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Running with a purpose By TIM TROWER For someone who's going halfway, Leah Sawyer is doing it at full speed. Sawyer, 16, will be a junior at St. Mary's High and holds school records in the 1,500 and 3,000 meters. She's always wanted to run a marathon but, exhibiting patience that belies her age, took a long-range look at long-range running. "I've read in a lot of books that it's bad for your bone structure if you're under 18," says Sawyer. "I know friends who have run marathons, but I thought I wouldn't risk it. I can always run them when I get older." So she'll try the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon Aug. 31-Sept. 3. The run is organized by the Entertainment Industry Foundation and features bands playing at each mile of the 13.1-mile race. EIF also produced the nationally acclaimed Revlon Run/Walk for Women, also a fund-raiser for the fight against women's cancers. Pierce Brosnan is the Courage for Cancer host, and popular rock band Counting Crows headlines a concert during the festivities. One of the enticements for runners is that those who raise $2,700 get many of their expenses paid for, including airfare, three nights lodging and an invitation to a pre-race function hosted by Brosnan. Sawyer has raised $1,700 and believes she can reach $3,000. She hopes a giant garage sale this summer will put her over the top. "It started out as a good cause in general," says Sawyer, who was fourth in the 1,500 and fifth in the 3,000 at the Class 2A state track meet last month. Her grandmother on her father's side died of cancer a year before she was born. "I guess we were a lot alike," says Sawyer. "I'm the one who's supposed to be the most like her. I've got blond hair and blue eyes, and no one else in my family really does. "I think we both had feisty attitudes at times, and we're both pretty crafty, just lots of that stuff. It would have been fun to meet her." Sawyer's fund-raising campaign began when she sent out about 150 letters she composed to anyone who came to mind. She was overwhelmed at the results. "There was one where I thought the decimal point was misplaced," she says, noting that gifts have ranged from $10 to $300. "It's really amazing how generous people have been. It's amazing to open a letter and see how people support me and the cause. I'm really thankful." Sawyer's longest competitive race has been 10 miles. In that one, the boy she was running with "ditched me about the seventh mile and finished about three minutes ahead of me. But that's OK. I wouldn't want to wait for anyone either." She expects to complete the half-marathon in at least 1 hour, 45 minutes, which would require about 8-minute miles. Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.