The No. 1 item on Cathy McCullough's bucket list came true several weekends ago when nearly 100 friends joined her at St. Luke's Health Network Half Marathon, forging the final link that would bind them together forever and fulfill McCullough's retirement wish.

"Last year, around this time, I started getting a little nostalgic," said McCullough, who retired this month. "I thought this would be the last chance to try to gather the flock.

"When I saw the option online to do the 5K, I thought this is going to be the one."

McCullough initially sought to attract about 20 people but the list kept growing.

"It was not an easy task to try to get in touch with everyone," she said. "People's names change."

And so do their circumstances. Many of McCullough's field hockey players now have children of their own and this realization further fueled her original idea.

"These kids never got to see their moms as an athlete," she said. "How awesome would it be if these different generations could see their parents, especially their moms, in something where she's a superhero."

McCullough's plan quickly began to take shape.

"At this time of year, there aren't that many marathons," she reasoned. "I went into the 5K just to see if I could run the three miles [but] I've always wanted to do something a little more difficult."

Some took this generational connection to heart.

"Tammy Petros is bringing her daughter and they're running the half marathon together," said McCullough before the run. McCullough's own niece, sister and mother joined her in the day's events.

The list of participants read like a Who's Who of field hockey stars.

"The Class of 1984 was very well represented," McCullough said. "Out of that group alone there were almost 10 people.

"That was Patti Mengel's class."

Mengel who also teaches health and phys ed at the high school, was instrumental in facilitating communication using social media.

"Jill Ternosky just ran the Boston [Marathon] and she's in. Tammy Wooding, her husband and her brother [came] from Georgia.

"Natalie Nestor [came] from D.C., Heather Gilligan and her husband from Boston and so did Audrey Eidelman.

"Then there is Courtney Wood, Meg Brinley, Becky George, Jodi Dellicker, Jen Dorney, Robin Mohr, Karen Krauss, Kelly (Trexler) Wertman and Robin and Tracy Shreve," McCullough said as she scanned her growing list comprised mostly of field hockey players she had coached over the years.

McCullough sent out a schedule in preparation for the 5K.

"I sent out a schedule [but] that doesn't mean anyone followed it," McCullough said. "These are people that have busy lives."

McCullough said she always wanted to be a coach.

"I saw my father in a coaching role when he started the wrestling program at this school," McCullough said. "My father was the ultimate salesmen and the ultimate motivator.

"I would go to wrest-ling practices all the time. From third grade on, I was the one who filmed my brother and my dad would review the films."

McCullough said the 5K was the "most fun" she had in a long time.

"I got to be a coach again," McCullough said. "The connection with people is… emotional. If I were to say anything it would be thank you for the overwhelming response [which] is a bond. No matter how old [we've gotten] we're still bonded."

McCullough recalled when the field hockey team won the state championship in 1990.

"We won by the skin of our teeth," McCullough said. "We played two overtimes [but] winning was a by-product of belief and camaraderie.

"The most important part was our belief our camaraderie."

McCullough said Peg Snyder was integral in building this indomitable spirit.

"Peg was defense, while I was offense," she said, explaining how the two worked together. "I'm disorganized, she's not. She was the calming mother. "The kids knew who to go to if they needed a tissue or a hug and who to go to for a kick in the butt.

The former coach said a bond forms between players when they win.

"Whether you're cheering or being on the bus together, the animal gets bigger as it goes," she said. "Kids put their uniforms on and somehow the air they breathe is going to infuse them with the belief and all of those things about being in the moment are suddenly true.

"There's nothing else, no distraction. Even kids learn that. All of our focus stays there."

With that in mind, McCullough purchased specially designed T-shirts for cell phones to decode an inspirational message characteristic of her coaching style.

"She always tried to keep things fun," said Shelva Keilman, friend and former coach. "She would mix in something that was crazy but obviously she really cared about the kids."

The marathon shows the feeling is mutual.

To further honor McCullough's contribution and service, Keilman said "Becky George [had] a sign to be permanently attached to the scoreboard on the hockey field."

"It's just like coming home when they see her," said Keilman. "It's just like picking up where they left off."