“My wife would tell you that it’s simply because I’m a hoarder,” quips Jim Weil about his extensive collection of commemorative Montclair Run shirts. “While there’s some truth to that, I love being able to go back and look at all the different shirts and reminisce about a particular race.”
To mark the upcoming 48th anniversary of what has grown into Birmingham’s biggest race, we’ve collaborated with some friends to put together a display of Montclair Run history in our lobby. The exhibit features part of Jim’s shirt collection along with a quilt of race shirts made by Susan Lapidus.
First held in 1976 as The Montclair Run, the event now attracts some 1,500 runners of all ages and abilities. A young Sam Lapidus succumbed to the childhood cancer Ewing sarcoma just days before his 15th birthday in November 2008. The event was renamed in his honor the following year.
Today the event celebrates the life of Sam Lapidus while raising funds for The J and the Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders — with nearly $115,000 going to Children’s since 2009, including $10,000 last year.
Can’t make it on race day? Check out some other ways you can help:
Volunteer to help distribute registration packets on Wednesday, November 27.
Sign up with a “Friends of Sam” absentee registration to support Sam even if you won’t be able to run (and get a coveted t-shirt!).
Donate directly to The J and/or the Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders.
It’s the camaraderie
Jim emphasizes how important it’s been for him to support The J over the years — support that became even more meaningful when the race was named after Sam, the son of Jim’s close friend and former classmate Billly. “Sam was a one-of-a-kind person who also loved The J,” he says. “It brings me much joy to help The J in his honor.”
The seasoned runner also enjoys the camaraderie of seeing the same regular competitors gathering to support such a worthy event year after year. It’s that kind of race.
So what is Jim’s favorite race memory? He once set a personal best for a 10K race by relying on Billy to pace him. “Then in the last 10 yards I kicked it in and passed him just before the finish line.
“I think the shirt color was blue that year — appropriate for Billy’s mood after I beat him!”
Thanks to Jim Weil for loaning the SLMR shirts that are on display and to Sam’s mother, Susan Lapidus, for allowing us to exhibit the quilt she made out of SLMR shirts.
