2 Responses

1. MYRIAM

   June 17th, 2008 at 2:47 pm

   1

   I want to run this race in October. I would like to know if they give out medals to every runner. Please let me know thanks Could you email me and let me know.
   LAGATA111@HOTMAIL.COM

2. SteveGallop

   October 4th, 2008 at 7:11 pm

   2

   Two years later (after the original msg of this thread): I just ran Grete’s Great Gallop today on 4 Oct 2008. I also ran it in ‘05 and ‘07, but missed ‘06, so this thread fills in a hole for me. ‘05 was a good weather day, so the run went well, but I later learned that our guest of honor had recently begun chemotherapy for a undisclosed type of cancer - and it showed. Grete looked frail, but it only makes me admire her that much more, to come out across the Atlantic to start the races that day, even when in the heat of her battle. It serves as yet another example of her commitment to “giving back” to the sport.

   ‘07 was a warm muggy day, and as with the author of the original message of this thread in ‘06, it was also one of the worst races I’d had to date. I was also building up toward the NYC marathon, and found myself staring into a dark unknown: would I be able to do better a month later? (Answer: Yes, marginally, but that’s another story). Again, the highlight of the day was getting to see our hero, Grete, sending us off at the start.

   Today’s race was in excellent weather, and Grete also looked much better. Though it’s still clear that she’s fighting for her health, it’s also apparent that she’s fighting strong. What’s more, I managed to find her alone for a moment and got an autograph onmy race-day souvenir shirt! It really made my day, and I stopped caring how well or poorly I did in the upcoming Gallop. Fighting a common cold, plus saving energy for next week’s Staten Island (NY) Half, I almos t didn’t come in; the weather reports and the prospect of seeing my biggest hero, Grete, got me out of bed (from New Jersey). Oh, by the way, I’m a 46-year-old male; I understand that I am therefore on the margins of Grete’s focus when she’s “giving back” to the sport (I think her efforts are more directed toward kids, and also females), but I still hold her as a shining example of what high-profile athletes SHOULD be like: humble and generous. I wish more people (and not just athletes) could be like Grete - I think the world would be a better place for it.

   So anyway, I think we all enjoyed the fine running weather. Grete sounded the starting horn as always, and there she was at the 7-mile mark high-fiving the runners. Although we were surprised by some light rain that started to fall at about the 1h30 mark, and continued until about the 2h mark, who cares? We got to see Grete.. And, having had the presence of mind to bring a marker pen, I got an autograph! Yay, Grete!