CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Lynn Fish and her fellow 50-plus female runners distinguished themselves in the hilly terrain of Coonskin Park recently.

 Fish's performance in the 10-kilometer Charleston Therapy Clinic's Make a Miracle Run at Coonskin in late July bodes well for her participation in the annual Charleston Distance Run, scheduled for Aug. 30.

Fish, 51, ran the 6.2 miles in 48 minutes, 24 seconds and, by negotiating the steep Coonskin hills, prepared herself for the Distance Run challenges that await, especially in the South Hills segment of the 15-mile race.

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Chip Ellis

Linda Fish

 "My work is stressful, and being fit helps me keep my sanity," she said. "I live to run. I do upper-body workouts and yoga. I used to play competitive tennis."

Winning the 50-and-over female division of the Coonskin race was Joni Adams, 52, who clocked a 48:18. Adams has completed all but the first three of the Charleston 15s and earlier this summer competed in the state Senior Olympics.

Next year in San Francisco, she will participate in 50-and-over Senior Olympics basketball competition.

For Adams, however, the paved streets of the Distance Run course have not been her preferred surface of late.

"It's been mostly trail runs for me,'' she said.

The Make a Miracle Run was a charity effort to help provide free therapy services and an autism program to children with special needs. The race also included a 5-kilometer run and walk.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Lynn Fish and her fellow 50-plus female runners distinguished themselves in the hilly terrain of Coonskin Park recently.

 Fish's performance in the 10-kilometer Charleston Therapy Clinic's Make a Miracle Run at Coonskin in late July bodes well for her participation in the annual Charleston Distance Run, scheduled for Aug. 30.

Fish, 51, ran the 6.2 miles in 48 minutes, 24 seconds and, by negotiating the steep Coonskin hills, prepared herself for the Distance Run challenges that await, especially in the South Hills segment of the 15-mile race.

A customer service manager at Verizon, Fish has completed about 10 Distance Runs and hopes to break two hours this year. But she runs for more than just the competition and personal records.

 "My work is stressful, and being fit helps me keep my sanity," she said. "I live to run. I do upper-body workouts and yoga. I used to play competitive tennis."

Winning the 50-and-over female division of the Coonskin race was Joni Adams, 52, who clocked a 48:18. Adams has completed all but the first three of the Charleston 15s and earlier this summer competed in the state Senior Olympics.

Next year in San Francisco, she will participate in 50-and-over Senior Olympics basketball competition.

For Adams, however, the paved streets of the Distance Run course have not been her preferred surface of late.

"It's been mostly trail runs for me,'' she said.

The Make a Miracle Run was a charity effort to help provide free therapy services and an autism program to children with special needs. The race also included a 5-kilometer run and walk.