On the run for charity, fun

It’s hard to keep up with McKenzi Taylor when she’s working. Taylor, Chapman photographer, jumps from one event to another, photographing dignitaries, activities, guest speakers, student events, providing much of the photography seen on Chapman’s websites and in its publications.

But anyone willing to lace up running shoes or pull on a wetsuit might have a shot at keeping pace with the photographer, who started an Orange County running club called
Gone Running
, which also cross-trains with the occasional ocean swim.  The club is free to join and offers an instant support group for runners at all levels, Taylor says. Not a bad way to prepare for Chapman’s October 5K run/walk, eh?

“When you train for a marathon there are many, many long miles involved, so you start to really get to know your running buddies,” says Taylor, who started Gone Running as part of a 2009 New Year’s Resolution to train for a marathon and raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). She’s met those goals, having raised nearly $4,000 when she trained with
Team In Training
, a program of LLS, and completed February’s Surf City Marathon in Huntington Beach.

That’s just the beginning, though.

A small group from the 200-strong club is tackling the California Dreamin’ Racing Series, an ambitious marathon of marathons that includes Surf City and additional races in San Francisco and Long Beach.

But one race she won’t run in is Chapman’s own 5K. At that race, Taylor will be at her usual position – behind the camera.