For Susan McNamara the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k is a 24 year passion

A lot of people are proud of their Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k presented by Kroger streak. But for Atlantic Union Bank employee Susan McNamara, it’s become vital to be at the springtime event. Susan has been at every 10k since its original running in 2000.

“I did a training program out of Collegiate. It was the first time I’ve run anything,” Susan said. “The training program is just the way to go. I’m not a solo runner. I’m not going to run 6 miles by myself. When you have similar-minded, focused, goal-oriented folks it’s a great experience.”

She used the 10k as a stepping stone to run a handful of marathons and half marathons, but quickly returned to the distance that got her into the sport. And now it’s all about the walking.

While her goal is just to finish, she would like to come in around one hour and thirty minutes.

“I’m not a time person, not a PR person,” Susan said. “I used to be able to do it in under an hour. Monument Avenue is beautiful, and there’s great crowd support.”

She walks during the week with her ‘Mary Munford Running Group’ which is made up of around seven other runners and walkers. Some of the other women w

ill do the event with her on April 22. The social aspect exercise offers has been a motivating factor, as well as staying fit so she can travel and enjoy her retirement one day.

“I think it’s both physical health and mental health,” Susan said.

Over 23 years of doing the 10k she’s seen a lot change but the parts of the event she loves the most have remained the same. Some of her favorite memories have been seeing the new swag she’s earned through the 6.2 Crew, and hearing the announcer say her name at the start line on Broad Street.

“I would say it’s just an amazing Richmond event,” Susan said. “It’s a feel-good day. It’s a beautiful street to be on and there’s 20,000 of your closest friends. It’s a quintessential event in Richmond. Now I feel like I have to keep doing it until I can’t do it anymore.”