By Marla Jones, Sports Editor
marla@southerntorch.com
RAINSVILLE, Ala.—Chances are if you have been traveling on Highway 35, you have seen “Jerry’s Crazies.” The “Crazies” are a group of local runners who start at Body Vision in Rainsville and run down Highway 35 to Walmart and beyond. Members include: Nicole Goldsmith, Marien Amerigo, Pam Willingham, Jerry Clifton and Brittney Goza. Early Saturday morning, you can see them as they make their trek back up the mountain with a smile on their face, waving as cars go by.
This group is a tight knit group who all seem like family. When your “family” asks you to do something, you do it. Pam Willingham is a member of the “family” and had an item to check off her “Bucket list’. She wanted to run the Big Sur International Marathon, which so happened to be held on her forty-fifth birthday. The “Crazies” knew that being selected to run in this marathon was like a lottery. To get registered was “a luck of the draw”. They pre-registered thru “Runner's World” magazine and hoped for the best. In November, they found out that they all had been selected and training began. Official Pam Willingham Birthday shirts were designed for each runner to wear.
Big Sur International Marathon is rated #1 Most Beautiful Marathon and the #17th Most Difficult Marathon to run. This year over 3500 runners were selected between the ages of 16-81. There are strict time limits on the 26.2 mile race. This year 500 runners did not qualify, as finishing the race, due to the time restraints. Thirty-seven countries were represented. The Big Sur race begins on Pacific Coast Highway, goes thru the Redwood Forest, opens up to the Pacific Coast and ends at Carmel. One part of the race goes straight up, two miles to Hurricane Point. At Hurricane Point, the runners faced 50 mph winds. At the halfway point, they were greeted by someone playing a baby grand piano. While taking a break to enjoy the music, Pam Willingham was interviewed by a local television station because it was her birthday. At mile 23, the famous large strawberries are served to the runners. As the crazies started to arrive at this point, they were already famous due to the interview and “Happy Birthday Pam” could be heard.
Each of “The Crazies” finished the Big Sur International Race and received a medal. Southern Torch would like to say Congratulations to all the runners. One of the next runs that they will participate in will be the Freedom Run to be held on June 18. This run is very special to the group because money will be divided among local charities and this year the majority will help Savannah Willingham. Savannah was involved in an automobile accident earlier this year. For donation and registration for the Freedom Run, please call Jerry Clifton at (256) 717-5650.
