Hearing your stories: Debby Jones

'I have learned that I am stronger and more dedicated than I ever thought I could be'

Morning, friends! ☀️

You may remember a few weeks ago, when I put out a call to share your stories about how you became a runner and where running has taken you.

We’ve heard so many great stories so far, from Rosalie Chan, Erinn Connor, Ken Morrison, Colleen McBride, and Chanse Carlson. And now it’s time to hear from another longtime THM reader, Debby Jones.

I’ve loved each and every one of these; hearing from you and reading the journeys you’ve been on, has moved me and helped me see all over again how deeply this simple sport that we love can change us, and bring a whole new world of experiences and people into our lives that we never could have imagined.

That’s part of what I love so much about Debby’s story — it wasn’t even her idea to take up running; in her early forties, her daughter signed her up for a 5K and she was so self-conscious about her first few runs that she only ran “on a side road off my street, where no one could see me.”

Things have certainly changed for Debby since then, in ways big and small. But that’s enough of me rambling on… enjoy Debby’s story below!

And, if you’d like to share yours, please know that I’d love to hear it too. All you need to is reply back to me by email or in the comments below, and we’ll go from there. — Terrell

So, let’s hear a little bit about you! Who are you, your age (if you’d like to share), where you’re from, what you do, etc.

My full name is Deborah Sandstrom Jones, but people call me Debby (note the spelling!). I am 65 years old. I was born in Hartford, Conn.; lived in Atlanta from the age of three through 13; moved to Farmington, Conn.; went to college in Troy, N.Y.; and have lived on the coast of Maine (Boothbay) since 1981.

I was a physical therapist and changed careers in my mid-thirties, becoming a third and fourth grade teacher. I am retired from teaching now, but substitute teach for grades second through 12. I am called almost every day to sub! I am also a volunteer for Amedysis hospice, and am involved in my church.

Courtesy Debby Jones

What does your running routine look like? How many times a week, and how far do you run?

My running routine has changed over the last few years. I was a six-day-a-week runner for many years, but I have changed to three to four days a week, [with] cross training the other days.

I run three to four miles on those days unless I am training for a half marathon; I have a weekend long run that builds over the weeks (I am following a plan you shared recently). I try to do a speed workout and hills each week during my training weeks. I am a huge fan of Jeff Galloway and had the honor of meeting the Olympian a few years back at a Disney Expo (my daughter was running that marathon).

I have read many of his books and my two favorites are Running Until You’re 100 and Half-Marathon: A Complete Guide for Women. I used to think that taking walking breaks made me less than a real runner. I now use Jeff’s run-walk-run method and I was so excited to meet other “Jeffers” last October at the Portland (Maine) Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay.

Were you an athletic kid growing up? What are your early memories of what fitness and health were about?

I was not an athletic child. I certainly rode my bike after school a lot in Atlanta, as this is what kids did in the sixties and seventies. We rode around our neighborhoods until it got too dark out. Both of my parents were heavy smokers so our house was literally unhealthy! YUCK!!!! In high school, I played on the volleyball team and did track. I did 220s and field events. I actually made it to the States in Connecticut for the discus throw. Woot, woot!

How did you first get into running? Was there something that inspired you — like a performance at the Olympics, for example, or a runner you discovered by watching them on social media or TV? Or was there someone in your own life who inspired you to think, “maybe I can do this?”

I love sharing how I got into running — [my] high school track doesn’t count in my book. In the fall of 2003, my oldest daughter signed me up for a 5K being put on by the cross country team she was a member of. I said, “Caroline, that’s great, but I don’t run.”

She replied, “You do now, Mom!”

I will never forget my first day of training after she told me I was doing this race. I ran a quarter of a mile from our house and had to stop because I couldn’t catch my breath. I then walked most of the rest of whatever distance I had decided to cover.

When I shared what had happened with her, she told me I had to push through when I was winded and that I couldn’t stop like that. At age 39, she is still one fast runner and when we do races together, she often comes back to where I am and paces me! Caroline changed my life the day she signed me up for [that] 5K.

How has your interest in running evolved since then? Do you run farther, or faster now?

My interest has grown immensely. I was embarrassed about my running for the first year and only would run on the water district road off the road I live on. I then decided to run on our road itself.

I only ran 5K races for many years. I watched my daughter run the Beach to Beacon, started by Joan Benoit Samuelson in her hometown of Cape Elizabeth, [about] an hour from where I live. I have done several of those and the energy at that race is amazing! Several years ago, Joan held a training/fun run the weekend before and I have never seen anyone run like her.

She has a grace and speed that is humbling. It was an out and back run and I will never forget her saying to us slower folks who were still headed out (she had done the runaround): “Go team!” Joan Benoit calling us her team. WOW! I started doing half marathons at age 57, and thoroughly enjoy the Maine Half held in October in Portland. I am usually finishing up my 13.1 as the first marathoner is coming through. I love hearing the cheering, pretending it is for me!

