Pat McCaron

I had just arrived in Marin. January 1, 1986, I charged  off to Blackies’ pasture in Tiburon and as I was walking down the road, I saw a little guy in a yellow jumpsuit wearing a white hat (he looked to me to be about 80 years old  and 70 pounds).  He was holding a sign on a stick that said, “racewalkers” and as  he saw me approaching, he said, “Are you a racewalker?” and I said, “No, but I  guess I can do it”. Since I have always been very physical, I said, “Sure, I’ll do it! (At that time good ol’ Pat can do anything or everything.)

He put his stick down and showed me how to racewalk and we had lots of laughs going up and down the path until about 14 people showed up. I never saw that many people again. So I had fun every Saturday morning paying my $1 and doing one mile, then 3 miles down to Tiburon and back and we always received a ribbon every Saturday. Really fun! I had more ribbons than I knew what to do with.

Around 1989, Jack was going up and down the path and always said how good I looked and Alongi called me “Body Beautiful”, Hah! We had a color picture in the I.J. that year and I was wearing flowers in my hair. Boy, didn’t we look young! 56 and gorgeous!

That year I did a PR (personal record), a 5K in 37 minutes+ and I couldn’t believe it. I continued because I loved meeting all the same good friends every Saturday morning. When I had to move to San Rafael in ’91, I was more inspired to get into my car and drive to Tiburon, my favorite spot, I couldn’t wait to get back there.

When I moved to Novato in 1992,  Jack started the Marin Race Walkers and asked me to come down to the College of Marin and it was closer for me than Tiburon. So I couldn't’wait. I really got in shape, lost 10 pounds going up and down the Novato hills every day. That really changed my health and racewalking on a permanent basis changed my attitude and life style and after eight years it became a way of life.

In 1994, I moved to Larkspur and tried harder to get my time back to 39 for a 5K. A struggle for me because I just want to be the Artist! But it is a challenge to me to be both, plus I workout at the JCC, swim (my first love) and bike. I walk everywhere. So now after 15 years, I hope I’m finally on the right track!

(from the book, "Marin Race Walkers Tell Their Stories", available for $19.95 +$2.55 for shipping and handling, Vitality Plus Institute, P.O. Box 21, Kentfield, CA 94914)