Johnnycake Jog: First race is in honor of mother

Jul 02, 2010

By: News-Herald Staff

By Theresa Neuhoff Audia
TNeuhoff@News-Herald.com

Bonnie Shaffer made a promise to her mother 10 years ago that she would get in shape.

When her mother underwent open-heart surgery, she told Shaffer to think of it as a warning. She asked her daughter to exercise so she’d never have to experience the pain of what she was going through.

Her mother has since passed away, but Shaffer continues to be motivated by the promise she made.

On her 65th birthday, she will be running in her first race. The Mentor resident is competing in the Johnnycake Jog, which she’s running not just for her mother, but herself.

“I couldn’t believe the race was on my 65th birthday,” Shaffer said. “I set a goal for myself and made a decision to run it without knowing that. It was meant to be.”

The mother of three started walking and gradually built up her mileage before she started running. She has lost 60 pounds and continues to run and walk more than four miles a day six days a week.

“I feel fantastic,” she said. “As far as I know, nothing is wrong with me. I have no health problems. People say running affects their joints, but not me.”

Shaffer has been athletic throughout her life. She planned to major in physical education at Kent State University, but her parents steered her in a different direction.

“They told me they weren’t sending me to college to play,” Shaffer said.

Instead, she majored in math and minored in physical education.

While at Kent State, she competed in field hockey. In the fall, she will be honored with other female athletes from Kent who competed in sports before scholarships were available.

After graduating from college, Shaffer began teaching in the Cleveland Public Schools. She then spent 21 years teaching at Mentor Christian School. She retired when her mother had open heart surgery.

“I’ve been running in rain, snow, hot, cold, every morning,” Shaffer said. “Everyone in the neighborhood knows me.”

Shaffer has no plans to run another race after the Johnnycake Jog. Her only goal is to finish her first race.

“I don’t have to worry about my personal best because I don’t have any records to beat,” she said. “I just want to get through this one.”

www.johnnycakejog.com

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