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Publix Posters Inspire Customers

As a generous partner, Publix contributes more than healthy refreshments to runners crossing the finish line of the OUC Orlando Half Marathon & Lake Eola 5k. For the past five years, Publix has displayed race posters in 70 Central Florida stores, enticing the community to register for Orlando’s hometown half marathon and 5k! 

Vivid photography captures the OUC Orlando Half Marathon action and draws attention to the participants and the finisher medals! 

This year, Stephanie Manny of Clermont was prominently featured and shares a little about her running journey!

TSE: How long have you been running? 
SM: 9 years

TSE: When did you get into running? 
SM: When I turned 40, I wanted to be in the best shape of my life and didn't want to join a gym.  Running is free so I thought why not give it a try.

TSE: Do you run the OUC Orlando Half Marathon with friends/family? 
SM: I have run the OUC Half Marathon for the past 8 years and have only run 2 of them by myself.  For the past 4 years, I have run it with my cross-country kids.

TSE: Who do you train with? 
SM: Out of my 9 years in running only the first year I trained by myself.  Years 2 and 3 I trained with the Track Shack Galloway Group and the last 6 years I have been the Head Cross-Country Coach at Olympia High School, so I now train with my kids.

TSE: Where do you train? 
SM: I train mostly around the Windermere area and at the West Orange Trail, but honestly, I train wherever I can.

TSE: What is your running story or experience that you could share to inspire someone else to take up the sport? 
SM: I have been an athlete all my life, but NEVER liked running because it didn't come as easy to me as the other sports I played.  When I turned 40, I made a conscious effort to be in the best shape of my life so I figured I would try running.  For the first 5 months I hated it because it always "hurt" and didn't get any easier, but I had signed up for a Disney 5K and continued to train so I wouldn't embarrass myself.  As soon as I experienced that race atmosphere and felt the excitement and positivity of the race community, I became hooked.  There is just nothing like it and out of all the sports I have played in my life nothing has ever given me the feeling of accomplishment that running does. So now 9 years and close to 100 races later, I am so happy and proud that I made that decision to start running.

TSE: What is your favorite race? 
SM: OUC Orlando Half and any of the Disney Races

Use code PublixRuns to get $10 off the OUC Orlando Half Marathon today! Offer expires 10/31/19!

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