Founding member of Lady Flames Cross Country embarks on Great World Race

After completing at least one marathon in all 50 states, Deborah (Richey) Haynes (’82) has run approximately 100,000 miles throughout her lifetime — far enough to circumnavigate the Earth at its equator four times. Now, the latest challenge for the 68-year-old will have her literally flying and trotting around the globe in the Great World Race, one of the most daunting endurance tests on the planet.

Starting on Nov. 15, Haynes, one of five members of the Lady Flames’ first cross country team in 1978, will join a group of around 60 distance runners for a marathon on each of the seven continents for seven consecutive days — from the frozen tundras of Antarctica to balmy Miami.

In the three years of the Great World Race, 85 women have completed the adventure, but only two have done it at age 68 or older.

Haynes will depart from her home in Ashland, Ohio, first to Cape Town, South Africa, for the pre-race gathering and informational briefings, then on to Wolf’s Fang, Antarctica, back to Cape Town and on to Perth, Australia; Singapore; along the Algarve Coast in Portugal; and across the Atlantic Ocean to Colombia, South America, before arriving in Miami on Nov. 21.

“The trails are all pretty flat,” said Haynes, who has completed races with much greater elevation changes in Mohican State Park near her home and along the Appalachian Trail. “I am not as fast as I used to be. I’m really a trail runner now. I’m glad that I get eight hours (to finish each marathon).”

Regardless of the extreme nature of the courses, running seven marathons in seven days on seven continents is not for the faint of heart. Haynes said her passion for the sport puts a spring in her step on early-morning training runs and keeps her blood pumping with extra purpose as she anticipates seeing new places and meeting new people — including fellow runners and race volunteers — along her path.

She said her late husband, Dick, always encouraged her to keep running strong.

“Before my husband passed away, he said, ‘Make sure you finish,’” she said of running marathons in all 50 states. “Dick and I talked about and even started to plan to go to Antarctica before the Great World Race was a thought. He told me wherever I go to be careful. I am very excited.”

She credits former longtime Liberty exercise science professor Dr. David Horton, a pioneer in the sport of ultramarathon running, for turning her from a cross country runner into a world marathoner.

“He’s the one who got me started in long-distance stuff,” she said.

Haynes competed for the Lady Flames under founding Men’s and Women’s Cross Country and Track & Field Head Coach Jake Matthes and Ron Hopkins, who started serving as the women’s head coach in 1977.

“Liberty is where I learned my love for running,” Haynes said. “Our cross country team was a family.”

She often cited Hebrews 12:1 as inspiration for herself and for the students she has coached.

“I always prayed on bended knee before each race,” said Haynes, who has coached at Black River High School in Sullivan, Ohio, and Crest View High School in Ashland.

She currently works as a housekeeper at a retirement home with 60 residents, who have formed her biggest fan club and are cheering her on in her next endeavor.

“I have more than 60 3×5 cards with Scripture verses and words of encouragement from all of them,” Haynes said. “I’m taking them with me.”

She said she is running the Great World Race in honor of her father, former Ashland Mayor Don Richey, a Korean War veteran who dedicated his life to God, service, leadership, and his community.

“This race is my way of carrying his strength with me,” she said. “He came to all of my races, (and) he taught me to live for God, boldly, to serve others, and never back down from a challenge.”

Upon arriving at the finish line in Miami, Haynes does not intend to slow down. She hopes to complete her mission of running a race in all 88 Ohio counties, return to Ireland to run a half marathon with her son and grandson in 2030 and, Lord willing, run a marathon at age 100 in 2058.

She said her mindset will stay the same: “Don’t stop moving. Once you stop moving, you’re done.”