It’s been over 30 years since Randy ran a road race. Then, he was a short, quick kid growing up in Peabody. Now, a running buddy has him considering signing up for the ProvidenceMarathon or Half-Marathon – either way, longer than he’s ever run. Of course, this means Randy will have to quit smoking, something his coach tells him all the time. It also means he’ll have to start running a lot more than his usual 12-16 miles per week.
Like me, Randy runs with Back On My Feet (BOMF), except he’s cheerfully out of bed and on Boston Common by 5:45am. In that respect, he and I are different: Randy is an early riser. He’s up at 4am cooking breakfast while I’m dreaming of sleeping til noon.
Another difference between us is that sometimes I need a solo 10-miler to clear my head. Randy prefers running with a group, which is why he likes BOMF. Getting up and outside, hugging teammates as we circle up and recite the Serenity Prayer, Randy loves the friendship as much as, or maybe more than, the challenge of getting in shape. I’m a runner who enjoys a team atmosphere; Randy is a team player who happens to run.
Like me, he’s trying to get more people to join BOMF. He tells people how much he likes being involved with the program; how the material incentives runners can earn are less important than feeling better about who you are, meeting new people, building friendships, getting in shape. He tells some people, nervous about keeping pace, that whether you’re lightning fast or walk/jogging, there’s always someone to keep up with you. In November, Randy completed the Ruckus Boston, a military-style endurance event, but he started out by walking on a treadmill for 60 days to build his endurance. He’s had near-perfect attendance since.
Of course, Randy’s days of treadmill-training were at the Boston Rescue Mission (BRM), where he was required to spend five months after violating probation. This was his third stay at BRM in the past 7 years. He was a middleman with a drug problem, someone who lost control of his life at 25. He appreciates the camaraderie at BOMF, especially the non-resident runners who have “personality, perseverance, and presence,” as he puts it. From BOMF’s executive director to Team BRM’s coach to the friendly resident and non-resident runners, Randy values those individuals who get up to run with him, sharing their time, thoughts, and concerns with him. These people are his teammates.
Days before Christmas, Randy moved out of BRM to take on a live-in maintenance job. This time, he’s working to build a stronger safety net for himself. The apartment is on the Orange Line, so he can get back to BRM for meetings. He’ll still be a regular at BOMF morning runs. He’s no longer homeless, but he knows he needs more than just a job and a home to survive: he needs the support of his friends. Besides, he’s training for that half-marathon.
