Running Runs in the Family

I’m proud to announce that my granddaughter, Regan Leigh Hodge, Julie’s second daughter, has been selected as one of 200 runners from the United States to compete in a ten-day cross-country training and competition in Australia this summer.  Sponsored by Down Under Sports, she will represent Fort Mill High School, where she is a 9th grader on the varsity cross-country team.  Regan also plays on the varsity basketball team.

Regan gets much of her inspiration for running from her guardian angel and namesake, her late aunt Leigh.   And while Leigh sets an extremely high bar for Regan to try to match, she certainly is not the only example for Regan to follow.  It all began with her grandmother, Louise, who didn’t learn that she was a runner until I started chasing her.  Louise started to get the competitive urge when we were at Fort Benning in 1974.  By the time we were living in Altoona Pennsylvania in the late 70’s, she was winning most of the 5K and 10K road races that she entered.  She even ran in a couple of marathons.  She set the example for me and our four children and for all the grandchildren to follow.  I had been running prior to that for my army conditioning, but after seeing Louise’s success, I realized I might also be competitive in the 40 and older age group.  I subsequently won several 10K races in Fort Bragg, Puerto Rico, and Fort Leavenworth.  Louise’s example also got our children interested in running competitively and as a way of life.

Leigh’s accomplishments as a distance runner in high school, college, and beyond are well known, especially to anyone who has read “Finding Strong.”  But her sisters, Julie and Holley, were also outstanding runners.  Julie (Regan’s mom) was the top runner on her highschool team at Fort Leavenworth, and in her senior year at Appalachian State University, earned all-conference honors by finishing second in the Southern Conference cross-country championship.  Holley was a two-time all-state high school runner at Watauga High in Boone, NC, and was a two-time member of their state championship team.  She went on to also earn all-southern conference honors while running at Furman.  Regan’s uncle Graig, whose primary sports were wrestling and soccer, also ran to stay in shape for those two sports.  His name is still on the gym wall at Hardin Park School in Boone for having one of the fastest mile times ever for a middle-schooler in Watauga County.  Also, Regan’s older sister, Riley, and her cousins, Cade and Coen Quick are excellent runners in their own right.  Regan’s older cousin Jake (Leigh’s son), was a three-sport star at Watauga High with excellent speed.  His sister, Haleigh, was an excellent runner and basketball player in high school.   Regan’s  younger cousin, Findley Cooper, though not ready to compete, has shown excellent potential as well.  So, I guess it’s no surprise that Leigh wanted to enter us in the Myrtle Beach Marathon (see previous post).

I still consider Louise and myself runners for life, even though we’re on the back side of life now and are no longer competitive.  She still runs the neighborhood streets and you might occasionally find me trudging around the Clemson outdoor track or the Jervey Meadows loop road.  I’m the old man carrying the piano on my shoulders.

Regan leads a pack of runners at SC Cross-Country State Championship in Columbia

Over the next few months, Regan will be training for her competition down under, and she’ll also be working at soliciting funds to support this adventure.  Anyone who is interested in learning more about this competition or in encouraging and/or supporting Regan in any way can contact me by email or reply to this post and I’ll send you more info.

Louise and I are blessed that throughout our married lives we have had the joy of watching our children and grandchildren compete at a very high level, and have had good health to enable us to lead active lives and enjoy the greatest friends in the world.