Islander completes NYC half-marathon for charity
Island resident Carol Clifford recently completed her first half marathon when she ran in the all women, New York City Half Marathon on April 19.
Clifford has lived on Anna Maria Island for three years and owns Restless Natives, an eclectic boutique of local art, antiques and decor items, with husband Ronnie.
She has been working out at Shapes Fitness since January she decided on seeing an ad for the race to give it a try while raising money for Think Pink Rocks, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness about early detection of breast cancer. Clifford’s mother was a breast cancer survivor at age 78.
Clifford, 58, started serious training in early March, and followed a six-week program put together by Whittany Gibson of Shapes. The program included strength training three times a week and running three-four times a week, building up to 7-12 mile runs on Sundays. Clifford also took up paddle-boarding as part of her training.
Clifford was quick to point to the advice and encouragement from Gibson. At the end of the day, however, Clifford willed herself to run the 13.1 miles around Central Park in a time of 3:09. “It was truly an amazing experience of girl Ppower running with 10,000 ladies around Central Park. There was so much camaraderie and support from the runners, volunteers and supporters cheering you on all the way,” she said.
Clifford has raised about $470.
To support her effort, go to www.crowdrise.com/carolclifford.
Key Royale golf news
The Key Royale Club men got out on the course for a few rounds of golf April 20, starting with a morning, nine-hole individual low-net golf match. Lance Lindeman carded a 7-under-par 25 to take first place by one stroke over Chet Hutton, who was alone in second.
Later, the men played a nine-hole modified Stableford System or quota-points match. Jerry Elson’s plus-6 was the top individual score on the day, while his score also helped his team of Jack Connors, Blake Ress and Nub Turner to a plus-8 score and a first-place finish.
The women got out on the course April 21 for a nine-hole, low-putts-in-flights game.
Flight A winner was Gloria LaDue with 14 putts, while Christina Mason won Flight B with 14 putts. Joyce Lathrop had low putts for the day with 13 to win Flight C, while Ann Hitchens took Flight D with 14 putts.
Debi Wohlers, Ann Hitchen, Joyce Lathrop, Laura Purcell and Marilyn Manzer all had chipins on the day with Manzer and Purcell recording birdies on their round.
The men were back on the course April 23 for Spring Stag Day, which consists of a day of golf followed by lunch in the Key Royale clubhouse.
Chet Hutton won the low-net title with a 5-under-par 27, while Dale Hudson and Mark Mixon tied for first place for low-gross score with matching 1-over-par 33s.
The team of Charlie Porter, Vince Mercadante, Dale Hudson and Gino DeClemente won the team low-net competition with a combined score of 12-under-par 116.
Barry Izzard won the closest-to-the-pin contest by hitting to within 20 feet, 5 inches and Charlie Porter won the long-drive contest.
Horseshoe news
Two teams emerged from pool play during April 22 horseshoe action at the Anna Maria City Hall horseshoe pits. Dom Livedoti and Karl Thomas held on for a 22-19 victory over the team of Rod Bussey and Herb Heesch to grab bragging rights for the day.
Two teams also emerged from pool play during April 25 horseshoe action and for the third Saturday in a row, a walker made it to the finals. This time it was Hank Huyghe hammering Steve Doyle and Dom Livedoti 22-4 to earn a trip to the winner’s circle.
Play gets under way at 9 a.m. every Wednesday and Saturday at the Anna Maria City Hall pits. Warm ups begin at 8:45 a.m.