The Journey to the Finish Line for a Mother and her Son

Following her 4th DUI, Lindsey found herself at the Orange County Rescue Mission with her two year-old son, a place she never expected to be. She was angry at God after the recent passing of her mom and her dad had threatened that if she didn’t get help, he would call Child Protective Services. Lindsey had completed a short rehab program, but knew something needed to change and she could no longer get by just trying to stay sober on her own. At the OC Rescue Mission she met God and started to get fully healthy. 

Shortly after her arrival at the OC Rescue Mission, Lindsey heard about Up and Running Again, but she wasn’t quite ready to join. Two seasons of Up and Running Again came and went and Lindsey watched her roommate complete a half marathon and attended a pre-race banquet at the invitation of a friend who was participating in Up and Running Again. It was after that banquet that she started to believe that maybe she too could run 13.1 miles. 

Lindsey signed up for the next Up and Running Again season in 2022 and took the first step toward a life transformed by running. What started with five minutes of running soon became 30 minutes of running, then eight miles, and finally a half-marathon finish. Every mile was run with her little “sidekick” – her almost three year old son, Orion – in a jogging stroller in front of her. 

Up and Running Again was transformative for Lindsey, but it also impacted her son and her relationship with him. Reflecting on her time training with Orion, Lindsey says it provided time for them to bond. As the runs got longer, they had extended time out in nature which allowed him as a curious toddler to ask questions and open a dialogue to continue to grow their relationship. In addition, he witnessed his mom, for one of the first times in her life, set a challenging goal and accomplish it. He watched and cheered as the entire team crossed the finish line of that first half marathon. 

Now, four years after her first race, Lindsey is thriving. She has six half marathons under her belt, a bachelor’s degree to her name, works for a local church, and recently married another Up and Running participant from the OC Rescue Mission. Though not in the jogging stroller anymore, Orion still enjoys joining Lindsey on runs and has done a few short races of his own. As he has gotten older, Orion and Lindsey have talked more and more about the importance of having Jesus in your heart, a community around you, and chasing after big goals, all of which Lindsey beautifully modeled for her son through her participation in Up and Running Again.