Shannon Wooley wishes she could run out of sight, not be front and center in the photo accompanying this story about Catholic High School’s Rocket 5K, to be held Saturday.
Wooley is the event’s chairman for a second year, “but I wish you would take a picture of the other volunteers,” she says - about 100 helpers. They handle registration, direct traffic, provide water, time the finishers, cheer for the fastest and the also-rans, everything it takes to put hundreds of runners through their paces.
“About 500 [runners] last year,” she says, “and hopefully more this year. We’re doing a lot more promotion for this being the 10th year.”
She is reluctant to promote herself, though, insisting, “I’d rather be in the background.”
As if to prove it, President Calvin Coolidge pipes up in her day’s motivational quotation. She picks a quotation at random every day, and this one happens to be from the nation’s 30th president in regard to spiritual power: “We do not need more of the things that are seen. We need more of the things that are unseen.”
Behind the scenes, Wooley puts her love of running to use in organizing the event. She wants to make sure the contestants have a good time, all the while raising money for one of her favorite causes as a Catholic mother of two sons and a daughter Olivia, 8.
Her sons Michael, 15, and Andrew, 17, are among Catholic High School’s enrollment of about 700 boys.
Entry fees for the day’s runs and walks go to scholarships, teacher stipends and other objectives through the Catholic High School Foundation. Last year’s Rocket 5K raised more than $70,000.
Besides, as area manager for Anytime Fitness, she is all about encouraging people to keep in healthy shape.
“I love to see people staying active,” Wooley says, “Anyone who knows me knows that fitness is what I absolutely adore.”
Running is her favorite exercise - not to set any records except personal goals, she says, but just to run.
“Running is more a mental thing for me,” she says, “more of a relaxation.”FOOT FETE
Rocket 5K activities range from the title race to a 3K walk, a “Walk with Zeke” for pets and their owners, and the second annual Kids Rocket Dash for ages 12 and under.
The 100-meter dash might be more of a toddle for some of the contestants, ages 1 to 4, and parents are invited to join the competition. Ages 11 and 12 sprint 300 yards. Everybody wins a medal.
More serious adult runners compete for top awards that go to the overall fleetest three male and female finishers. Wooley already knows of one frustrated runner who won’t make it.
Being chairman keeps her out of the race: too much involved with running the event.
She didn’t wrestle when she volunteered for the Arkansas State High School Wrestling Tournament either, but that was different. She envies the run.
“It’s a tough course,” Wooley says - one that starts at the school, and huffs the hilly streets of the surrounding neighborhood. It winds up at the school’s track and football field, right in front of the bleachers.
The 84-year-old Catholic High is big on tradition, including the motto that time has attached to the Rocket 5K: “Yeah, it’s tough. Get over it!”
No, wait! “It’s so much fun,” Wooley promises.
IN THE LONG RUN
Past chairman of registration for the Little Rock Marathon, she did finish the half marathon segment of this year’s big run - her fourth finish of the half, about 13 miles.
The first time, “I set a goal at age 40 to get under two hours,” she says, “and accomplished - by just two minutes.”
This year’s run, March 2, challenged runners to brave the blow-in of one of the season’s meanest winter storms.
“I was shivering when it started,” Wooley says, “and when I crossed the finish line, my hair was actually frozen.”
If the saying is true that March pounds in like a lion and scampers out like a lamb, then the Rocket 5K runs a fair chance of blue skies and warm feet.
“I love the running community, people who are active,” Wooley says. “Seeing them at the finish line, and seeing all the volunteers - that’s what makes it for me.”
Catholic High School’s 10th annual Rocket Run is Saturday, 6300 Father Tribou St., Little Rock. Registration starts at 6:30 a.m., the 5K race is at 8 a.m., 3K at 8:05 a.m., and the Kids Rocket Dash follows.Age brackets accommodate runners from 10 and under to 60 and up, with each division eligible for awards. Related event is “Walk with Zeke,” a dog walk with the Catholic High dog, a German shepherd. Entry fees vary from $10 to $30. More information, including a map of the route, is available at rocketalumni.com/race, or by calling (501) 664-4625.
High Profile, Pages 35 on 04/06/2014