Stories And Inspiration

Blair Ramsey - 15, and still going far

Submitted by Anonymous on Apr 2nd 2013 - 1:00PM. | Perma Link

Blair Ramsey was a fifth grader when she joined the GO FAR Club at Morehead Elementary in Greensboro, NC in 2008.  "I had taken up running as a hobby, and I thought GO FAR would be a great way to hang out with friends and run at the same time," she says. 

Ramsey has never looked back. A freshman at Greensboro's Grimsley High School, she runs on the track and cross country teams. She's the last person to talk about her accomplishments, but the young woman has amassed several pages of impressive times and places.

Last August she took second (19:24) at the Guilford County high school cross country championships and placed in the top 25 (18:49) at the state meet in November. In 2010 Ramsey outran women two and three times her age (12) to place first (19:48) in the Women's Only 5k in Greensboro. Twice in recent years she won, overall, the Human Race 5k (19:19 and 20:10). And on March 29, running at the collegiate Raleigh Relays with just 25 other invited high schoolers, she ran a 10:54, her two-mile personal record.

Blair Ramsey runner Greensboro NC

Ask her about running and Blair will tell you it's a great way to stay in shape, make friends, and that it's "fun to set goals and work to achieve them." Her mother, Terri Ramsey, can tell you the full story. Terri Ramsey knows the young athlete who has written goals on a dry-erase board in her room for three years- better running times to reach, goals for ballet, even character goals. She knows about the kid who ran on her grandmother's treadmill on Christmas night while her cousins watched a movie.

"People often tell me that Blair's running looks effortless, like play. I just kind of smile inside," Terri Ramsey says. "I know what they mean, but what I see is the hard work that got her here. She may look effortless during the race, but that took hours and hours of hard work to get there."

Here, Blair Ramsey's encouragement for students considering GO FAR:

You'll do better in school. "Athletes have to manage their time well, which builds time management skills. Running also releases endorphins, which allows you to focus better in school."

You'll learn to eat better. "Eating has become a way to feed my body with "fuel." I have been more conscious about what I eat and how it will affect my next workout."

You'll make new friends, have family fun. "I have made friends with so many awesome people that I wouldn't have met if I wasn't in the running community. And running is something that I can do with my mom or dad and it benefits all of us."

It's fun to get stronger. "GO FAR is about making a healthy lifestyle. There are many kids who are your speed that you will enjoy running with, and seeing your improvement is awesome!"

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