June 2, 2008 — Hundreds of women, children in strollers and the occasional man braved gray skies and a sudden downpour Sunday, running a circle around Frederiksted for the 24th Annual Women's Race.
The race, sponsored by the St. Croix Women's Coalition, serves to raise money and public awareness about the problems of rape, domestic violence and other violence against women. It's the brainchild of former St. Croix librarian and long-distance runner Wallace Williams, who has played a central role in its coordination for more than two decades now. This year the course ran about two miles, working North to Mahogany Road, up and around Frederiksted, then back through town, finishing in front of the cruise-ship pier, just a few yards from the starting line.
Some 360 women of all ages signed up to run this year. From 3:30 p.m. on, they began trickling into Frederiksted, signing in and putting on their official numbers. This year, as every year, there were plenty of baby strollers mixed in with the pack gathering behind the starting line in front of Buddhoe Park. The longstanding race has become a tradition for many.
"I'm not sure how many times I've run," said Elizabeth Armstrong, a St. Croix native, running with her toddler, Charlotte, in a racing stroller. "It's been 15 years, at least."
"I did this when I was 12 and came in second place," recalled Johanna Bermudez Ruiz of Calquohoun, now some years past college and establishing a career.
Announcer Claudette "Adjoa" Young-Hinds periodically gave instructions and exhorted runners to get to the starting line as gray clouds gathered. Ten minutes before the race's start, with the street packed around the starting line, the "Electric Boogie" streamed from the loudspeakers and the crowd began dancing a very large-scale version of the Electric Slide to warm up. Ruth Ann David, No. 307, then led the group in light warm-up exercises and a light spitting of drizzle began to speckle the sidewalks.
Runners were called to their marks and the race began. Within seconds, the skies burst open, unleashing buckets of water on the runners. Spectators ran for cover, filling up the Buddhoe Park Bandstand, crowding around Young-Hinds as she continued announcing.
"Hopefully the 25th race will be the last race we need to remind people about rape and violence against women," she said. "I have announced for 23 of the 24 races, and this is the first time it has rained. But this is good. It's cool and as dry as my cistern is, this is a blessing. I was here for the first race, but I did miss '93 because my son was graduating from college. I love the cause, but family is first."
Just 12 minutes after the two-mile race began, runners began rounding the final turn. The rain continued to pound down. Ruth Ann David, the same young lady who led the runners in calisthenics, crossed the line first, with 30 seconds between her and the next runner.
"I run pretty regularly, but this is my first time running this race," a smiling David said. "Or I should say this is our first time. I ran back after hitting the finish to run with my baby." David's three-year old daughter, Shaiah, was one of the younger runners.
David, a St. Thomas resident, is a personal fitness instructor and a medal-winning member of the V.I. National Cross-Country Team. She finished in 12 minutes and 3 seconds.
Last year's winner, Ninfa Barnard, came in second with a time of 12:39. She is a member of the St. Croix Track Club and student at the St. Croix Educational Complex. Mireille Smith, a coach of the St. Croix Track Club, was third with a time of 13:32.
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