Founder – Marion Childress
US Army Retired December 1996 First Sergeant 23 year military service – Heavy Artillery
Retired 22 years from the Department of Veterans Affairs in March 2020
Married August 1972 to Irene Dillard Childress
Graduate of Lucy Addison High School, Roanoke VA – 1971, Studied at Murray State College (business concentration)
2 amazing adult young men and many grandchildren
Children International Sponsor of 2 children for 30 years ended 2020
Proud Foster parents- all are now grown or with other parents now caring for and raising them
Born again in 1992
Running for 47 years, racing competitively for 37 years
Team Affiliations- C&C Runners, Shine Runners, Star City Striders, Blacksburg Striders, Marathon Maniacs, Half Fanatics, Team RWB and the National Black Marathoners Association.
First Race Fort Campbell Air Assault 10 miler 22 October 1983, A course in pouring rain for the first race
978 official races with a goal of 1000 lifetime
Next Goal 100 Halfs
Cancer Battle and Survivor- Battle 2012, Remission in 2015
Streak in pushups and sit ups daily since 1999 to 2019, restart 2020
32 Marathons and 55 Half Marathons, 2 Virtual Marathons- 5 Virtual Half Marathons
Ultra Marathon-50k, Frosty 50k-Winston-Salem NC, Ultra Marathon in training- Roanoke VA. Blue Ridge Marathon Course
Streaks
Favorite races- Blue Ridge Marathon running every event since its creation except the 8th BRM due to injury. The Secretary and Coordinator presented me with the 8th BRM Finishers Medal (2017) for support of this great event.
Drumstick Dash every event -14 appearances
Spooky Sprint every event, Backpack 5k every event, Hustle for the Homeless 5k every event
Urban Challenge (WazUpwitdis) every event
Richmond Marathon- 10 appearances
Christmas Eve Fun Run- running every event- 10th run, Event Director C&C Runner Mike Morris- 2020 cancelled due to pandemic
Member: C&C Runners, National Black Marathoners Association(NBNA) Marathon Maniacs, Half Fanatics, Double Agent, Star City Striders , Fleet Feet Sports Roanoke (VIPR), Franklin County Shine Runners, Blacksburg Striders, Team RWB-Red, White & Blue- Enriching Veterans Lives
Accolades
Received a Resolution naming and honoring Marion as the City of Roanoke’s 2019 Citizen of the Year. Also receiving the Key to the City-https://wset.com/news/local/2019-citizen-of-the-year-given-a-key-to-the-city-of-roanoke
Numerous employee of the quarter awards from the Department of Veterans Affairs and a 40 year pin and acknowledgement for 40 years of Federal Service
Winner of Mizuno Power to Inspire Award, one of 5 National winners 2015
Honored as the Unofficial Running Ambassador of the Roanoke Valley in 2014 by the Roanoker Magazine
Nominated in 2016 for the Mizuno Power to Inspire Award
There were 11 nominated for this great honor of the Mizuno Power to Inspire. I must say that every fish brags on its own pond, of the 11 nominees selected 7 were C&C Runners and another of the 11 joined the team later, Pam Rickard went on to be selected as this year’s Mizuno Power to Inspire National winner, a C&C Runner and Director of the Famed Herren Project changing thousands of lives. What an amazing tribute to the C&C passion, commitment to a healthy lifestyle and plenty of inspiration flowing through the Roanoke Valley Star City of the South.
So many more of the team out there coaching, mentoring and working to make us the movement that is changing lives for the better in so many ways. We want to join our teammate the Mayor of Running Bart Yasso in his goal to reach a million lives.
Marion Childress C&C Runner #1/ Founder
Email: marionchildress@yahoo.com
