COVID-19 strikes. And while the world is shutting down, a passion for running is growing for James Redding, who after nearly three years of running, just ran his first marathon.

James Redding, a senior, picked up running with his mother right around the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and after training and practicing for years, he ran his first marathon at the Marine Marathon in Portland, Maine in October, 2022.

Throughout the journey training for a marathon, James Redding found inspiration in his family and in many different people around the school.

From the get-go of his journey, James Redding said that his mother, Associate Dean Lisa Redding, played a big role in inspiring him and helping him with his path towards running a marathon.

“Her dedication has meant everything,” James Redding said. “From giving me hydration and nutrition advice to driving me out to Framingham on Saturdays so I could run home for my long run, knowing how dedicated she was to me left me no other choice but to do my very best.”

Guidance counselor Nicole Bent, who also began working out with James Redding near the beginning of the pandemic and whose husband ran the marathon with James Redding, said that she was impressed with his methodical strategy and will throughout the process of preparing.

“He’s incredibly disciplined and organized,” Bent said. “I think with running, you have to have the discipline to go out and do it on the days that you don’t want to and I think he has both of those skills.”

Lisa Redding also said that while she was there to assist and motivate him, James had to rigorously train to prepare himself.

“When James’ long runs got to 15 and more miles, I drove him out to the suburbs (Framingham, Natick, Ashland) in the morning and dropped him off to run home,” Lisa Redding said. “I would drive about 10 miles out and wait until he ran by to hand him more water and Gatorade.”

James Redding said that people who may be thinking about as a passion or hobby or people who take inspiration from his story as a runner should give the sport a try.

“I would say definitely try it out. There is really nothing stopping you except your own mind, which can be difficult when you’re sore and have to push through,” James Redding said. “But in the end, it’s very rewarding. The end of each run, no matter the distance, feels really good and like a small accomplishment on the way to the bigger goal.”