More Than a Run: Tracy Cowan Richardson’s Journey of Passion, Perseverance and Community

Hailing from the city of Portmore, Tracy Cowan Richardson’s journey to helping build the Lymers run club wasn’t as straightforward as you might think. As an Immaculate alumna, Tracy has always had to balance her extracurricular activities with her academics. Now, as a 45-year-old mother to her son, Tracy balances her time between being a mother, working in the ICT industry and managing the run club. Here is her story:
Tracy grew up as a swimmer. “Running wasn’t part of my life during high school; swimming was my sport back then…I started running at age 25,” she explained. During her years at Immaculate, Tracy would participate in swim training almost every day, and she was also present for swim meets. “Balancing sports and academics was heavily dependent on time management. I would go to school, then swimming, then home to study. Depending on my weaker subjects, I would carve out extra study time to keep up.”
Following her years at Immaculate, Tracy decided to branch out. “After high school and starting off in the working world, I decided it was time for a change, especially after doing swimming for so many years of my life. I needed another physical activity to keep healthy, and I decided to start running.” Highlighting the motivation that led to her run versus choosing another sport, Tracy shared, “When I was younger, my dad and I would wake up early some mornings to do a few laps at a cricket field close to our house. I noticed that doing that kind of activity helped me sleep better, be more focused with my schoolwork, and kept me from feeling sluggish.”
As Tracy stepped into the world of running, the competitive spirit of her days of swimming never left her. Competing in her first race at 25, Tracy was eager for more, and her passion for running continued to grow. “My very first race was the Sagicor SIGMA Corporate Run, and after crossing that finish line, I wanted to better my time at the next race. That desire to improve, race after race, is really where my passion for running began.” Tracy’s passions were not only self-driven, but the people in her life also pushed her to be the best version of herself. Another big motivation was the late Roy Thomas, or ‘Daddy Roy’ as everyone affectionately calls him. . “Daddy Roy was a huge influence on my running journey. I still remember when I first met him. He beat me in 5K, and I was honestly distraught. Here was a man over 40 years my senior, beating a young girl like me! But instead of discouraging me, it lit a fire. Every time I saw him
after that, he’d say the same thing: ‘Just keep running.’ That simple phrase stuck with me and has pushed me to keep going.”
With 20 years of experience in running under her belt, Tracy also shared what keeps her going, despite running feeling harder as she gets older. “Running today is so important to me because
of the running community and the running family I’ve gained. My club sometimes creates challenges that push my body to its limit, but beyond the physical side, we encourage and look out for each other. She went on to say that this community isn’t just limited to on the road or track, it’s a family. “Whenever anyone faces a challenge, whether it’s a medical issue or a death in the family, the running community shows up, and that lets the person know they’re not alone. And when there’s something to celebrate, like an academic achievement, a promotion, or even the birth of my son, they celebrate that with me too. Running isn’t just something I do, it’s part of my lifestyle.”
Tracy has participated in many races, including Reggae Marathon, around 10 times. When asked what continues to keep her coming as a participant, she stated, “The participants and the spectators. While I do see members from the local clubs, it’s always great to meet new runners from other countries. Sometimes I’ll pace with them, and after the race we have great conversations, sometimes about a running shoe, or the next race they’re planning to take part in. That gives me ideas about races overseas that I might want to try.” In addition to meeting new people, Tracy also has a special connection to Reggae Marathon due to the origins of the run club being formed as a result of preparing for that event. “The run club began when my coworkers at what was then LIME said they wanted to train for the Reggae Marathon in 2006, and now, Lymers Run Club is what we know it as today.”
With Reggae Marathon around the corner, Tracy had a few words to leave with all future and returning participants. In the words of ‘Daddy Roy’, “Just Keep Running.”