Hattiesburg has been Becky Ryder's home since 1998 when she and husband Hollie retired from the Katy, TX school system where they were employed as teachers and coaches. Becky and Hollie have always been active in running/walking clubs and when they saw that there was no such opportunity in the Hattiesburg area, they set out to form the Pine Belt Pacers. From that organizational meeting, where there were about 10 people in attendance, the club now has grown to a membership of about 100. 

One might describe Becky as a pioneer in the development of women's athletics. She was the first coach of a collegiate women's basketball team at Columbia College in Columbia, SC. As a high school coach in TX, she was one of the first women to coach boys as she held positions where she directed boys and girls cross country and track teams. Over the course of her 28 year career, Becky coached numerous athletes who later became NCAA champions and Olympic trial participants and one who became a member of a world record 4 x 800 indoor relay team.  

In 1969, Becky was a unique feature at road races because many times she would be the only female entered. At her first race she won a turkey and was then hooked on competition. During her almost 40 years of running, Becky has run 20 marathons, with a personal best of 3:20. Nowadays, she says it would be nice if she could run one mile at the pace that she used to run her marathon miles. Highpoints of her running career were breaking 20 minutes (19:52) for the 5K and running the Boston Marathon. She now enjoys coaching others as they strive to achieve such goals. She continues to compete at the 5K-10K distance and gets her competitive fix by watching son Robin and daughter Chrissy as they usually place at the top of races. 

Becky has always been involved in community activities. In the Houston area she formed a non-profit group that was responsible for the installation of lights for a 2-mile running/walking trail in Bear Creek Park. In Hattiesburg, she continues to give to the community. An example being when she was contemplating how to celebrate her 60th birthday, she invited people to run with her as she marked her BD by covering 60 laps (15 miles) on the Hattiesburg High School track. She was joined by a large group of friends who donated a total of $2300 for the privilege of running with her. The money was donated to the HHS track program. 

Her love of travel has placed her in many interesting situations. On a trip to the TX Big Bend area, she took a row boat across the Rio Grande river and ventured into Mexico. Her favorite trips include a passenger ferry ride through the inside passage to Alaska, a 240 mile bike ride on the Katy Trail in MO, and a rim to rim hike of the Grand Canyon. In June of 2006 Becky will be joined by her daughter, son and other family and friends as they once again hike the Grand Canyon down from the North Rim for a night at Phantom Ranch and up to the South Rim.   

A couple of years ago on a biking trip with Hollie, she had one of her most frightening experiences as they rode the Route of the Hiawatha which crosses the Bitterroot Mountains between Idaho and Montana. and is best known for the long, dark Taft Tunnel which burrows for 1.66 miles under the Idaho/Montana state line.  Let's just say that if she ever rides it again, she will have a very good light. 

Regarding her future running, it is her desire to be running in races when she is so old that she will have to call upon her grandchildren to drive her. The club's slogan is perfect for her: Run! For Your Life.