First Ralph Swain Queen’s Race for Love & Life a Success

Last Saturday was an unusually hot day, but it didn’t keep the walkers and runners from participating in the first “

The event was organized by Jenna Stivoric, daughter of local runner Ralph Swain of Moon. Stivoric came up with the event to honor her parents, Swain and his wife, Dorothy, known as “Queenie” to friends and family.  

“They’ve been married over 60 years and are still so in love,” she said before the race.

Stivoric was hoping for at least 100 participants and she had over 150, a success in her book, especially since it was nearly 90 degrees on the 16th.

“My worst fear was that no one would show up,” she laughed.

The race featured both a 5K race for those a bit more ambitious and a 1-mile walk for those who still wanted to participate, but didn’t want to go as far.

“My mom has bad knees and I wanted to create something she could do as well,” said Stivoric of the 1-mile event.

Since Stivoric discovered that she was expecting her second child after she began planning the race, she also participated in the shorter event. All five of the Swain’s children, ages 36-49, and many of their grandchildren participated along with Ralph and Queenie.

According to Stivoric, Queenie finished first in the 1-mile walk, and her father finished third in the 70+ age group. Swain is 76 and no stranger to road races in the Greater Pittsburgh area.

As for Stivoric, this was the first race she had ever planned, so she was delighted that it was so successful.

“I couldn’t be happier. Almost everything I had hoped for we managed to have for the race,” she said.

She is particularly happy that the race raised over $3,000 for the Women’s Choice Network.

“I hope that we surpass this next year. I think we have a good momentum going at this point,” she said.