Regina Tumidajewicz, the 2007 Mad Dash’s June Grigull Award Winner

by Bob Kopac

The Mad Dash on Labor Day 2007 in Rhinebeck, NY was a bittersweet event. Former race directors Al and Laura Grigull were on hand as presenters of the June Grigull Award for the last time, as Al and Laura are moving to Florida in November. The June Grigull Memorial Award, named after Al Grigull’s wife who had died of cancer in 2000, goes to a runner who has been involved with running and is an inspiration to others. 80-year-young Regina Tumidajewicz was this year’s recipient. Her son Chester, who runs with her at races and on 3:00 AM (!) training runs, provided the following information.

Regina, a long-time time member of the Onteora Runners Club, enjoys tough competition and hilly road races. She began running at the age of 54 and since then has completed 706 road races, 461 of these in the past 10 years. She has never dropped out of a road race and finishes most of her races “under the standard”. This places her in the elite company of the top 10% of the females in her age group.

In her career she has completed 47 marathons, including the Boston Marathon 5 times and including winning her age group at the Vermont City Marathon 6 consecutive times after turning 70 years old. Her plans are to do at least 3 more marathons to reach a total of 50.

At the New York Empire State Games she has won 14 gold medals, including 2 gold medals at the 2007 Games in Westchester County. Her 5,000 meter victory on the track was the top outdoor track performance in 2007 in the entire country by a Masters Track and Field female 80-84 years old.

Regina holds numerous age group records in many area and national races including the prestigious Utica Boilermaker. Other national titles include the USATF master national cross-country championship 5K for females 75-79 years of age, a title she has held twice. In the past she has been national champion at the 30-kilometer distance. In 2005 Running Times magazine gave her recognition in the women’s 75-79 age group with an Honorable Mention.

Some odd facts: In the middle of the Los Angeles Marathon, Florence Griffith Joyner was in a car signing autographs for runners and spectators. Regina took off her hat, ran alongside Flo-Jo, and got an autograph without missing a step.

Once, in a 5-kilometer race in Salem, New York Regina took a wrong turn. Her son Chester, who usually runs with her in the last mile, was worried when she was nowhere to be found. Police went out looking for her, Chester searched for her by car, and fellow runners volunteered to search the course. Regina wound up running more than 6 miles as she asked for directions and was directed back onto the correct course. When found, she insisted on finishing the race in its entirety!

In 1990, at the hilly Minerva Hill 5-mile road race, Regina at the tender age of 63 was the first female finisher overall. The next week she competed in another local road race. One of the runners who had run the Minerva Hill race recognized Regina, gave her a big hug and said, “This is the iron woman of Minerva Hill!”

At one recent race someone advised, “Better hurry up. That ambulance right behind you will pick you up!” To which she replied, with a grin and a wink: “Oh no, at my age, I don’t have to worry about getting ‘picked up’ anymore!”

At brunch after the Mad Dash, Al, Laura, Regina and Chester dined with other runners, including 3 previous June Grigull Award winners: Erika Abraham, Lynne Kopac, and Bernie Stahl. Bernie, whose 80th birthday was the next day, recounted many running anecdotes, including one race where he registered as Monella, Sal. He placed in his age category, and at the awards ceremony the race director said, “The award goes to Sal Monella.”

The brunch was a fitting tribute to Regina and a poignant farewell to Al and Laura. They will be sorely missed by the local running community after they leave for Florida.