Orthopaedic Rehab Specialist employee Marcy Shepherd, left, walks with Margie Slater during the Concord Classic 5K Run/Walk on Wednesday. Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.
By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports
Long after the trophies were handed out, the course was disbanded, and most everyone went home, Vandercook Lake resident Margie Slater crossed the finish line at the Concord Classic 5K Run/Walk on Wednesday night.
For the 78-year-old walker, she has only one goal – keep on moving.
Slater was one of more than 200 athletes who competed in the 30th annual Concord Classic Wednesday night. The event was moved to midweek according to race organizer David Jordon due to “dwindling numbers.”
It paid off for the cross country fundraiser as the number of participants was up by more than one-third.
“On any given Saturday there are 60 races within the area,” Jordon said. “Our numbers have been dropping the last three or four years.
“Why drive all the way to Concord if you have a local race in your area?”
The change paid off for the organizing committee with more runners/walkers – with one of those finishing in just over two hours.
Slater was competing in her 25th 5K event.
“I was overweight a few years ago and I used walking to lose the weight faster,” Slater said as she slowly made her way around street in Concord on Wednesday night. “My first race was a cancer fundraiser in Lansing … it rained all day.”
But things are looking brighter with the help of race sponsors Orthopaedic Rehab Specialists. The company supplied Slater with a new walker and a guide at each race as Director of Customer Services Marcy Shepherd helps Slater make the rounds.
“We saw how small the wheels were on her old walker and purchased one with bigger wheels,” Shepherd said.
Slater said her motto is “keep moving or you will lose it.” She receives a lot of support from people watching from the street or driving by in their cars.
She plans to participate in the Hanover Firecracker 5K on July 4.