For Winona’s Chris McRae, running wasn’t something he did prior to his time in the military. However, today, running is part of McRae’s everyday life – saying his treks through the city of Winona almost daily are like “therapy” in his busy life.
“When I went into Marine boot camp, that’s when I started running,” McRae said. “Three miles. [After I got out of the military] I ran three miles a day for six years. I ran to stay in shape.”
McRae, who now coaches the Winona Tiger track team, said he always enjoyed running and the challenges and sense of satisfaction reaching new milestones in the sport brings.
“When you challenge yourself and you complete it, there is this sense of satisfaction that makes me feel I can handle whatever life throws at me,” McRae said.
McRae said in his 20s, his goal was to run a marathon before he was 30. He had completed a half marathon at the age of 29, but then he said “life happened” and his goal was postponed slightly.
“At 39, I ran my first marathon,” McRae said. “Now, I’m 44, and I’ve run seven. Some people think there is an expiration date on goals. It’s not too late until you are put in the ground.”
McRae said running has been such a blessing to him, he wanted to share it. He said he had an idea to start a running club in Winona – a faith-based group that could get together and share their passion and support each other as they achieved personal milestones.
McRae said a running club could also host Road Runner Clubs of America sanctioned 5K runs and walks as a way to raise money to refinish the Winona High School track, which has greatly deteriorated over the years. This track is not only the home to the Tigers and various track meets held each school year, but it serves as safe locale for local people to run and walk away from busy streets.
“It will take around $75,000 to renovate the track,” McRae said. Even with the money raised through track meets and business donations, between $16,000 and $17,000 so far, the school is still far from reaching the financial goal to renovate the track.
“I thought that if we could do some sort of running club, and do some 5Ks, we could raise some money,” McRae said.
And so, the Winona Running and Track Club was conceived, with McRae’s wife, Amanda, inquiring about interesting parties on social media. Forty messaged that they were interested in being part of the club.
In order to form a chapter of the Roadrunners Clubs of America, a national running organization with more than 1000 local chapters, the club would need a governing board and bylaws.
McRae asked his friend Mike Kotecki of Winona for help, and eventually convinced Kotecki to serve as vice president of the board. Matt Surrell of Winona agreed to serve as president; Becky Dees said she would handle public relations; Amber Austin agreed to be secretary; and Emily Parnell was named treasurer.
McRae said his role would be a coach and race director.
“I wanted to be able to be there if someone had questions,” McRae said.
McRae said the Winona Running and Track Club is not limited just to running. In fact, he encouraged anyone – of all ages – who wanted to get out and walk, run, or jog to get exercise or enjoy networking with the group.
Matt Surrell said the club’s purpose is to promote the overall good health of the community and healthy living, and if the group can raise funds to refinish the school track, that will help the younger generation of runners in Winona thrive. Also, it will benefit the many people in the community who use the school track every day.
“People are running or walking every day of the week,” said Surrell. “This is a way to team up and promote the encouragement of other people. There is also accountability.”
McRae said the group is not just for seasoned runners, but even those just starting out.
“We are for walkers, joggers, anybody,” McRae said. “If you want your feet on the street, we want you.”
McRae said as a club, members set a goal of running or walking 20 miles each month, or 250 miles in the first year.
“We want to be that support system so that all runners, joggers, and walkers in Winona know they aren’t alone,” McRae said. “There is security in numbers and support in the club.”
McRae said for those who dream of running a marathon or half marathon one day, the club is a great resource to discover how to fulfill that dream.
So as 2018 dawned, the Winona Running and Track Club formed, holding its first group run/walk in January. The group met in front of Winona Secondary School on Fairground Street and used the nearly one-mile loop – Fairground to College to Sterling to Jones to Fairground – as their guide. Each group run begins with a devotional and prayer, followed by a run-or-walk-at-your-own-pace event.
“At the first run, some people did one mile, and others did many,” McRae said. “We were rained out in February.”
In March, the club held its second group run on March 2, and it was a success. On Saturday, March 17 another group run is planned, and anyone interested is invited to attend.
For more information about the Winona Running and Track Club, visit the Facebook Page. Group runs and more information will be posted as it becomes available.
