Club History Retold by Member Marggie Quinn - Installment #7

Marggie was born in Maryland but moved to Southern California when she was very young. Her father taught at an exclusive private school where every student had a horse, so it was only natural that horses became a central part of her life. Her family owned a horse as well, and she grew up riding regularly. She competed in barrel racing and other events, continuing to ride and compete throughout high school.

In addition to riding, Marggie was also an active swimmer, always drawn to activities that kept her moving and challenged.

How did Marggie get to New Hampshire?

She wanted to study fashion design and only a handful of college programs were available at the time.  Her father recommended  Endicott College in Beverly, MA.. She immediately fell in love with the beautiful oceanfront campus. After graduating, she worked on a major costume design project for a play and began her early career designing and altering wedding dresses.

Later, she moved to Londonderry and started a family, setting aside her fashion career to focus on raising her children.

A Different Kind of Motivation

Many people begin running to lose weight, meet a challenge, or fulfill a dare. Marggie’s motivation was different. After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), she needed a healthy and positive focus. At a mothers’ group, she met a woman who was a runner. This new friend encouraged her to sign up for the Lungren 5K, and Marggie agreed. That simple "yes" marked the beginning of her running journey.

In 1998, she joined the GDTC to connect with more serious runners. The club was much smaller then and largely made up of competitive athletes. Track workouts were the main social event of the week, bringing together both the fast, competitive runners and a smaller group of more casual participants. The annual dinner was held at Marion Gerrish Hall, and there were no organized weekend long runs. If you wanted someone to run with, you simply picked up the phone and called.

The running community itself looked very different at that time. There were far fewer races, and most participants were highly competitive. Casual runners were in the minority, a sharp contrast to today

Boston and Beyond

Once Marggie discovered running, she quickly set her sights on the Boston Marathon. With the help of the club’s track coach, she followed a training plan. Her first Boston was tough, but she loved the experience and became determined to run again.

That fall, she ran the Baystate Marathon, missing a qualifying time by just five minutes. Six weeks later, she tried again at the Philadelphia Marathon, and learned a hard lesson: you can’t successfully race two marathons six weeks apart!!

Over the years, Marggie completed four Boston Marathons, and it remains her favorite race. She has also run in support of the National Kidney Foundation, finding deep meaning in raising money for a cause she believes in. She fondly remembers her running partners from those years: Nancy Peabody, Vicki Kalil, Linda Lutter, Candy O’Toole, Lynn Fawcett, and Carol Morgenstern who made the miles memorable.

Some of her favorite club memories come from competing in the Winnipesaukee Relay.  The club would field teams of 8 runners completing the 65 mile loop around the lake. More recently, she has loved participating in the Mill Cities Relay, another team-based event that highlights the strength of the running community.

Family

Marggie’s daughter, Morgan, is 35 and lives in Londonderry. A graduate of Saint Anselm College, she works for Brokers Title and Closing. In high school, she played field hockey and lacrosse, competing for four years. She even completed the Couch to 5K program with her mom, joining her for track workouts and several races. Like her mother, Morgan’s true passion is horses. She owns two and occasionally shows them.

Her son, Brandon, is 33 and lives in Rochester, New Hampshire, with his girlfriend and their one-year-old son. They are expecting another child in September. Brandon played football and lacrosse in high school, continued with lacrosse in college, and even played semi-professionally.

Today, Marggie works as a Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) in home health care, a role she has dedicated herself to for the past 20 years.

Why She Runs

For Marggie, the mental benefits of running outweigh even the physical ones. Running has carried her through both good times and challenging ones. It has given her strength, focus, and resilience, and she feels incredibly fortunate to still be running.

Why She Loves the Club

Marggie treasures the social side of the club most of all. She values being surrounded by supportive, encouraging people and appreciates how much the club has grown over the years. Its expanded programs and activities now welcome runners of every level, making the community stronger and more inclusive than ever.