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By MARLENE
LOCKETT
Staff Writer
What began as a simple exercise plan has turned into a passion for one
Grenada woman.
Ann Simmons said she was 50 pounds overweight in 1987 when she and some
friends decided to start walking to get fit. After a while, the walking
turned into sprinting short distances.
"One day, several of us were out walking and decided to run a little
way. So, we started running, and it became fun," said Simmons.
Since early 2001, Simmons has kept a consistent schedule of running three or
four times a week, for three or four miles each run. But these days she runs
longer distances because she runs competitively.
"I run eight or ten miles every other week to get in shape if I'm going
to be competing in a half marathon," she said.
This would be remarkable enough for a twenty-year old, but Simmons is 61, and
says she has had no running related injuries, "only calluses and
blisters."
"My mother is just remarkable," said son, Rob, who lives in
Ridgeland and is his mom's "running buddy." Rob began running
marathons to keep his mom company.
"My son started running because he felt sorry for me," laughed
Simmons." He didn't want me running marathons by myself. He thought he
could easily keep up with me, but he barely did the first time."
Simmons recently came in second place in her division in the December St.
Jude half marathon, which is a qualifying event for the Boston Marathon,
posting a time of 2:34:16 for the 13.1-mile route. Simmons' next competitive
event will be the Birmingham Mercedes half marathon in February.
Though exciting, Simmons says the hardest part of competing is walking up to
the starting line.
"I just get so nervous when we are getting ready to start," she
said.
Simmons no longer counts calories, but says she avoids sweets because they
interfere with her running ability.
"If I eat cookies at night, it slows down my running speed," she
said.
Simmons' advice to would-be runners is to pick a safe place and time to run.
"Don't go to secluded areas, and always run in the daylight," she
said. "Places like the school tracks are good."
Simmons says the benefits of running outweigh any inconveniences.
"It's a way to keep healthy and keep blood pressure down and weight
off," she said. "I can't remember when I've been sick with a cold
or flu. It's been several years. And I never have viruses."
"When you run, you get to see lots of neat things, like deer,"
Simmons said. "Sometimes the endorphins kick in, and I don't want to
stop running, but I know I need to do other things to keep balance in my
life."
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