It’s officially spring! For running enthusiasts, spring often means the start of competitive races. Speaking of races, the annual HospiceCare Chocolate Chase 5K and 10K is taking place in Lewisburg on April 6. If you go, you may see a couple of inspiring folks for whom racing is so much more than a simple hobby.
For many runners, 5Ks, 10Ks, half-marathons, and marathons are a fun way of staying fit while participating in good causes and being part of a supportive community. For Rainelle couple Randy and Crisandra Tephabock, the races brought something even more special: love. I recently interviewed them about how they met, and how racing remains an important part of their lives as a married couple.
Could you please tell us a little about yourselves, and how you met?
I (Randy) am originally from Baltimore, Maryland. I retired from the Baltimore County Fire Department as a career Paramedic, and decided to retire to WV (my father’s home state), with my mother after my father passed away in 2005. We finally settled in Western Greenbrier County near Rainelle, WV.
Crisandra lived in Alderson since 1963, but she was born in San Diego. Her father was in the Navy. When he left the Navy, they settled in Alderson, as her father worked for the prison there. She is currently working at WVSOM in Lewisburg. She had taken up running and lifting to help with her fitness journey, and was successful. She even started winning races in her age group.
Wanting some peace and quiet from having lived in the big city, I joined the SWVRRC (a running club based out of Princeton.) My mother passed away from Cancer in 2012. I wanted to get back to my running, which I had put on the side to care for her, with the help of Hospice of WV. It was at a Club race (The Pumpkin Run), at Pipestem State Park that I first spotted my wife-to-be, Crisandra.
I had actually injured myself training for the race, and was there to help with timing and handing out food and drink, after the race. That is when I spotted her…She was dazzlingly beautiful in her Harem Girl Costume (as the race encouraged people to dress up for Halloween. Prizes were given for the best ones). She came up to the food table afterwards, and flirted a bit with me….You see..no one knew who the judges were…and well I guess she thought I might be one. Sorry to say I wasn’t, but if I would have been…well, she would have gotten First Place. Alas, she placed second.
Anyway…from then on, we ran into one another at races. At one race, I had to leave early before the prizes were given out. We had talked some at the race, and she even reached up, and fixed my collar that apparently was askew. Gazing up at me with those flirting eyes again. At that point, I thought…hmmm…she must be interested in me. And ditto for me! So I left, and a couple hours later, I got a call from her. How she got my name…I must have slipped it in conversation. And being the detective she was, she looked it up in the phone book. She thought I had left before I had gotten my award… and I had. Anyway, we talked a bit, and I said, I guess I’ll see you at the next race.
She called me later, and invited me to another costume-themed race called the CASA Superhero 5K for Children, in White Sulphur Springs. We went as Superman and Supergirl, and we won the costume contest. I then invited to the Dandelion Festival in White Sulphur Springs, as our official first date.
Eventually, I proposed to her after a year of dating, back at Pipestem State Park, where we first met. We got married in December 2014, in Delaware, where my brother, a pastor, and most of his family lived nearby. And the rest is history. We still run to this day. We love to make our races fun, as “race-cations,” seeing the sights at the places we go.
How long have you both been running?
I have been running since Cross Country in 7th Grade (11 yrs old). I am 68 yrs old now. I ran track in high school, and mini-triathalons, and played Rugby in college. I have been running ever since.
My wife has been running since 2010, and racing since 2012. She was 57 when she started, but age doesn’t have to be a factor. She has improved dramatically since she started. She is also 68.
Where do you run? What races do you do?
We train locally mostly on roads near us, and supplement it with weight training, elliptical, treadmill, and swimming at the GVAC (Greenbrier Valley Aquatic Center) in Lewisburg, at the State Fairgrounds. We have raced in 10 different states so far: WV, MD, VA, DE, NC, DC, TN, SC, OH, and our favorite state, KY.
We race all different distances from 1-mile, 5K, 4-mile, 8K, 5-mile, 10K, 7-miler, 10-milers, half-marathon, and full marathons. I even participated in the first Half Iron Man Competition in Roanoke, VA a few years back. I was on a relay Team called “Super 60’s” (as we were all old guys.) I ran the Anchor Leg. We successfully finished.
What’s your favorite race to compete in?
Hard to say, since they all have their own special qualities. Some that stand out are the Cherry Blossoms in D.C., (Cherry Blossom 10-miler), the Rim2Rim 10K, (running down the New River Gorge, under the bridge, and back up the other side), the Kentucky Derby Half Marathon, that runs through Louisville, and the infield of the Churchill Downs. You also can’t beat the thrill of finishing your first marathon.
But, if we have to choose, we’ll pick “Run the Bluegrass” Half Marathon in Lexington, KY. It runs through beautiful Thoroughbred Horse Country, past the farms. It’s so nice seeing the horses and their foals in the spring of the year. And it has the best finisher’s medal.
What’s your favorite thing about running?
Seeing the beautiful scenery where we run, and of course “The Bling” (shirts and medals you receive for your victories.)
Is there anything else you’d like the readers to know?
Running is a great way to exercise and keep yourself in shape, see great sights, make friends, and maybe even meet your future husband or wife!!!
