First-grade teacher to run Tallahassee Marathon in honor of her mom who died a year ago

When Laura McDermott was about 6 years old, she remembers dancing to “Splish Splash” during a recital. She knew and loved the song, which her mother played on a 45 rpm single record. Her older brother was named after singer Bobby Darin.

An artist and photographer, McDermott’s mother, Gloria, made her way to the front to snap better photos. She shouted something like, “you’re the best one up there, Laura!” McDermott waved, and the audience chuckled.

“I remember her being really proud,” McDermott, now 39, said. “Being a mom was her purpose. She was meant to be a mom.”

The two moved to Tallahassee from Kansas City in 2003. McDermott had finished college and Gloria wanted to be closer to the ocean. Gloria fell in love with the Panhandle landscape, St. Marks and Wakulla Springs. 

On Sunday, McDermott will run the Tallahassee Marathon in honor of the woman who supported her and encouraged her to blaze her own trail in life.

She’ll wear a black shirt embossed with her mother's name in bright pink script, Gloria's favorite flower, a hibiscus, and the time she lived — Aug. 23, 1948 to Feb. 3, 2018.

McDermott was looking for races to prepare for this year's Boston Marathon. She noticed the Tallahassee Marathon fell on the exact date her mother died. The race starts at 7:30 a.m.; Gloria died from complications of Parkinson's disease at 8:35 a.m. 

“Something just told me I should run on that day for her,” the first-grade teacher said. “The first Mother’s Day, the first birthday, those are usually difficult days. I thought instead of being at home and sad it would be good to do something as an emotional release and to spend time with her at the same time. “

Running brings her peace, McDermott said. She picked it up as a way to relieve stress in college. It brought her to the Gulf Winds Track Club where she met people who've become a second family to her. Her husband is running the marathon, too, but not side-by-side with her.

“It’s more time for us (my mom and me),” she said. “I feel like she’s with me, and I can talk to her and I feel like that’s a good time to spend with her.”

Contact Ashley White at adwhite@tallahassee.com or on Twitter @AshleyyDi. 

About the marathon:

The race starts at 7:30 a.m. in front of the Leon County Courthouse, 301 S. Monroe Street. The finish line is in the College Town district outside of 815 W. Madison Street.

The Tallahassee Police Department will be providing traffic control to make this a pleasurable event for all citizens to attend. Due to the size of the event several streets and intersections will be closed during both the Full and Half Marathon which begin simultaneously. All motorists should be aware that runners have the right of way, and traffic will be held as runners cross intersections. The Tallahassee Police Department urges all citizens to review the marathon route and attached map to become familiar with the affected areas to avoid delays.

The following are temporary road closures from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.:

Monroe Street from Apalachee Parkway to Tennessee Street

East Pensacola Street-Calhoun Street to Adams Street

Jefferson Street-Calhoun Street to Adams Street

College Avenue-Calhoun Street to Adams Street

Park Avenue-Calhoun Street to Adams Street

No traffic north on Thomasville Road from Monroe Street (7:00 a.m. – approximately 9:00 a.m.).

No traffic south on Calhoun Street from Thomasville Road to Tennessee Street. (7:00 a.m. – approximately 9:00 a.m.).

The following are temporary road closures from 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.:

Gamble Street (Lake Bradford Road to Disston Street).

Ridge Road will be closed from Springsax Road to Sunnyside Drive.

The following are road closures for the entire duration of the Marathon:

Woodward Avenue from Gaines Street to St. Augustine Street (6:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.).

Madison Street from Woodward Avenue to Railroad Avenue (5:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.).

The Marathon Route is:

Monroe Street/Jefferson Street – Start

North on Monroe Street to Glenview Drive

East on Glenview Drive to Thomasville Road

South on Thomasville Road to Calhoun Street

South on Calhoun Street to Tennessee Street

East on Tennessee Street to Franklin Boulevard

South on Franklin Boulevard onto South Meridian Street

Enter Cascade Park (run Cascade Park trails)

North on Suwannee Street to Lafayette Street

East on Lafayette Street to Myers Park Drive

South on Myers Park Drive to Circle Drive

Continue west on Myers Park Drive to Golf Terrace Drive

South on Golf Terrace to Thornall Street

West on Thornall Street to South Meridian Street

North on South Meridian Street to Oakland Avenue

West on Oakland Avenue to South Gadsden Street

North on South Gadsden Street to Cascades Pedestrian Bridge

West on Bridge to Adams Street and FAMU Way

West on FAMU Way to Gamble Street

At Gamble Street:

Half marathon will continue west on Gamble Street to Lake Bradford Road.  (See below for route completion)

Full marathon will turn south onto St. Marks Historic Trail.

Full Marathon:

Continue south on St. Marks Trail to Pasco Street

Exit the St. Marks Trail and head south on Pasco Street to Springsax Road

West on Springsax Road to Notre Dame Street

South on Notre Dame Street to Creek Road

West on Creek Road to North Ridge Road

South on North Ridge Road toward Lake Henrietta Trail

Compete lap around Lake Henrietta Trail

North on Ridge Road to Creek Road

North on Wheatley Road to Tanner Drive

East on Tanner Drive to Parkridge Drive (road turns and becomes Bragg Drive)

East on Bragg Drive to St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail

South on St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail Crossway Road

Turning Point

Head back north on St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail to Gamble Street

Half and Full Marathon route from Gamble Street:

West on Gamble Street to Lake Bradford Road

North on Lake Bradford Road to Eppes Drive

West on Eppes Drive to Jackson Bluff Road

West on Jackson Bluff Road to Hayden Street

North on Hayden Street to pedestrian tunnel

Off-Road/St. Marks Trail

South on Champions Way/Chieftan Way

East on St. Augustine Street

South on Copeland Street to Madison Street

West on Madison Street to finish line