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| Amity Over 50 is born |
October 22, 2022: a name is born celebrating our five decades life status, and a plan is hatched. A group of my Amity Island Running Club (AIRC) friends and I are sitting on the beach on a beautiful fall day contemplating upcoming races. Our club has just taken over the Martha’s Vineyard Winter Classic 20 miler road race. Before I know it, people are registering relay teams for a race I previously had no desire to run…“it’s too cold for long runs…winter is for speed work…God knows what the weather will be race day…” are all going through my head.
I cave. “You had me at t-shirts!”, I text my friends that Mike and I have joined the party and registered as “Amity Over 50 Team Nala” relay.
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| New Years Day Polar Plunge |
Before I know it, the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are upon us and with all the travelling around to family, my training is sporadic. Returning to Martha’s Vineyard for New Years, I start the New Year off right with a club 5K and polar plunge and Thirsty Thursday night runs. Mike and I start to join the weekend training crew and actually enjoy the long winter runs – ok, maybe it’s really the brunch and comradery afterwards. Each week our Amity Over 50 crew takes turns selecting a route and hosting brunch after the run.
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| Thirsty Thursday Night Runs |
“I ❤️us”, is declared with lots of confirming emojis. These are the most compassionate, caring people I am so proud to call my friends. Our professions are varied (teachers, police chief, engineer, accountants…) but our passion to live a social, healthy and active life in our fifties and beyond is our common bond. There is inclusivity (yes, we do welcome young ones to join us) and no drama. Having all been married to our spouses for multiple decades, I get the sense we’ve all learned how to form and keep good relationships.
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| Weekend Brunch Runs |
February 18, 2023: We are treated to a blue sky, full sun race day. It’s brisk in the thirties but pleasant running weather. I take the first 10-mile leg and the 2nd leg relayers cheer me on. When I see Mike a little over a mile away from the relay station, I tell him, “you better get to the station.” “No worries,” he declares. Famous last words as I give it my all and run into the relay station, and he’s nowhere to be found! I see him casually walking in the distance (my multi-decade relationship conscience just sighs, “that’s so Mike…”). He quickly jumps in, and feeling guilty for his delay, keeps a fast pace and PRs his 10-mile time, even with bruised ribs from a bike mishap a couple weeks before. I didn’t have a 10-mile time to compare to, but my average pace was faster than my fastest standalone half marathon. My friends all had great races too with some of their own PRs. And, AIRC won the club cup for the first time!
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| Amity Over 50 20 Mile Relay |
While PRs and a trophy give us a sense of achievement, the real win has been finding each other and nurturing our friendship these last few months. Amity Over 50 is living our best life.
#amitymeansfriendship
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| Amity Over 50 Helped the Club Win the Running Club Cup |
