Ranch runners step up for first ultramarathon

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Regina Morris always knew she wanted to do something big to celebrate her 50th birthday. And what bigger way to celebrate than by running 50 miles? Morris came up with the idea to run an ultramarathon about 18 months ago to celebrate the milestone.

“It’s a celebration of turning 50,” Morris said. “This is my first time — the one and only.”

A member of the Lakewood Ranch Runners Club, Morris approached her friends about the idea, and Lakewood Ranch resident Annie Thornhill, 29, jumped at the idea.

“This has been a monumental year for me, and I figured she would need the support,” Thornhill said. “I don’t think either one of us would’ve done this without the other.”

Morris turned 50 years old July 19, and on Sept. 17, the two friends will travel to Wisconsin to compete in the North Face Endurance Challenge. It will be the first ultramarathon for both.

“As long as we finish,” Thornhill said. “(Because) we haven’t done one, we don’t know what to expect. It’s about the feeling of accomplishment. That’s how it feels at the end of a marathon.”

Morris and Thornhill began training in June, spending five days a week running throughout Lakewood Ranch. The two built up their mileage for three weeks before cutting back for a week at the end of the month.

In addition, ultramarathon training calls for two back-to-back long runs over the course of a single weekend. So far, the pair’s longest run has been 31 miles — 19 miles shy of a full ultramarathon.

“There have been a few times in the past three months where, due to the heat, early morning wakeups and exhaustion, I probably would have altered or delayed my plans for my 50-year milestone,” Morris said. “(Annie) volunteered to do this with me, and she’s been both a coach and a cheerleader.

“Whatever the outcome of Sept. 17, I’ll never have to think ‘should’ve,’ ‘would’ve’ or ‘could’ve’ because I will have done it,” she said.

Morris and Thornhill have both been running regularly for years. After spending 20 years in the Marine Corps, Morris ran her first marathon and immediately fell in love with the sport.

“In the Marine Corps, I had to stay in step with guys who were 6 feet tall, which wasn’t very (fun),” Morris said. “It was once I started running on my own that I found that running was actually enjoyable.”

Morris joined the Lakewood Ranch Runners Club nine years ago, and it was there that she met Thornhill.
Thornhill, who started running in school to stay in shape for sports, joined the club three years ago as a way to meet fellow runners.

“I wanted to find other people who enjoyed running, and they’ve helped me become a better runner,” Thornhill said.

Following the race, the two plan to enjoy spending time with their friends and get some much-needed sleep — both of which the two have had to forgo throughout their training process.

“It’s sort of like when you’re on a diet and you miss food,” Morris said. “You keep thinking, ‘When can I go to sleep next?’”

“Socially, it’s been difficult,” Thornhill said. “I hope my friends still continue to ask me to do things.”

In December, the two plan to run the Palm Beach Marathon. Following that race, Thornhill has aspirations of qualifying for the Boston Marathon, while Morris plans to compete in some new marathons.

“No more repeats,” said Morris, who already has run the Boston and New York City marathons. “Who knows what I’ll be running?”

But one thing is certain. Twenty-one years from now, Morris will hopefully be celebrating with Thornhill for her own 50-year milestone.

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].