Florida runner had unique but near perfect day in Lexington that started with Big Lex 4-Miler and ended feeding carrots to Derby winner

Angel Baer of Florida won her age division at the Big Lex 4-Miler Saturday as part of her quest to run a race in all 50 states. (Ruby Cline-Eaton Photo)

During Saturday’s Big Lex 4 Miler at Keeneland in Lexington, I was not quite a half-mile into the run and toward the end of the 270-plus runners already when a woman came flying by me and a lot of others. I thought she was probably trying to catch someone just a bit ahead but there was no way she could maintain that pace. I was wrong. She just kept going.

After the race, I got a chance to meet 50-year-old Angel Baer of St. Augustine, Fla. She had finished the run in 34 minutes, 2 seconds and won her age division. She was also 55th overall.

Baer’s story was amazing. She was at the run with her husband, Nathan, because she’s trying to run a race in every state. Kentucky was her 35th state and worked out perfectly since the couple was going to Indiana to see Nathan’s parents.

“I was supposed to do one in Anchorage in May of 2020 and it got canceled. We went to Hawaii last September and then the run got canceled. So I am kind of behind schedule for making all 50 states,” she said.

But why was she near the back to start the race? Simple. She was still in line to use the Porta-John.

“I did debate getting out of line and if there had been more than one person in front of me I would have when I heard the race was starting but not to worry because it was chip timing,” she said. “Since I knew there was not a bathroom on the course, I just went for it.

“I had to pass by a lot of people (there were 279 total participants) walking, jogging or even pushing strollers. Normally I am in a spot behind the elite runners. But I was just talking and waving to people and having a good time. I was slower than I have been.”

Slow is a relative term. Ten years ago she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. The diagnosis was that it could eventually slow Angel’s body movements. A friend suggested she should join a running group in Atlanta where they were living at the time.

“She had run some in junior high and high school but that was it. She went and after two runs, she was hooked,” Nathan said.

However, two years ago she fell off the roof of a two-story house and “broke everything” on the right side of her body.

“I was out of work for three months,” Angel, a librarian, said. “It took me a while to come back. I was not into racing. Last Thanksgiving I did a race and felt good. Then earlier this spring I was doing a race in Charleston (S.C.) and fell right at the start and messed myself up again.”

Baer can run. Don’t doubt that. Her personal best in a 5K (3.1 miles) is 22:23 set in 2018. She normally is still around the 23:30 mark.

She’s part of a running club in St. Augustine and invited me to join them for a weeknight run when we make our annual trip there in late September. And she knew all about one of my favorite events — Pink Up The Pace 5K through historic downtown St. Augustine to benefit breast cancer. She knew race director Cindy Ortiz.

Angel also stays busy attending Flagler College. She always wanted to attend Flagler and is in her third semester now thanks to a program through the city where she works as a librarian.

The couple toured Keeneland basically on their own after Saturday’s run, ate at the track kitchen, and even got to take selfies with some horses in the barn area before Nathan pulled a big surprise on her. Their first “meet up” was at an off-track betting parlor in Florida in 1997 on the day of the Kentucky Derby.

“The first time I kissed her was after the 1997 Derby ended that Silver Charm won,” Nathan said.

He discovered Silver Charm, now 28 years old, was at nearby Old Friends Horse Farm for retired horses and took Angel there. Tours were sold out — and usually are 2-3 weeks in advance — and they were told they would not be able to see Silver Charm. However, Angel explained they were from Florida, had their first kiss on Derby Day when Silver Charm won, and would be leaving for Indiana.

Not only did they get to see Silver Charm, but they got to feed him carrots.

“We just had a great time. We love this area so much and it was a perfect day for so many reasons,” Angel said.