By Maddy Vitale
Bill Quain threw his hands up in victory as he crossed the finish line at the OCNJ Half Marathon Sunday that ended at the Ocean City Music Pier.
In what would already be a difficult race for even the most accomplished of runners, Quain, 66, of Ocean City, did it blind.
The reigning Mr. Mature America ran 13 miles with his sister, Jeannine Norris, by his side, acting as his guide.
“She slowed down for me and I sped up a bit for her,” Quain said. “It was just a great race. The runners were fantastic. Everyone was so nice.”
There was one glitch, however.
Quain and his wife, Jeanne, had to figure out where they would meet up, so he could don his crown and wear his sash at the end of the race.
“I was not crossing that finish line without my crown,” Bill Quain said with a laugh.
So, they met up.
“I rode my bike and we met at 10th Street,” Jeanne Quain said of the transfer of the coveted pageant regalia.
Lisa Rumer, the race director, said at the start of the race that she learned of Quain being in the race.
“I was so excited to hear that Bill was in the race,” she said. “I met him this morning. Every race needs a super star.”
The event also included a 10-mile non-competitive walk/run and a 5-kilometer race. Sunday morning, Rumer said there were 1,900 people registered to participate.
The increasingly popular event showcases Ocean City’s Boardwalk, downtown and neighborhoods.
Ocean City’s Primary School teacher, Carrie Merritt, who is also the Cape May County Teacher of the Year, is on the race committee and helped Rumer and the other volunteers with the well-organized race.
“It is really crazy how it has grown over the years,” Merritt noted, as she watched the runners and urged them on. “This year is special because we were chosen as the 50 States Half Marathon Club.”
She said 45 states were represented in Sunday’s race. This year the scene on the medals was the Ocean City skyline. “We say the sky is the limit,” Merritt said.
The public came out to cheer for the runners. Ocean City mascot Martin Z. Mollusk and the Ocean City High School Red Raider mascot were also on hand. Red Raiders cheerleaders cheered on the runners. Music seemed to pump up the crowd and the runners along the course.
For Quain, it wasn’t so much about his time, although it didn’t hurt that he bested the times in his practices. It has been years since he did a half marathon, 32 to be exact, he said.
Quain had a secret to his great race, he joked: “I had a stash of candy corns and Swedish fish in my pocket.”
Jeanne Quain added that he had a protein “goo” he was supposed to eat but he wouldn’t have any part of it.
But something made it all work out, whether it was all of the runs along the Boardwalk with his niece, Quinn Norris, or the tireless determination to do something that others say would be, or should be, impossible, or just a lot of heart.
Maybe it is all of those things.
When Quain crossed the finish line, he sipped a bottle of water, smiled and said, “I feel great. I think I will do another lap.”
For a complete breakdown of the race results visit www.runtheday.com.
