For White, 60, this will be her 11th half marathon. She has also run nine full marathons. White, however, didn’t start running until she was 47 years old, and said it’s never too late to try something new.
“There’s many things that I know that I never would’ve, I couldn’t have accomplished, until you try,” White said. “When I ran my first marathon I was like, ‘wow I actually accomplished that.”
White started running with the help of a local chapter of Black Girls Run, a nationwide program that works to motivate women of color to run and stay active. Co-ambassador of the Cleveland Chapter, Natalie Johnson, has had a front-row seat to not only White’s accomplishments, but that of the entire group.
“To see the ladies out here completing halves and full marathons, that’s just an awesome thing to see them cross that finish line and we just cheer them on,” Johnson explained. “What they do is they just encourage others.”
White’s encouragement also comes from the memory of her late father, who was a marathon runner himself. She said part of the reason she runs is to continue his legacy. She said his tenacity is a reminder that she can do it, too.
“Whenever it’s tough, I think about my dad and I know he’s with me and cheering me on to keep going and you never give up.”
White is among 6,000 runners taking part in the races Sunday.
