Olympic marathoner returns to her hometown to promote good health and a Great Race

By Kyle Jorrey jorrey@theacorn.com

FUTURE OLYMPIAN?-Agoura High graduate and Olympic bronze medalist Deena Kastor poses with Sumac Elementary School student Nadya Bayliss after an appearance at the school last Thursday. Kastor allowed Bayliss to wear the coveted medal, which she won last summer in Athens.

Olympic bronze medalist Deena Kastor has never been tight lipped about the support and encouragement she got growing up as an aspiring athlete in the community of Agoura Hills. So when asked to come back to her hometown to try and inspire others, the distance-running darling of the 2004 Athens’ games is only too happy to oblige.

"I’ve always gotten such incredible support in my 20 years of running, that to be able to come back and give a little back to the community, I’m so glad to do it," Kastor said.

Last week, Kastor spent two days traveling between four different elementary schools (Sumac, Willow, Brookside and Yerba Buena, where she attended) to speak to the community’s children about the importance of eating a healthy diet, staying physically fit and always reaching for their dreams.

"Making positives decision today will make you a hero tomorrow," Kastor told a gymnasium full of students and teachers last Thursday morning at Sumac. Her appearances were in conjunction with the upcoming 20th annual Great Race of Agoura sponsored by Dole. The event takes place Sat., March 19.

Since winning the bronze in Athens, Kastor has taken a break from her rigorous training regimen to travel the country and share her story of success, a decision she sees as a way to give back.

"I’ve done this to go out and try to motivate people and share my experience because so many people had to do with me getting there," the 31-year old said. "I had a lot of encouragement and support over the years and I see this as my chance to give something back while I take a break from training."

Agoura resident Danny Greenberg, the organizer of the Great Race, accompanied Kastor during her two days back home.

"It was very inspirational to (the students)," Greenberg said. "They might not be able to comprehend everything that went into her getting the medal, but I think she was able to get across the message that it’s important to eat right and take care of their bodies. And to hear it from somebody that grew up in the same neighborhood as them and had such great success, I think that’s very inspiring. It’s not everyday these kids get to meet an Olympic medalist."

This year’s Great Race features a special challenge for elementary-age children called "The Dole Great Race Kids Marathon." At each school, students were provided a log sheet where they hope to accumulate 25.2 miles worth of credit by exercising and eating five servings of fruits and vegetables. A special green Great Race "Be Great" wristband will be given to all the kids who complete the requirements and turn in the sheet by March 4. The final "marathon" mile will be completed on foot the day of the race where the kids can earn a finishers medal.

"This year, more than in years past, a lot of the emphasis from the Great Race is on the kids," Greenberg said. "With all the problems we’re having in society with childhood obesity, it’s our way of doing our part to start promoting good health at a young age."

Kastor, who will return in March to run in the 20th annual Great Race—she competed in first one, too—currently resides in Mammoth, but frequents the area often to visit her parents, who now live in Thousand Oaks.

"I can’t wait to see you all there," Kastor said as she concluded her talk "Maybe we’ll all run together."

Hopefully, they’ll be ready to keep up.