Family of 83-Year-Old 5K Finisher Asks Race Director to Hurry It Up With That Age-Group Award, if You Know What They Mean
/
Depositphotos.com
A great-grandmother who finished a local 5K last weekend is still waiting for the age-group award she won, Dumb Runner has learned—and her family is pressuring the race director to deliver it as soon as possible.
Frances “Nana” Bay, 83, crossed the finish line at last Saturday’s Gilmore 5K in 1 hour 22 minutes 12 seconds. Because she was the only runner in her age group, by default she won the top prize in that category, a plaque and a $25 Starbucks gift card.
Days later, Bay still has not received the plaque or the gift card, despite repeated pleas from her daughter, Virginia Venit, on her behalf.
“My mom isn’t exactly a spring chicken anymore,” Venit wrote race organizers in an email provided to Dumb Runner. “If you hold on to that gift card much longer, she might not be able to use it. If you know what I mean.”
Venit said her mother is in generally good health— “She just completed a 5K, after all”—but still, she’s at an age where “things can happen.”
“She’s 83 years old,” Venit added. “I mean, come on.”
At last report, Bay was still waiting for her award, despite Venit’s messages.
Reached for comment, Bay told Dumb Runner that she didn’t mind so much.
“I don’t need another plaque,” she said. “And I prefer Sanka.”
