Higgins, who ran track and cross country at Kettering Fairmont High School, is now a realtor in Oakland, Calif. This single mom of three girls likes to keep on the move in more ways than one.
Of course, achievable goals have a wide range of levels for different people. Higgins has already run marathons on six continents. Her goal in May of 2012 was to run a marathon on all seven continents. She will realize that milestone early in 2017.
“Now here I am turning 50 this year. My biggest present to myself is running a marathon on March 10 in Antartica,” said Higgins, part of Fairmont’s Class of ’85. “Only 100 passengers are allowed off the boat at one time, and a maximum of 238 on the continent. That includes research scientists already there, so only 89 runners were accepted to run in the marathon.”
She indicated she will be facing temperatures in the 20s with pretty heavy wind chill factors on that 26.2 mile run. But she has faced grueling conditions before.
“At the Great Wall Marathon in China, you’re not only running up steps, but you also run goat trails up and down. It felt like someone sticking hot pokers in your thighs,” said Higgins. “During the African Safari Marathon, we had to run in sand that covered your ankles.”
On top of that, she ran the Rio Marathon in Brazil during a monsoon, which added about 45 minutes to her usual time. It was during the trip to China when she learned about the 7 Continent Marathon Club.
“I had already done the New York Marathon twice, and I’d just finished the Great Wall. So I thought, ‘Two down, five to go,’ ” said Higgins. “I wanted to accomplish something, stay strong, disciplined and motivated.”
She’d run in New York much earlier in 1988 and 1990. Asia (China) was 2012. Africa was accomplished in 2013, and she marked South America off her list in 2014 at Rio. After those challenging races, she was in for a treat in 2015.
“My absolute favorite marathon took place in Athens, Greece, the Authentic Marathon. We ran the same route as the Olympic athletes, from the city of Marathon to Athens,” said Higgins. “It was during an economic crisis, but these proud people came out in droves. I was wearing a toga, and people were waving and yelling, Bravo!”
Then it was off to Australia last year. She was getting close to the end with her sixth continent.
“I had been to Australia, but never to the outback. So I decided to do the Australian Outback Marathon,” said Higgins. “The temperature was in the 70s, and the views were beautiful. The sand was a deep red, a topography with many rock formations, and an incredible yellow sunset.”
She first became interested in running when her older sister, Leslie, joined the middle school track team. She was five years older, but allowed her younger sibling to practice along with them. By the time Higgins was a senior, she was captain of the girls’ cross country team. She didn’t run competitively at Ohio State University, but kept up her training with 5Ks, 10Ks, and half-marathons. The sisters ran one of the NYC marathons together much later.
“I’m never in the fastest group. Anybody can do this; you don’t have to be a super athlete,” said Higgins. “I think we get limited by our own minds. Some people may be slower, but they can still finish and still check it off their bucket list.”
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