Chances are good if you’ve followed Chattanooga running in the last 30-35 years, you’ve probably heard the name Ensign mentioned on several occasions.
Tim has been active for a long time and was a two-time winner of the Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon in the early 80s.
In recent years, you may have read about Jane Ensign, Tim’s 86-year-old mother, who now holds three state records for the one-mile competition at the Chattanooga Chase.
But those aren’t the only Ensigns who have done well on the road.
Barbara is the 46-year-old wife of Tim who regularly logs 20-25 miles a week and she’s a regular at Chattanooga Track Club races. She’s a petite young lady who probably wouldn’t weigh 100 pounds with a 20-pound bag of sugar in her hip pocket.
She doesn’t have the speed of her husband nor has she dominated the overall results like he has, but she still enjoys getting outside and enjoying a sport that provides benefits for people of any age.
Barbara is originally from New York as she grew up in Long Island. She earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from State University of New York in 1990 before getting her masters at Central Florida in Tampa.
While doing research on running and how fitness levels relate to performance in the work place, Barbara decided that maybe she should start practicing what she was preaching.
“I figured I needed to be more fit if I was doing research on the subject, so my roommate at graduate school got me started. The Gasparilla 5K in Tampa was my first race in 1994,” she said while relaxing in their North Chattanooga home Wednesday afternoon.
“I had done all of my training on the track and had worked up to two miles. I figured that was far enough for a three-mile race. All I remember is that I had on way too much makeup, but I loved it and had a really fun experience,” she recalled.
“It was a non-competitive race for me and I didn’t care how I did. It was just something fun to do with my friends.
I’m more of a casual runner, but I started doing New York City Road Runner Club races in Central Park,” Ensign stated with a smile.
Barbara and Tim were both working for IBM in New York at the time. They just happened to have adjacent offices and that’s how they met. You can only imagine that their first date was a four-mile run.
They were married on Sept. 18, 1999 and decided to move to Chattanooga.
“I love New York and most of my family is still there, but he talked me into moving here. Chattanooga is now my home,”
Barbara stayed with her running and has since run five marathons, two in New York, two at Chickamauga and one in Huntsville. Her personal best of 4:15 was set at Chickamauga in 2002, but she came close with a 4:16 in 2012.
“I love them both (Chickamauga and New York) for different reasons. New York is such a big race and I had people cheering for me all along the way. I still feel like I have at least one more marathon in me,” she said.
Perhaps her memory of Huntsville in 2001 was one of her best.
“That’s the day I beat Tim. It rained the whole time and the temperature was 37 degrees. Tim dropped out at 18 and I finished, so I beat him that day,” she said with a laugh.
The Chattanooga Chase 8K has become one of her favorite races locally. Given the fact they live within a half-mile of Riverview Park, that’s also one of her regular training runs.
“That’s one of my regular runs and it’s six miles from here to that course and back. It seems like I’m able to run faster on harder courses, but I can be competitive with myself.
“I also enjoy the Chickamauga Chase 15K as I like longer distances. I love running in the battlefield as it’s such a great place to run. There couldn’t be a more peaceful place to go,” she nodded.
What most people don’t know is that Barbara was a competitive figure skater growing up. She also played lacrosse and tennis in high school, but running wasn’t on her list of sports at that time.
These days, her time is divided between work, running and trying to keep up with their two daughters. Ella is a 12-year-old seventh grader at GPS while Erin is 10 and a fourth grader at Normal Park. Those two are both quite active and that keeps the parents on the go as well.
“I still play tennis. Tim and I used to be in a doubles league at Manker Patten, but now it’s a matter of when I can fit it in
Barbara is also an active member of the Riverview Garden Club.
“I’m not very good at it, but I’ve become a gardener. It’s just another stress release to do stuff like that, but I’ve been able to grow some pretty good vegetables and a few flowers,” she explained.
Barbara has also gotten involved in Girls On The Run, a national organization that encourages and supports young girls who are just starting out with their running career. She works with the girls at Normal Park.
“Ella is running cross country at GPS and she’s the gifted runner in the family with Tim’s talent. I have to work really hard for what I do, but I just don’t quit,” she said matter of factly.
While the Chattanooga Chase has been one of Barbara’s favorite races, the Wauhatchie Trail Run is another one they like.
It’s a handicapped race where a headstart is given based on age and gender. Tim’s not your average 51-year-old runner and has been the overall winner for the past four years and nine times overall.
He and Barbara were third last year in the family competition, but came really close a few years back when they finished second to Sergio Bianchini and his son Marco, who beat them by a scant six seconds.
“Tim was yelling at me to pick up the pace in the final stretch around the pond, but I wasn’t paying attention and Marco came racing by me. We came so close that day,” she laughed.
So what’s on the list of things that she hopes to accomplish in the near future?
“I really want to run another marathon PR and I’d love to qualify for Boston. One of my brothers live there and that would be a fun trip. I get exercise-induced migraine headaches, so if I can learn how to work through that, I have a chance. I’d also like to run a marathon with my sister Carol
“I stay really busy with work these days as I work 60-70 hours a week. It’s really a demanding job as I communicate with people all over the world, but I get to do it from home. I like the exposure to different cultures,” she nodded.
“And I really think I’d enjoy doing a triathlon. There may even be an Ironman in my future after I retire, but don’t tell Tim. And I’d love to run a marathon with our daughters,” she said.
But for someone who does an outstanding job of mixing a lot of important activities in her life, running has become a focal point of her day.
“I’m in the best shape of my life and much better than I was when I was in my 20s. Running is such a healthy activity and it’s a great way to stay active,” stated Ensign.
(This is the 41st in a series of features on runners in the Chattanooga area. If you know someone who might make an interesting story, email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@comcast.net)