By Josh Williams
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN— New York Road Runners held their 30th annual Club Night awards in Times Square and stealing the show was female runner of the decade Gordon Bakoulis.
It was the first time that the award was given out. Bakoulis, 49, who qualified for five U.S. Olympic trials in her career and hits 6:35 miles like a metronome, accepted the award like she runs, in stride.
“Whatever reason you run, run with all your heart,” Bakoulis said after receiving the award from New York Road Runners President Mary Wittenberg.
Bakoulis, who has three children, can be seen running or coaching everyday in Central Park and she represents a group of dedicated women that have helped bring the sport to its metoric rise.
“The best part about running in New York City is Central Park,” Bakoulis said, who runs 1.5 miles to work and then back daily. “With all the snow you could still run, the roads were clear every day.”
Bakoulis, works as the editor of New York Road Runner Magazine, has penned three books including Getting Real About Running and The Running Times Guide to Breakthrough Running.
"Women here work a lot, raise families, and train they are high achievers," she said.
Bakoulis began the decade with a spectacular 2001 season where she ran 12 races placing no lower then fifth, outright winning most of them, she finished the decade with top ten finishes in her age group in ten of her eleven races that she competed in.
Mary Wittenberg applauded Bakoulis on the stage when she presented her with the award.
“There is no better representative for the runner of the decade then Gordon, she inspires all of us at New York Road Runners," Wittneberg said.
After her numerous achievements in the past two decades Bakoulis, talked about continuing to help the sport grow and her own personal mission.
“I just want to run pain free," she said.
