the decades, there have been various issues that interfered with my running. I always managed to find alternatives to help me stay in shape. For instance:  When I tore my rotator cuff (running on a sidewalk), I wore a sling during fast walks to protect my shoulder following surgery. Foot surgery found me on an elliptical at the gym or working more on my upper body strength. I have had metastatic lung cancer for the past four years.

My running career is now over, but I still was able to run a few competitive races into my early seventies. I wanted to raise money for the Ulman Foundation, which provides services for young adults with cancer, so I signed up for the New York Marathon. My lung capacity was waning, so I trained up to 22 miles by jogging ¾ of a mile and walking the last quarter. I was ready to run the race and get in under six hours.

The day came, and it was beautiful, and I was excited! The first miles were great, but by mile eight, I tearfully saw my daughter cheering me on. I had severe abdominal pains caused by me new cancer drug and knew I could not finish the race. Leslie jumped in the race with me and encouraged me as I was determined to make it at least to the half marathon mark. We made it to fourteen miles, but I still came out a winner since raising over $9,000 for an incredibly compelling cause! We always need to try the best we can do at the time!

When you were a coach, what were some goals you set for those who took part?

It was important to find out what their goals were first! What experience did they have in running? Had they done any previous racing? What distances? I loved coaching because I was still fast enough to run with them. I could observe how they moved their body, gait, problem areas. It was always satisfying to watch the progress and confidence. When possible, I liked to run with them in their goal race.

What support did you provide for the Special Olympics?

Over about thirty-five years of volunteering, I held every position possible. I was a Winter Games coach, Summer Games volunteer, and worked for the Polar Bear Plunge.

What was the distance which you felt you could do your best?

The ten miler was my favorite distance. It was long enough to find my stride but not so long to require extra distance training.

When you raced, was the time of effort more important?

I was usually looking for other women in my age group. Running against another runner was a big incentive for me.

Do you feel the sport is emotional?

I was in my sixties before I called myself and athlete. That is crazy! I have been competitive my whole life, always trying to be my best in every sport I ever tried. I have won awards in softball, bowling, swimming, skiing, triathlons, biathlons, and running. Even though tall, I was never good at basketball!

What words would you pass along to a female who wants to enter the sport?

Don’t worry about silly things! Get out there and have fun but do try and set reasonable goals for yourself. Get fitted with a good pair of running shoes for your feet; try to run with a group; learn from others; have fun!!

To read more interviews like this, visit our Expert George Banker on AWN’s homepage.