Carpet Capital Running Club, Dalton Georgia

Cornwells take the roles of volunteerism to heart

By Doug Hawley
Dalton Daily Citizen, Sunday October 12, 2008

In our athletic world of the superstars, we often take for granted those people who play vital roles behind the scenes.

That is the case with Woody and Elaine Cornwell of Carpet Capital Running Club of Dalton. They are longtime volunteer superstars when it comes to organizing and directing foot races.

Since joining the running club 25 years ago, this couple of 41 years twice has earned prestigious national recognition from Road Runners Club of America following an amazing 2,000 hours of volunteerism each time.

“It’s been a big part of both our lives,” Woody Cornwell said. “We take pride in it. For the last few years, we’ve tried to develop leadership in our club.”

Along the way, each has served as club president and more recently co-presidents. They also have spent time in virtually every other office.

Our focus today is on the Cornwells, who are retired, because they are moving to Newberry, S.C., in December.

“We have mixed emotions,” Elaine Cornwell said. “Since it’s my hometown, it’s exciting to go back. I still have family there. At the same time, we leave behind a lot of wonderful friends.”

Woody, a native of Americus, graduated from Newberry College, where they met.

“Elaine and Woody have been the lifeblood of the running club and this community,” said Ricky Harrison, director of Bradley Wellness Center and former CCRC president. “You see them at virtually every race. They’re two of the finest people that you will ever meet.”

When it comes to organizing and directing races, they leave some huge shoes to fill.

“My main function has been the results and Elaine the registering,” Woody said. “We want to give something back to the community.”

Elaine proudly added, “We’ve been able to raise a lot of money for charities and other things from a local standpoint.”

Participation in a Woody/Elaine event guarantees “A-plus” quality. The course will be accurately measured to the foot and punctuality. If the race is publicized for 8 a.m. on a Saturday, do not plan to saunter toward the starting line at 8:05. You will be five minutes behind the field.

Woody’s attention to detail has been evidenced since 1993 as a certifier for Georgia through National Road Race Courses. That includes the arduous measurements of 140 courses and certification for 350.

Among the higher profile work have been 1996 Olympic marathon in Atlanta, Peachtree Road Race, Atlanta marathon and Atlanta half-marathon.

Woody and Elaine proudly carried the Olympic torch in Dalton.

One of his proudest achievements came in starting the Carpet Capital 10-mile race in 1988 — still going strong. It originally was known as the BASF race, the company for whom he worked in technical service.

“One of my most fun things has been the St. Patrick’s Day run,” Elaine said. “It’s such a low-key family type thing.”

It annually has been billed as the “First and Only St. Patrick’s Day Race.” This event still is going strong after 21 years.

Although known primarily for their organizing and directing skills, both are runners.

“When we were living in Macon (1970s), I was a couch potato,” Woody said. “Elaine was teaching aerobics (later employed in a similar capacity at Bradley Wellness Center) and eating right. She was running in races, so that influenced me. Six weeks after starting, I ran in a half-marathon. That wasn’t the smart thing to do. I had a hard time walking for a week.”

Since that time, he has competed in various races, including a dozen marathons.

To Woody and Elaine Cornwell, people from this area say, “Best wishes and thanks for the memories.”

Doug Hawley, a competitve distance runner for more than 50 years, can be reached through dhawley@optilink.us