Since first taking up running in 2006, Beth Ballerini calculates that she has covered a distance of 1,600 miles in races.
That’s 20 marathons and 70 half marathons, along with plenty of 5Ks and 10Ks.
Ballerini, 60, has some of the biggest names in marathons under her belt – or feet: The Boston Marathon, New York Marathon, Chicago Marathon and the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati.
As a Coronado local, Ballerini has also participated in every single race the town has to offer — The Silver Strand Half Marathon, Valentines Day run, the Navy’s Bay Bridge Run and the Crown City Classic, to name a few.
Ballerini is a court reporter and a self-described workaholic, so she said running frees her from the stress of a constant to-do list and phone notifications. Whether training, racing or going for a joy jog, when Ballerini is running, she can fully take in the landscape around her, such as the boats in the Coronado Cays, where she currently finds herself doing her shorter runs.
Ballerini’s next race will be the The GOVX San Diego Half Marathon on March 24, where she will be participating as a legacy runner.
The 13th annual San Diego Half Marathon will be welcoming back over 1,500 half-marathon legacy runners, 230 of whom have competed in all 12 of the past races. Ballerini is one of them.
“I’m a homer,” Ballerini said. “Here it is, right here in my hometown, so I plan on running it every year. I love it.”
According to Christine Adams, chief executive officer at In Motion Events, the company in charge of the race, the half marathon will take runners through five miles of waterfront, four historic communities, three parks and two miles of downtown streets before finishing in the historic Gaslamp Quarter.
A veteran to this race, Ballerini described the course in great detail, emphasizing the draw of the finish line in past courses, which flew downhill and ended at Petco Park.
“Producing an event that not only attracts thousands of runners annually but has inspired 230 of them to come back year after year for 13 years is incredible,” Adams said.
The San Diego Half will clock in about 13 more miles for Ballerini’s running total, but she is nowhere near tapping out. The London Marathon is next on her bucket list.
Registration for the GOVX San Diego Half Marathon and 5K will be open until March 21.
