The Space Coast Runners Hall of Fame was established to honor individuals for their long term running success OR exemplary support of runners over a sustained period of time. This individual has done it all and she has been doing it since 1976 when she was a Senior at Central Bucks West High School. As a senior, Marlene Barr (better known today as Marlene White) joined the Central Bucks High School girls track team. She soon became Captain Marlene Barr and specialized in the 1 and 2 mile events. Marlene continued to run for recreation during her first 3 years of college. And then, for reasons unknown at this time, Marlene stopped running for a few years.

At 30 years of age, while living and working in Philadelphia, PA, Marlene joined an employee running team. After just 2 weeks of training Marlene placed 3rd in her age group at a local 5K. In 1990, Marlene joined the Delaware County Road Runners Club. In 1991, she was the Mid Atlantic 10K champion. It was also in 1991 when Marlene ran her first marathon, the Marine Corps Marathon. She repeated the Marine Corps Marathon in 1992 and 1997. In February 1993 Marlene qualified for Boston for the first time and proceeded to run 3:52:59 at Boston two months after qualifying. Sh ran 3:39 at the George Washington Birthday Marathon, then ran 3:41 one month later qualifying for Boston again at the Last Train to Boston Marathon in Maryland. The very next day Marlene ran the B&A Trail Marathon in 4:05. In 1994, she ran the Brandon (Florida) Marathon and qualified for Boston once again. She ran the inaugural Disney Marathon in 1994 and repeated in ’95, ’96 and ’97. Two things happened in 1998 that seems to be related. Marlene missed the Disney Marathon and Rachel was born. Coincidence? I think not.

Based on what you have read in this nomination, it sounds like Marlene has run 12 marathons in 3 states. Lest you think she’s SLACKING – Marlene needs only 14 more states to achieve her 50 + DC status. I’ll do the math for you. She has run a marathon in 36 states and Washington DC, plus the duplicated states. Total number of marathons is 54 and still counting.

In 1994, Marlene moved to the Tampa Bay area and joined the St. Petersburg Mad Dogs Triathlon Club. Marlene was a constant Age Group winner in the Tampa Bay/St. Pete area. Thirteen months after Rachel was born she placed 5th at a local Iron Man Distance Triathlon. Although living in Tampa, Marlene remained the race director of the Chalfont Challenge 5K in Bucks County, PA. She became the race director in 1993 but from 1994 through 2000 she would fly back home to Bucks County and assume the day of race directors responsibilities. Prior to race day, she would coordinate pre-race activities with the Town Manager, Marlene’s mom.

Good fortune shined on Cocoa Beach and in the Space Coast running community in 1997. The White’s moved to Cocoa Beach and joined the Space Coast Runners Club. Marlene’s presence was noted a short time later. On the running side, Marlene won her age group at the 1999-2000 SCROY series, was the 2nd overall winner for the 2000-2001, third in her age group in 2001-2002, first in her age group 2002-2003 and the Master Champion for the 2003-2004. Marlene also placed first in her age group at the 2000 and 2003 Space Coast Marathon. This is in addition to the many top finishes at local, out of town and out of state races, including a third place age group finish at the Sugarloaf Marathon, Maine, nine months after Rachel was born.

On the communtiy service side, with a BS in Accounting from Delaware Valley College, Bucks County, PA and an MBA from LaSalle University and a Certified Managerial Accountant, Marlene was a natural to assume the Treasurer position in SCR. So it was in 2000 when Marlene successfully campaigned for about 5 seconds and said, “Hey, I’ll do it”, and she became the Space Coast Runners Club Treasurer. Ten years later and she is still doing it. Up until Marlene became our treasurer, we thought we were doing fairly well with the “books”. Marlene balanced our books, started involving and COLLECTING funds owed to SCR, filed applicable income tax papers for several past years and did all the paperwork required to get us our tax exempt status.

We (SCR) are thankful that she has continued to “campaign” for the position of SCR treasurer but I do have to note that campaigning now means that we (the SCR Board) has to start our campaign three months prior to our elections to convince her to stay one more year. Marlene was also the race director for the Space Coast Half Marathon in 2002 and has been the race director for the Eye of the Dragon 10K since 2004 (6 years and still going). She also started and directed the Cocoa Beach Sun & Fun 5K since 2005.

In 2006, Marlene started and became the Program Director for the Mileage Club at Freedom 7 Elementary School. 23% of the student body (96 out of 420) participate in the twice a week run/walks around the school ball field. Students receive token awards for reaching their individual mileage goals. In 2007, Marlene applied for and was a RRCA Kids Run the Nation Grant Recipient.

We all know that behind the most successful woman there is a man supporting her. I don’t believe that Marlene could get everything done that she does without, at least, the cooperation and understanding from husband – runner – volunteer, Dick White. Thank you Dick.

In 2004, Marlene was the Space Coast Runners Golden Shoe Award recipient. As you know, the Golden Shoe Award is given to one individual a year to recognize that person for their continued long term service to the runners along the Space Coast. Five years later finds Marlene continuing to give to the community, continues to excel at her running, continues to be a great mom to Rachel and continues to be a positive example and role model to everyone who knows her. It is with great pleasure that I submit this nomination to the Space Coast Runners. Nominated and submitted by Marty Winkel