Watching the pre-race warmup of those who gathered for the national meet-up of the organization Black Women Run!, a Freihofer’s Run for Women participant smiled as she watched the group — which brought 200 women to Saturday’s event.
“It’s so wonderful to see this diversity,” said Bernadette LaManna of Colonie as the runners danced with delight in front of City Hall.
Little did I know at the time, LaManna is an expert, a participating witness to the evolution of the Freihofer’s Run for Women. She is one of only four women with the distinction of being able to wear custom t-shirts with the slogan “Crossing the Line Since ’79,” because they have run in each of the 45 races.
This year she ran with a heavy heart. But you couldn’t tell from her pre-race disposition.
After being honored at the post-race awards ceremony, LaManna spent the rest of her Saturday at St. Peter’s Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, enjoying a 17th wedding anniversary dinner with her husband, J.J. Jennings.
“He’s now in a nursing home. He’s had three strokes the past two years,” she said.
She relayed their pre-race conversation.
“I’m sorry,” Jennings said to Bernadette. “I won’t be able to come and blow the whistle for you.”
“I told him, it’s alright dear, I’ll know you’re there. So, after I get done here, I’ll be going to the (nursing) home and will have a romantic anniversary meal,” she said.
The menu was simple pleasures: pizza and dessert: a strawberry shake from Stewart’s Shops for J.J. and ice cream for Bernadette. J.J. has good and bad days. Saturday was a tough one for him.
The Freihofer’s Run is special for the couple. They married just after the race on June 3, 2006. Her bridesmaids included three members of the Fab Five, a nickname for the women who along with LaManna ran every Freihofer’s race since…
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