Staff
They jokingly call themselves the “Tight Butt Run Group” but a contingent local ladies are deadly serious when it comes to their running.
Sixty-two of them will be heading to Fargo, N.D. on Saturday, May 21 to take part in the annual Fargo Marathon, which will feature a full marathon, along with a half-marathon and a 10K run.
“It’s about a 50/50 split with runners doing the 10K run and the half-marathon,” noted Jackie Lampi-Hughes, owner and manager of Energy Fitness here.
“We also have one of our runners [Ashleigh Dutton] who will be running the full marathon this year.
“She actually set a personal best in a full marathon down in Jacksonville earlier this year, so she felt like going at it again,” Lampi-Hughes added.
Since arriving in Fort Frances from Dryden about six years, Lampi-Hughes has watched with delight as the group of local runners has jumped from 12 in its first year to the 62 members who are taking part now.
“I think the biggest reason for the jump is just persuading people to come out and try running,” she reasoned.
“If you just come out and do a pace of walking five minutes, along with a one-minute run, you can start building from there.
“And in no time, you’ll be doing a half-marathon where you’re running for 10 minutes and walking for one,” Lampi-Hughes enthused.
Next on the docket for the local runners will be their home event—the Energy Fitness 5K run—slated for Saturday, June 11.
