I started running a year ago August because I was jealous. I was jealous of my husband and our three teenage sons after they returned from their runs with mud on their legs and smiles on their faces. They are trail runners and I wanted to be one, too. They were just having too much fun and I wanted to be a part of it.
On July 31, 2011, my husband and sons went out for Sunday breakfast. I didn’t tell them what I had decided at 2 a.m. the night before. I stepped through the gate in our backyard into the woods and ran. And walked. And ran some more. It was so much fun. It was slow, it wasn’t pretty, but I came home muddy and happy.
I have been running trails ever since. I have slowly improved. I have managed my knee pain. I have had great runs, tough runs, cold runs, and warm runs. I have dragged my Newfoundland dog out there with me, much to her chagrin. She’s adjusted and so have I. Now she perks up when she sees me getting my trail shoes and sits, waiting to go. I have also enlisted a dear friend to run with me and we have explored the many trails available to us in our area. We feel strong and powerful, and time with a best friend running is a dream.
Shortly after I started running, the whole family signed up for a four-mile trail race. I was quite nervous to take on that distance as I had only been running a couple of months. I accepted the fact that I would be the last person to finish the race. I was not. My 15-year-old son Henry ran it with me and crossed the finish line behind me so as to prevent that from happening. That is the kind of support I receive at home from my sons and especially my husband Tom, who beams with pride that I get out there. This is a man who ran a trail marathon last fall and is currently running a mountain series. He seems to take as much pride in my slow three mile runs as he does in his many running accomplishments. It is this support that keeps me going out there and keeps my slow progress in perspective.
I feel so lucky to be out there, running the trails.
Randi, “a stay-at-home mom for a long time,” went back to school four years ago to get a masters in social work. She will graduate this May.
Thank you for sharing this story…and very timely. Just yesterday I was struggling with the fact that I’ve been running for 3 years and am slow, but part of me is okay with that and knows that maybe I’m just not ever going to be super fast. Part of me was struggling with my recent race sign up and “Let me just finish” attitude. You have reminded me why I signed up. Thank you!
Amy-
my girlfriend and I have 3 goals at a race.
1. finish
2. smile
3. don’t puke
so far every race has been a success! keep it up. :-)
Love this!
What an inspiring story! I need to remind myself more often that just getting out there and running is the accomplishment NOT how fast I did it! How lucky you are with your support of guys!! Keep going!!!!
I love that you have such a supportive family! And that you have found your happiness on the trails. I wish you many more healthy and fulfilling miles.
Wonderful story and beautiful proof of the incredible men you and your husband are raising.
I am the friend that Randi got running and I thank my lucky stars every day for her friendship and constant inspiration!! Running with Randi and been a gift on many levels. I now feel stronger, healthier, happier and more alive than ever before! Thank you my friend.
Congratulations Randi! You are a strong momma and you should be proud of your running accomplishments as well as the supportive family you’ve molded. Thank you for your inspiration!
Love this! Sounds like Henry is an amazing kid. Great job mom!
I am very proud of you and of your back up team. That is a great accomplishment.
Randi, Thank you for sharing your fitness story with the world. Fitness like life is not perfection but effort and reward. Anyway, according to the latest study, those skinnies are not living as long as those of us with a little extra cushion. Love you more every year I know you, Maggie
This is awesome! Thanks for sharing with us!
What a great story; what a great family! Cheers to all of you!
Fantastic! The support from your husband and kids gave me goosebumps!
Not only a great runner but apparently an incredible Mom to raise a 15 year old so kind and respectful to finish last for her.
Ditto! Ditto! Ditto! What everyone has commented on! You are strong and should be proud to have accomplished what you have! You are an inspiration : ) Keep going girl!
Now this is a great and inspirational story!!
Congratulations Randi! You’ve obviously done an amazing job as a mother to have garnered such support and love from your husband and boys! We’re proud of you and you should be swelling with pride for yourself! And an MSW?!!! Wow! Go you!!!
What a supportive family!! Love it!
Love the pic of your family! How great that you decided to run to be with your boys and husband. :)
I have many parallel stories (mom of three boys-twins and a younger one, an MSW, and a trail runner). My boys are only 10 and 5 right now but I hope I can do as good of job to inspire them to be supportive athletes as your boys seem to be. That would be a greater success in my mind than any athletic accomplishment I might have.
I love this!! You are so inspiring. Way to go Randi!!
Fantastic Randi! What great support!
I was catching up on blogs in my Google Reader today after the holiday craziness and saw that you guys switched to truncated posts in Reader. I’m really bummed to see that as I have a very limited amount of time to read blogs and am usually reading them at work, so I can’t click over and read the posts on your site. Unfortunately that means I unsubscribed today. Bummer!
You are raising one hell of a young man and have much to be proud of!
I love this story!! Go Randi and your awesome (and very supportive) family! :)
Love love love your story and the support of your wonderful family of men! My 10 year old son is one of my biggest cheerleaders and it makes me proud to hear his praise when I hit a new milestone of some sort.
The part about your son running behind you so you wouldn’t have to worry about being last? Made me cry. You did good, mama. Beautiful story.
Great to see another Randi Runner! :)
Thanks for sharing your story! I love it. And thumbs up to your amazing family.
I’ve never met Kathy but I just love her! How inspiring and what an adorable family. You rock mama!
Duh. I mean Randi. :)
This is a great story!
That is awesome, way to go!!!
So beautiful. You have me in joyful tears this am while drinking my coffee. What amazing family support & love you have. Way to go momma!!!! Keep rocking those trails. That’s my favorite place to run. Trails have magic healing powers…well at least I think so.
I love the family encouragement!
The bit about your 15 year old crossing the finish line after you made me tear up. Your family sounds wonderful. Congratulations on the great trail running, keep up the good work. :)
What a great story. I call my morning plod (it is too slow to be called a jog) rapid movement. Really, tho, it is not the speed, it is just the movement. Enjoy.
Knowing Randi and her family, nothing here surprises me, but it’s a joy to read. She’s a joy to know!
I love this! Go girl!