Gail Bailey, pregnant at the time, remembers watching her husband race in the first ever Cooper River Bridge Run in 1978 when something clicked. She just knew that she had to be on that starting line the following year. Shortly after giving birth, Gail began running to loose her baby weight. Being a former 100-meter sprinter, distance had always been a challenge for Gail, but with her competitive drive, she stuck with her training and sure enough, she was toeing the starting line in the 1979 Cooper River Bridge Run.

Gail continued to run the Bridge Run for 13 straight years. In 1980, she was the second overall female and she was the female Masters winner for 3 years in a row (1986, 1987, and 1988). Gail explained how it was a big ordeal to prepare for the Bridge Run and that she would train very hard for it each year. She was part of a training group, consisting mostly of men, that ran countless miles around the Charleston area and they made sure to run the Bridge every Saturday morning.

Currently, Gail is the cross-country and track and field coach at Ashley Hall in downtown Charleston. She tells her team that if they want to succeed then they will find a way run, no excuses. Gail herself certainly practices what she preaches. She still runs 6 days a week with the same unwavering passion and dedication. Gail says that running gives her “strength and fortitude” and she can’t imagine ever giving it up.

Gail, a Charleston native, has witnessed the growth of the running community in her hometown over the years and has loved seeing so many people embrace the sport that has been such a huge part of her life. She tributes a lot of that growth to the Cooper River Bridge Run saying it has been “the catalyst for all of this and really brought running to the forefront; it generates such a wonderful community of healthy living.” Gail is a strong advocate for running and her dedication and love for the sport is truly admiring. We are proud and honored to induct Gail Bailey into the Hall of Fame.