What do you balance your running with? Do you have a family to take care of? Kids, parents or other relatives or loved ones? If so, how do you balance all of it and still make time to run/care for yourself?

I have an elderly parent whom I look after. Additionally, I try to be available to help out my children with my grandchildren, who live about an hour away. Even though I am retired, I substitute teach full time and see one hospice patient at a time weekly.

What I find challenging is getting outside or to the YMCA to run or cross train at 5:20 in the morning. I have certainly gotten slower, so my window before heading into school is limited. Every once in a while, I will say I can’t substitute on a particular day so I can really get proper stretching in and more miles in on that day.

I was thinking the other day, I went from four years of college into full-time work while raising three children and have been working for 44 years. I have to remind myself that I need to take some time for me and what brings me joy. I’ve heard you need to make deposits into your account in order to make withdrawals. YUP!

I made a huge deposit when I did a women’s running retreat a few years ago. What a great group of people who were at all levels. Our morning and trail runs were amazing. I remember the yoga sessions, wonderful meals, speakers and sharing. This was on my bucket list and I am forever grateful I treated myself to this incredible opportunity.

Is there anything you’re especially proud of that you can point to your running and say, “this helped me achieve ______”?

I guess I am proud of the fact that I have been able to follow training plans that I have researched and that they have been a priority for me. This, as well as dialing in solid fueling before, during and after long runs has helped me achieve and successfully run half marathons. I appreciate that there are so many experts in the field of running and I need to continue to tap into what they share. At this point, it seems, I am looking to keep my joints and muscles healthy so I can continue doing what I really love and that is running!

What have you learned about yourself from your running journey? Is there anything that’s changed about you since you started?

I have learned that I am stronger and more dedicated than I ever thought I could be. I had minimal exposure to running (again, a little bit in high school, but I did it to be part of a team). I have learned I can take a risk and join others who share my passion through the races I have done.

Sure, I’m more toward the back of the pack, but it always shocks me when I see others cross the finish line after I have. The last half marathon I did, my husband dropped me off and was there at the finish. I was among thousands of people I didn’t know.

As I stood in the long porta-potty lines, I found myself chatting with people of all ages. I even had a throw-away huge shirt from my son-in-law to be. It seems like just yesterday that I was running in circles practically on a side road off my street where no one could see me.

Also, my weight has changed since I started back in 2003. I am 35 pounds lighter than when I started this journey.

Courtesy Debby Jones

Where would you like to go with your running? Is there anything special you’d like to achieve — like, say, running all six World Marathon Majors, or running an ultra?

I wish I could say I had a specific direction I hope my running will take me. My friend Bob has just run his 32nd marathon as he works toward doing one in all 50 states. I think I would like to run races in different places than I have in the past. This spring, I will be doing a half with my daughter Caroline that I have never done before.

What keeps you going? Especially if you’ve been running for a while — do you ever get bored with it? How do you find new things to motivate you, to keep you going?

My love for this sport keeps me going. When I have been forced to take a break from it due to surgeries, I realized something big was missing from my life. I don’t get bored with running. Having a planned race keeps me going.

Varying my routes and appreciating that I can choose those that meander by the Atlantic keep me motivated. Chatting with others who share my passion is always a good thing.

This morning, I saw a nurse at the facility I volunteer in and she and I have passed each other on the roads of Boothbay for years. Well, you can guess that we talked about our patient work but the majority of our visit was spent talking about our running. There is a kinship that we agreed those who don’t run, don’t get.

I always have a running book going. I literally have a shelf dedicated to books on running. I always get something out of each one I read… and of course, your newsletter supports everything I love about running!

Last, but not least, I love running in races that support something important. I have been blessed to meet Travis Mills, a retired U.S. Army soldier who became a quadruple amputee while serving in Afghanistan. His motto is “Never give up, never quit.” He started the Travis Mills Foundation which includes a retreat for re-calibrated veterans and their families in Maine. I run his Memorial Day race and to listen to him speak keeps me going big time.

I will never forget the time he said he wouldn’t be running with us because he had pulled his calf muscle. I realized then and there I need to get over myself and to not take my running too seriously. I hope others reading this will Google him — [he’s] a true hero and inspiration. I look forward to seeing him every May at the race!

Look back at yourself when you were a kid, maybe say 10 years old. Remember how you felt, what you thought, especially what you thought you were capable of back then. If you could talk to that kid now, what would you say?

Oh how I would love to have just five minutes with my 10-year-old self! I would say: Debby, you are not fat. (My dad’s nickname for me was “Fats.”) You are one healthy person and you have great things ahead of you.

Keep riding that bike. Keep running around your yard with your friends. You have plenty to give. Be patient with yourself. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Don’t take yourself so seriously. Take time to soak in your surroundings. Love life and it will love you back.