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Not all of us are born athletic. Some have to work at it. For Leslie Gray exercising didn’t come naturally.
She actually avoided it for most of her life. She didn’t like it, didn’t need it. Then at 59 Leslie took up the challenge of running.
She felt slow, it often hurt. It didn’t come easily but encouraged by her new friends in the running community she stuck it out when others gave up.
Photos Courtesy of Leslie Gray. Leslie discovered a whole new world and a way of life. Now she’s hooked. Here’s Leslie’s running journey…
The RunDown
Leslie Gray, Age 60.
Married with two sons, Nate and Alex.
Lives in Newcastle, California.
Administrative Law Judge, California Government.
Runs 5k, 10k, half marathon.
Running Club: gO! Running Group
Getting Started
WRT: How long have you been running?
Leslie Gray: I started two years ago in March 2008. I’ve spent my whole life not exercising. Growing up I never played sports. It was demoralizing and I lost confidence and gave up.
WRT: What prompted you to get moving?
Leslie Gray: I noticed my muscle mass was shrinking and I was diagnosed with osteopenia. I had my first bone scan, at 50, which was routine and normal. My sister has osteoporosis so with my family history and my small bones I had another scan at 58. I had osteopenia and the trajectory was definitely towards osteoporosis.
My doctor recommended strength training. Instead I started running. My next goal is to develop a consistent exercise routine for strength training. I know it’ll help my running. The good news is my latest scan shows my bone density is much more stable.
WRT: Why did you choose running?
Leslie Gray: I saw an advertisement for the “No Boundaries” program. It’s a national program sponsored by New Balance with Fleet Feet Stores. It’s a coached, time limited run-walk program. Their slogan is “Go from the couch to your first 5k in less than three months”.
We met twice a week for designated workouts and unofficially for a third run. Thirty people started the program and about 15 finished.
WRT: What made you stick it out?
Leslie Gray: I was lucky to find the right chemistry in the group. The coach, Josh Errecart, was great. His energy and positive youthful exuberance drew me in. I made friends and everyone encouraged me. I was the oldest and old enough to be everyone’s mother. But they were great to me and thought it was a kick that I was doing it. I was proud to run 3 miles.
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 WRT: What was you first race like?
Leslie Gray: My first race was at a local high school on Mothers Day. My first official (timed) race was “Run with Nature 5k”. My goal was not to be last, and I wasn’t.
WRT: What did you family think?
Leslie Gray: My sons were totally surprised and proud of me. One lives in New York and the other in LA. We all ran together in my first race for Mother’s Day.
Leslie's family L to R: Nate, Gary, Leslie & Alex. Top of Page WRT: Any other support?
Leslie Gray: My friend Leni Webber really got me running. We’ve been friends since college but had lost touch. We reconnected when my son went to college in Boston.
Leni talked about running and clearly was having fun. She planted the seed. Leni was very positive and supportive of my running. I really didn’t have any women running friends here. There were a few men at work who ran but I didn’t identify with them.
Editor’s Note: WRT invited Leni Webber to remark on her friendship with Leslie. “Over the 40 years I’ve known Leslie, she never seemed the least bit interested in athletics. When at age 59 she decided to “try” running I was completely shocked. She impressed me immediately by joining a local running club where she found runners of all ages and abilities.
By age 60 she had run her first half-marathon, and has since run another half-marathon and numerous 5k’s. She now has a whole new group of running friends, is in terrific shape, and consistently places in her age category in local races. I’m very proud of her!”
Part of a Tribe
 WRT: What happened after the official program finished?
Leslie Gray: Josh along with the help of coaches Anne and Gary Casagrande put together the gO! Running Group in Roseville.
We have a website where Josh posts our training runs.
gO! Running members L to R:
Michelle, Melissa, Leslie & Christine. You can list where you are racing; log your miles and goals. We meet Tuesdays for a track/hill workout, Thursday nights for regular run and Sundays for a long run.
It’s mostly a recreational group though some people are more competitive. I’m no longer the oldest, we now have men in their 60’s and many women in their 50’s. I introduced my friend Terri Tokutomi to gO!, after she’d been running on her own and she’s now a loyal gO! member.
Many of the group ran the California International Marathon and one of our senior runners qualified for Boston. There are younger people doing triathlons and duathlons.
Recently we did a nighttime trail run with headlights to celebrate the Winter Solstice. It was one of most fun times I’ve had. We had 25 people running in the dark watching out for each other. I would’ve never attempted this on my own.
Editor’s Note: WRT asked Josh Errecart from gO! Running Group for his thoughts on Leslie. “Leslie continues to be, the heart of our running group. She inspires all of us each day with her dedication and loyalty to running and personal improvement.
Despite having no athletic history of any kind and lacking any significant athletic confidence, Leslie has become a very good runner through her hard work and consistency. Our group truly cherishes Leslie's involvement as she really portrays the running values that our group tries to live by. The rest of us will be lucky to have her motivation and energy when we are her age!”
 WRT: How do you stay motivated?
Leslie Gray: I don’t enjoy running on my own, I need the social support of the group.
By myself it’s easy to stop and say I’m tired. I really enjoy the group of people I run with.
Leslie with her gO! teammates, Valentine race 2009. I’m one of the slower ones so it’s great when new people join us. They start by running with me. Some are good talkers and I’m more of a listener. The power of the group is the fun. There’s lots of laughing and joking.
WRT: What do you think of your local running community?
Leslie Gray: They’re hugely supportive. It was such a surprise to me. I had no idea what it was like. You’re at a little race and there’s no negative competition. Everyone is cheering everyone on. It’s pretty neat that runners want others to experience what they enjoy.
Top of Page
A Transformation
 WRT: How have your non-running friends reacted?
Leslie Gray: They’re amazed and in awe. Like me they didn’t see me as a runner.
It’s been a real change in lifestyle. I never did exercise for fun and always found an excuse. Now it’s a priority.
The gO! Running Group at the Apple Hill race.
WRT: Have you noticed differences in your body?
Leslie Gray: It’s become tighter. I’ve always been a small person (5 feet and 106 pounds) so I’ve never had weight issues. Although I have lots of little aches and pains from running, I feel more energized and my endurance for all activities has improved.
WRT: You race regularly, what’s that like?
Leslie Gray: There’s a little pressure with racing and I always feel nervous. It’s a way to challenge and measure myself. Last year I did the age graded series by Capital Road Race Management in Sacramento. They have four short and four long races. I finished 14th woman overall.
By the end I was thinking, “Oh, not another one”. But it got me out running. I like the age graded results and how it’s measured. I run around 65% for the long and short races.
There are plenty of fast women in my age group. Some times I can place and that’s fun. Of course it depends on who shows up. I’ve won lots of little awards, more than any of my training partners in the younger age groups, just because there is less competition in my age group.
Although I am not competitive by nature, I always check to see where I place in a race and I'm very happy to get on the podium. I do like those medals. It bothers me if I’m running slower than a previous time. I tell myself I’m running to improve my fitness and not to place in races, but it is fun to place.
WRT: Have you considered track and field? The USA Masters National Championships are in Sacramento this July (2010) followed by the Worlds in 2011.
Leslie Gray: I haven’t competed on the track. I don’t know much about the rules or qualifying. Leni is thinking about competing in July so I’ll go along to support her and watch a few races.
WRT: What are your next goals?
Leslie Gray: My next race is the Sacramento Shamrock Half Marathon in April. Starting from zero fitness I’ve made great strides and improved. I back off if it hurts and I’m pleased to hold my own. My goal is to keep running.
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