The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Garfield “Gary” Brathwaite and Randy Thurston, who helped to form the Eastside Running Club a year ago, carried the Bahamas flag at the Baltimore Running Festival - Marathon held in Baltimore, Maryland, earlier this month.

Thurston, who turns 49 on November 10, was 20th in the male 45-49 age group and 232nd overall in a personal best time of three hours, 24 minutes and 06 seconds, qualifying him for the prestigious 2013 Boston Marathon. On the other hand, Brathwaite, 69, was fifth in the male 65-69 division and 1,890 overall in 4:35.55, which was about five minutes shy of booking his trip to join Thurston at the 117th version of the marathon on Monday, April 15.

So far, Sidney Collie has already qualified to compete in Boston next year by virtue of being the top Bahamian finisher with his second place finish at the Sunshine Insurance Marathon Bahamas on January 15, 2012.

Having secured his berth as well, Thurston said he was really pleased with his performance in Baltimore.

“The marathon was good. The weather was just the way I like to compete,” said Thurston, who participated in his 18th marathon. “I qualified for Boston by running by personal best, so I was really pleased with my performance. I’m also happy because I was able to bring my time down.”

Thurston, whose goal is to run at least three minutes, said he’s looking forward to participating in the third version of Marathon Bahamas on January 20. In the initial marathon in 2011, Thurston was the first Bahamian finisher, crossing the line in sixth place overall.

“I’m really looking forward to competing in Marathon Bahamas again next year,” Thurston said.

Brathwaite, who completed his 43th marathon in Baltimore, said if he didn’t have to make a pitstop, he was certain that he would have qualified for Boston.

“I was really pleased. The condition and the weather was really good,” he said. “It’s just that I couldn’t make up the time after taking the break. I was doing well until I had to make the pit stop. I really was off the time that I wanted to do. But I was still pleased that I finished the marathon.”

Both Brathwaite and Thurston intend to compete in another marathon in Florida before the year is out and they have to switch their attention to the Marathon Bahamas. Brathwaite hopes to be back on the local scene this year after he had to skip last year’s Marathon Bahamas on the advice of his doctor.

Last year, Brathwaite said he and Thurston decided to provide an alternative for the distance runners outside of the Roadmasters Club, which is primarily based in the west. While Brathwaite serves as the president, Thurston functions as the vice president that is geared towards the competitors in the east.

The Eastside Running Club, with its banner that reads ‘Energy produces Energy’, has a daily workout session at 4:30am at RM Bailey on Mondays and Wednesdays and from the new bridge in front of Family Guardian on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:30am and Saturdays at 4:30am.

“We were hoping that we would have put on an annual fun run, but the sponsors were not there,” Brathwaite said. “But we are hoping that we will be able to start one next year.”

Brathwaite, however, warned persons interested in running a marathon or even a half marathon, to make sure that they are properly prepared.

“Because of our conditions here, you have to start training early,” he said. “We normally start our training around August when we are still in the hot condition. We haven’t had a cool morning yet in October. But we expect that as the days start to wind down, the weather will get cooler.”

Giving advice for those persons interested, Brathwaite said “make sure that you are in good health, consult with someone who has ran a marathon or even a half marathon because they can provide you with some information on what to do and what not to do and make sure you have a proper diet.”

Interested persons can contact Brathwaite at 324-8444 or on Thursday at 364-4317 or email eastsidebahamas@hotmail.com