My name is Stephanie Buffo and I have been running for over 15 years. I started running when I was in elementary school further into middle school and ran for my high school at Dorman for six years. In high school I ran a variety of events but mainly the 1 mile (5:07), 2 mile (11:07), and 5K cross country (18:10). I went on to run and letter for Clemson University for four years 2007-2011 where I ran cross country (5K-17:38; 6K-21:53, indoor track (1 mile-4:58; 3K-9:58) and outdoor track (1500-4:35; 3K Steeplechase Regional Qualifier-10:37).
I am now graduated from college and a year and about a half into my doctorate of physical therapy (DPT) program down at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. It is a three-year program with 4x8 week rotations (one of which I have already completed in back home in Spartanburg) spread throughout the curriculum. School has definitely kept me busy, especially without the daily commitment to training for races. At first I ran lots of races to keep in shape and of course WIN MONEY!! Now, I have gone through some leftover chronic injuries from running for so long and haven’t been as motivated until my long-time running buddy from high school and Clemson, Alyssa Kulik, called me to do a fun run race together near Halloween.
The rUNdead 5k is a new race in Charleston held near West Ashley at the Charlestowne Landing Park. Alyssa and I didn’t sign up in time to actually be “Zombies” to pull other people’s flags but as runners we were able to dress up as zombies to blend in so to disguise ourselves and try to survive the race! It consisted of a 5K trail race through woods that had obstacles of tire jumping and barrels of hay to avoid the estimated 10 zombie stations. There were corrals of start times based on your last name so I didn’t want to run by myself so I ran back with Alyssa (because of course, I was scared of the zombies getting me and taking my flags!!) Running together ended upbenefitting both of us at certain points so we could try to defer a zombie and trick them. In the long run, I ended up getting all of my flags taken within the first 12 minutes!! (First at the third station, second at the covered bridge, and third at the zombie wedding by the ZOMBIE BRIDE!!!! She was scary!) At that point, I was turned into a “zombie” but just protected my surviving friend through the remaining zombie stations. We were definitely scared a couple of times especially since Alyssa still had a flag left! We finally made a final dash to the finish with a super fast time of 23:58 (sarcasm!) but it was basically a fartlek run with our stop and go race! Even though we missed the after party, we were able to stay for Alyssa to get her award (the dead foot look alike!).
It was really a fun race that sparked a spirit in me to remind myself that running is suppose to be a fun activity and not as much of the race environment that had always been for years. Occasionally, my boyfriend, Patrick Morgan (who ran for Furman University for undergraduate and Appalachian State University for graduate school), will enter races in Charleston to either run for fun or run for money (to pay for bills…poor grad students!) I am continually reminded of the memories that running and racing have taken me, including a great friendship with Alyssa Kulik, and where it will always lead me next!
Editor's note: Kulik's journal coming late Tuesday.
Photos provided