Cara Group has loved running for many years.
“I ran track in high school and that was when I decided I really enjoy running,” she said. “I played tennis in college, but running distance came later when I thought it was going to be an inexpensive sport to participate in and stay in shape.”
Group started running 5K events and gradually increased her distance. She has now run 20 half-marathons.
“This year, 2021, was going to be my 21st half-marathon, but I decided that since the race went virtual, I’m going to give it a go at completing my first full marathon,” she said.
Group will be “Running for a Reason” in this year’s Pittsburgh Marathon, choosing the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank as her charity. She first became involved with hunger-relief organizations in college through her sorority, Alpha Gamma Delta, which works directly with Feeding America, the parent organization of Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.
“I’ve been very lucky over my lifetime to be food secure and learning about my neighbors who might be food insecure or hungry has been a big eyeopener for myself,” she said.
She encourages runners and walkers to join her in running for the food bank as part of the Pittsburgh Marathon.
If you are interested in signing up, go to thepittsburghmarathon.com.
Listen: Pittsburgh Marathon encourages participants to “Run for a Reason”
For information about hunger in Western Pennsylvania and how to get involved, visit pittsburghfoodbank.org.
