Dr. Mathis Runs for St. Jude!

Photo by Mike Maple, The Commercial Appeal

 On December 4, 2010,  thousands of people ran through downtown Memphis, Midtown, and the St. Jude's campus to raise money for children's cancer research. Our own Dr. Chris Mathis was one of those people! Every year, he participates in the St. Jude Marathon Weekend and this year he achieved a personal record in the half marathon (13.1 miles)!


Dr. Mathis says, "Running and raising funds for St Jude is on my calendar every December. We tend to take for granted having the world's premier children's cancer hospital right in our backyard. St Jude also has added a biking event this year in the late summer which Dr. Frizzell and I plan to do next year. Right, Dr Kip?"


Dr. Mathis stays fit by running, biking, swimming, competing in triathlons, and playing neighborhood kickball. If anyone out there has a New Year's Resolution to get fit this year, consider signing up for a race! It's a great motivator, and it's also a great way to raise money for a cause you believe in. Try starting with a 5K, but in time you may be ready to run a half marathon like Dr. Mathis!


"Training for the half marathon doesn't take too much time from your schedule. Four runs a week will do. Allow three months to get ready. Speed work one day a week, a long run one day a week, and middle distance or cross training the other two. Find a training partner if you can or join Memphis Runners Track Club to get the scoop on group runs around town," advises Dr. Mathis.


What was Dr. Mathis's favorite part of the race? "The best parts of the run are Beale Street with all the screaming supporters and the St Jude campus with patients and their families lining the route. This year I ran with a friend in his second year of med school who was running the full marathon so I couldn't complain about the pace! See you all next year!"