The Tribune

CALIFORNIA bride-to-be, Sheri Smith will tie the knot in Inagua on January 16, two days before she will tie her laces and run in Marathon Bahamas.

Ms Smith and her fianc�e, Roth Johnson, are one of 16 couples who recently won the Ministry of Tourism’s 16 Weddings, 16 Islands promotion. As a winner, they get a full wedding package on the southern island.

But, despite her excitement over her upcoming nuptials, something else caught her eye.

“When my fianc�e and I found out we were going to be married in the Bahamas, I started researching marathons around the wedding date. I learned that Marathon Bahamas was taking place while we were there. I couldn’t help but sign up. What better way to get in shape for a wedding/honeymoon and see even more of the country than to run a 26.2 mile event? This is our first visit and I’m ready to make it memorable and filled with adventure,” said the 33-year-old.

Ms Smith, who trains and competes at an amateur level year-round, has taken part in a full marathon, several half marathons and an Ironman triathlon. She currently runs four to five days per week and increases her distance and pace each week.

“I also cross-train and strength train once per week. It sounds like a lot, but I’m the biggest advocate that anyone can do it. I was never an athlete as a kid and started racing as an adult. It keeps me in shape and is a wonderful way to make new friends in the community and around the world,” she said. “You don’t have to be fast; you just have to show up.”

Ms Smith sees herself running marathons for a long time to come. “I would love to have the opportunity to run a marathon on every major birthday year until I’m 80. The first race I ever did, I got passed by an 80-year-old and thought, ‘If only we could all be so lucky’,” she said.

The Sunshine Insurance Race Weekend will take place January 17-18. The first event, the Susan G Komen Bahamas Race for the Cure, takes place on January 17 and Marathon Bahamas occurs a day later.

For more information or to register for the marathon, visit www.marathonbahamas.com. To register for the Susan G Komen Bahamas Race for the Cure�, visit www.komenbahamas.org.