If you're a fan of the underdog, Laurie Paretti Dymond’s story is for you. Nothing ever came easy for her in life. As the second of six children, she was like a second mom to her family. Those poor, humble roots truly shaped her grit, grind, and love of community.

Powered by her huge heart and ability to endure and suffer, Laurie has set three American Age Group records as a Masters runner in her 50s. She has achieved truly remarkable things as a runner and has had an even bigger impact on those in need. Giving away prize money from local races, befriending local migrant workers, and donating supplies to them are just a few of the things that really stand out and make her such a treasured member of her Chambersburg community.

When Laurie moved from Catholic School to public in high school, she had a difficult time fitting in. She was self-conscious about her Wrangler jeans, Kmart sneakers, and lack of cool clothes to wear. And then, at her most vulnerable and awkward time, she had a chance encounter with Mr. Cook, who told her he needed her on the track team. Being seen and needed completely changed the course of Laurie’s life.

In her own words: “Yes, I’ve learned that I can keep going even when I’m at my lowest. And more importantly, I’ve learned that I’m not defined by a finish time on a clock. None of us are. We are defined by the light we give to others and those we help along the way. Having a great race here and there makes the journey a little more interesting. The failures, I think we need those to keep us humble and ambitious at the same time.”

I'm so thankful to Devan Zeger, Communications Director and Mike Spinnler, Race Director of the JFK 50 for sharing info on Laurie, which led me to invite her on the show.

I'm honored to share Laurie's amazing story and hope you all enjoy this convo as much as we did. If you do, it would mean the world to me if you would rate the podcast or write a review and share feedback wherever you get your podcast groove on.

Connect With Laurie:

Instagram: @lapdymond

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurie.dymond

Connect With Ron:

Personal Instagram: @ronrunsnyc

Podcast Instagram: @runchats_with_ronrunsnyc

Facebook: https://fb.me/runchats

Website: https://ronrunsnyc.com

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© 2021 Ron Romano