Gayle Barron is truly one of the pioneers of American road

racing. She was the winner of the first Peachtree in 1970 and

went on to win five of the first six, earning her the endearing title

of "The First Lady of Peachtree." She has also won three

Atlanta Peach Bowl Marathons and the Boston Marathon in 1978 in a

PR time of 2:44:38. She has run a total of 26 marathons as well

as numerous other races. Her best 10K time is a stunning 35:20.

Not only recognized as the "First Lady" in running

United States Jaycees as one of America's Top Ten Healthy American

Fitness Leaders. She shares this leadership award with such

luminaries as former President Ronald Reagan, Apollo Astronaut

James Lovell, CBS Sportscaster Irv Cross and Strongman

Jack LaLanne.

Her lifetime commitment to physical fitness has earned

Gayle top honors, but her greatest honor is sharing her vast knowledge

and enthusiasm with the masses. As a corporate spokesperson and

motivational speaker, companies such as Evian Water of

France, Converse Shoe Company, General Foods Crystal Light

Drink Mix, Stouffer's Lean Cuisine, IBM, Bonne Bell Cosmetic

Company and AT&T have all tapped into Gayle's infectious

personality and winning attitude.

Using her Journalism degree from the University of

Georgia, Gayle has been a talented host and commentator and has

appeared on ABC's Good Morning America and on other major television

stations across the country. Closer to home, Gayle has worked

with WAGA-TV, formerly a CBS affiliate in Atlanta, as a feature

reporter on Weekend Magazine and Atlanta 730 as well as

Eyewitness News.

An expert resource on running and fitness, Gayle has been

featured in Self, Runner's World Magazine, Ms Magazine,

Glamour, Vie Magazine, Sport and Fitness Magazine and USA

Today among other periodicals.

In a style all her own, Gayle shares her knowledge of

running in her book, The Beauty of Running. Whether the reader's goal

is to run a mile or a marathon, this book is considered a resource

for every runner.

Gayle knows the value of being an active participant in

her own community. Using her role as Georgia's Statewide

Coach with the Leukemia Society of America's Team in Training

program, Gayle has trained hundreds of novice runners and walkers

to reach their goal of successfully completing a marathon. She

has also served on the Boards of Directors for the Georgia

Physical Fitness Council, the National Fitness Leaders of America, the

Special Olympics, the American Foundation for the Blind and

the Running and Fitness Association.

What Gayle prefers to do these days, however, is to continue

to give back to the sport in which she achieved such excellence.

Now retired from competitive racing, she has started a running

program called Team Spirit, in which she passes on her enthusiasm and

the lessons she has learned about running to members of her club. It

is a marathon and half-marathon - training program designed

for beginner and intermediate runners.

Her focus these days is on keeping company with many of

the beginner's in her Team Spirit training program as they

discover the highs of finishing Peachtree. Marking the completion of

the first training session for her new program , Gayle accompanied

the team to the first Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in San Diego this

past June. More than 100 of her proteges completed their first

marathon under her tutelage.

Gayle will be the guest speaker at the January 4th meeting of

the Peachtree City Running Club. The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. in

the Wyndham Executive Conference Center. Come hear this

dynamic speaker discuss her running experiences and

marathon-training program. If you are considering your first marathon or half

marathon or would just like to ask Gayle any questions regarding

her experiences as a former competitive marathon runner, this

meeting is not to be missed. The public is welcome to attend.

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