2014 Boston Marathon sponsor Stonyfield Organic helped a father-daughter team cross the finish line.
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This year’s Boston Marathon was much anticipated by people across the country as an occasion of strength, resilience, and community togetherness.
Having experienced aspects of the 2013 Boston Marathon, many runners may have felt deterred from running in the 2014 race – but not Jeff Riggin, or Lauren Newcomb – two runners with a father-daughter relationship that inspired their passion to cross the finish line this year.
Stonyfield Organic was the official yogurt sponsor of this year’s Boston Marathon, and they had held a contest to offer bibs to qualifying runners across the country who wouldn’t have been able to take part in the race otherwise. Entrants shared their personal stories, and Team Stonyfield – including Jeff and Lauren – was formed.
Jeff Riggin, Santa Clarita, CA
Jeff is the sole male Team Stonyfield member, but as the father of two daughters, he’s used to being outnumbered. This year he joined not only Team Stonyfield, but also one of his daughters who ran the Boston Marathon last year. She was back for a second time, and this year, Jeff felt passionate about joining her.
“I am the father of two beautiful girls and husband to an amazing wife. One year, my eldest daughter expressed her desire to be a runner. She said she would like to qualify to run the Boston Marathon. I told her I would train with her and try as well. Her race was first. She was a natural and qualified effortlessly. At the finish line, she told me, “Now it’s your turn, dad”. For me, it was not as easy. I trained but the times did not come.
Don’t like ads? Become a supporter and enjoy The Good Men Project ad free“Last year, she went to Boston alone. She finished, qualified again, and was safe when the events occurred. However, it was still difficult to hear her on the phone and know I could not be there to protect her. My marathon came and finally my time. I qualified and my daughter was there to congratulate me. We anxiously waited for registration, but my 57 second cushion was not enough.
“In 2014, my daughter will return to Boston to run again. I would be honored to be a part of the Stonyfield Team and be given the opportunity to run my first Boston marathon with her.”
Lauren Newcomb, Houston TX
Like Team member Jeff and his daughter, Lauren also races with her dad and has been doing so for 6 years. In 2011, the pair ran the Boston Marathon together, but her dad had to drop out of the race due to an injury. He returned in 2013, but this was the first time Lauren did not run alongside him. Of course, the events that took place were frightening for runners and spectators alike. This year was their first chance to run the Boston Marathon together.
“Running creates a special bond between people…I can’t imagine a race or even a day without my dad.”
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