From:TheBahamasWeekly.com
Husband and Wife Duo to Defend Marathon Bahamas Crown
Dec 29, 2014 - 2:26:57 PM
Melissa and Justin Gillette
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NASSAU, Bahamas – For nearly a year, Justin and
Melissa Gillette have had their eyes on the finish line – literally.
The husband and
wife duo, who won the 2014 Marathon Bahamas event, took their big win to the
next level and placed the finish line on their kitchen wall.
Now, the Indiana
couple is preparing to defend their title in the new year.
The couple will
return to The Bahamas for the 6th Annual Sunshine Insurance Race
Weekend, which takes place January 17-18, 2015.
“Since getting married, we
have won the same marathon 10 times. Hopefully, we can do it again at the
Bahamas Marathon,” said Justin, an elite athlete, who runs marathons for a living.
In fact, he has taken part in
151 marathons, won 79 and currently clocks 120-135 miles per week.
Melissa,
meantime, has won 18 marathons and is a two-time College All-American champion.
“We
really enjoyed the 2014 race and hope to have an even more exciting 2015 race,”
said Melissa, who recently finished up her PhD at the University of Notre Dame
studying Biological Science with a focus in Molecular and Cellular
Biology.She completed her research on breast cancer and is currently
working at a local hospital as part of a genetics program.
She
said since winning the Marathon Bahamas crown, her husband has been “constantly
singing the official Marathon Bahamas song.”
“Sure I get funny looks when
singing that song in local grocery stores, but it’s good motivation to be ready
for Marathon Bahamas 2015," said Justin.
Marathon Bahamas organizers
expect 1,200 participants in the upcoming marathon.
The proceeds from the event
will benefit five charities: the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation, the
Cancer Society of The Bahamas, the Cancer Association of Grand Bahama, the
Bahamas Breast Cancer Initiative Foundation (BBCIF) and the Sister Sister
Breast Cancer Support Group.
For more information or to register for the marathon,
visit www.marathonbahamas.com. To register for the Susan G. Komen Bahamas Race
for the Cure®, visit www.komenbahamas.org.
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