Manchester woman beats the odds through love of running

Valerie Payne of Manchester started seriously exercising several years ago and running has been a passion ever since. Her mom died at 49 years of age from complications of high blood pressure and she vowed to be in the best shape of her life by her 50th year (which she is at 53!).

Val will participate in her tenth Red Dress Run for Women 5K, produced by the Hartford Marathon Foundation, on July 13th with a team of 15 women. The beloved women’s 5K welcomes all ages and abilities, encouraging participants to achieve their goals and celebrate fitness. Both Val's daughter and adopted daughter have been running the event with her the past few years as well. She asks friends and family to join her, whether they walk, run or crawl to the finish.

Val runs at her own pace, but loves the connections with fellow runners and the exhilarating feeling of finishing the race. The 3.1 mile course starts and finishes in beautiful Elizabeth Park Rose Garden, offering gorgeous views in a friendly environment.

Race participants receive custom shirts and a post-race party in the park to commemorate their achievement, with music, ice cream, festive awards, freebies and health & fitness info.

The Red Dress Run for Women supports local efforts of Girls on the Run, a 10-week program for girls in 3rd-8th grade to help them develop essential skills to navigate their worlds and establish a lifetime appreciation for health and fitness.

For more race details, visit https://www.hartfordmarathon.com/red-dress-run-for-women/