The photo by Brightroom Event Photography shows Win Persina finishing third at the 2006 Goblin Gallop 5K in 19:56.

There are three traits that distinguish Win Persina the long distance runner: 1) she competes in both track and road racing events, 2) her longevity as a local racer relative to many other talented athletes who move out of town or lose the desire to race, and 3) her lack of pretense and an abundance of social grace. We spoke in August at the Booeymongers Deli in Friendship Heights about her experience as a distance runner.

Rejuvenation

Win Persina became inspired to dedicate more time and energy to running after the 2005 Somerset Back to School Classic 8K (34:48, 7:00/mile pace). She went home after the race, ate truffles, and felt ready to quit running. However, a few days later she received an age group award in the mail from the race organizers and it boosted her morale. After contemplation, she decided to forget the heady days of youth in the fast lane and learn from those who perform well at age forty and beyond. Debbie Flynn (49) set a personal best at the Somerset 8K of 33:01. George Banker's runner profile of Monica Grillo in the Washington Running Report (Nov-Dec 2005) also impressed her. So how could she quit? She considered what she needed to add to her training; Monica, Debbie, Becky Nathan, Joan Hunter, Julie Hayden, Terri Rath, and Tami Graf are local examples of women who train hard and remain humble.

Dedication

Win Persina started working with a personal trainer at Gold's Gym to improve her balance and strength. This enabled her to get up on her toes and run faster during intervals that require a strong push-off from the toes. She also added an extra mile to her daily runs and attended track workouts in northern Virginia with the Potomac Runners. She joined Becky Nathan and Monica Grillo during interval workouts and hung on as long as possible. For example: Win would run two laps of a four lap interval and then step onto the infield. This training increased her ability to handle a fast pace. Six months later, Win placed fourth in the 2006 National Race to Stop the Silence 8K in downtown Washington (32:53). In October, Monica Grillo won the women's Somerset 8K Classic and Win finished second (32:44). The extra effort during the past year put zip back into her running.

Engaging

Win does not like excuses so if she is not feeling 100 %, she avoids group workouts. "You bring what you have" to training. She can be bubbly and talkative except at a race when she focuses on running hard. Competition is important to her, although she has learned to adjust expectations. As a well-trained high school student she ran faster than as an adult with career and family obligations. Everyone can race and use variable standards to measure the quality of a performance. The Achilles Track Club encourages those with physical challenges to participate in sport, which she sees as a welcome development.

Community

Win Persina notes that running is an inclusive activity with participants who are rich and poor. There are no restrictions on skin color, religious background, sexual orientation, or marital status. Entry in an event is open to those who are fast or slow, slim athletes or people carrying a few extra pounds. In her view, one is judged by whether he/she has a kind heart and a positive attitude. Arrogance has no place in running; we should lift each other, not crush someone's hope. Win competes with herself and seeks to behave with kindness toward other runners.

In the mid-1990s, I met Win Persina at a Potomac Valley Track Club meet as she warmed down after a distance event and invited other women to jog with her. She retains an enthusiasm for camaraderie and team spirit that one encounters during the teen years. High school track and cross-country distinguish themselves as social glue, when girls and boys of all personality types participate in workouts and chat on the run. The Eagles tune of the 1970s, "Tequila Sunrise," expresses the energy of teenagers who share lighter, carefree moments during after school activities. As adults, people come together to run a road race where individual efforts are unified by one finish line and a shared experience.

Speed

Win Persina, who is 46 years old, participated in high school track and cross country as Title Nine opened the door to new opportunities for girls to participate during the late 1970s; more schools added running to their extracurricular programs and the standards to qualify for state meets improved. Win raced the 440 yard distance with a best time of 68 seconds her freshman year; by her junior season, she had improved to 59 or 60 seconds. She made it to statewide competition each year but did not win a state title. Girls' winning times got faster during those four years. She won some 440 events with a time of 68 seconds during her first year, but she did not place her senior year because the fastest girls were running 56-second quarters.

Transition

Win Persina entered the work force after high school graduation and played soccer for recreation; she started running a few miles to get in shape for the game. She was heading a soccer ball when it hit her in the face and she required expensive dental work; Win quit soccer due to problems with such injuries. She started running on a track and met some other runners. She did not consider herself a distance athlete at the time. A guy paced her to a seven-minute mile and it was difficult. Friends suggested she run a 3K. Then she ran a 10K road race at age thirty and won the women's division (and prize money) with a time of 42 minutes. Road races were fun but she had no method. As a former high school sprinter, "pace" was not in her vocabulary.

Win joined NOVA and participated in organized group workouts, received encouragement, and trained with a female miler. Years later, she continues to participate in PVTC summer track meets and seasonal road races. The 5K is her favorite event. She placed eighth in the 1994 Army 10 Miler with a time of 60:36. Wisely, she had ignored the unsupportive comment of a boyfriend that she would never be able to maintain a 7:30/mile pace for ten miles. She ran sub-5:00 for the mile during the early 1990s and completed a marathon in 2003 (Marine Corps, 3:31:01). This year she has run several 5K road races with finishing times between 19:20 and 19:50.

How She Does It

Win Persina runs most days of the week, cross trains sometimes, and exercises at a health club on rainy days. Flexibility is key to maintaining desire and having fun. She does track workouts twice a week when she is feeling good, but does not force herself onto the track on bad days. Summer track meets minimize heat exposure and she races any event 400 meters or longer. She works as an assistant at the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association in downtown Washington, a very good employer, and does easy lunchtime runs on the Mall or over to Georgetown. She does not like being thin and includes a few treats in her diet like Starbucks ice cream, chocolate, and fried calamari; nuts are a handy snack at work. Win divorced several years ago and later married a wonderful man, Bill. She also had a health problem (thyroid), but medication returned her running to full speed.