NRCers Laurie and Jason Bostelman got stories by the mile! If only I could include all the awe-inspiring, hysterical, uncanny, enlightening and heart-warming tales they shared with me over chicken tenders and mini ice cream cones at Outlanders (hey, we’d just ran 4 miles!), but you can’t contain that much awesomeness in one article. Keep reading and you’ll see what I mean.
For those who know Laurie, it won’t be hard to believe that from the beginning, her story involves making the impossible, possible. A surprise to her parents, she was their miracle baby, and so it makes sense that her mother insisted on having her delivered at the best hospital in NYC.
Fun Fact: Chatting one day on an unplanned run with NRCer Gina (Hamrang) Loyd about having both lived in several of the same places, Laurie had a shocking realization – she was delivered by Gina’s father! He had been a doctor at Northshore Long Island Hospital at the time she was born, but could it be true? She checked her baby book and sure enough, his name was on the certifcate, Dr. Hamrang!! What are the odds?!
Laurie lived in Queens, NY and California before moving to Donelson, TN in 1986 to be close her Mom’s job at American Airlines. It was a bit of a culture shock landing in Music City USA with its over-the-top Southern vibe (ask her about the BNA airport welcome), but she quickly found her groove, taking part in soccer and tennis, as well as her loves – drama and dance. Her New Yorker sense of humor was not lost on her classmates. In fact, it earned her the Wittiest superlative her 8thgrade and senior year! (And, she has the goofy yearbook pics to prove it.)
Jason is one of those rare TN unicorns – a Hendersonvillian, born and raised! He’s the youngest (please don’t call him “the baby”) of a close-knit family that has all stayed in middle TN, so he and his parents, brothers and sister get-together often. Growing up in Sumner County, wrestling was his sport, but he wasn’t all brawn and no brains. Oh no, Jason was a mathlete anda Science Olympiad!
He got really into road and mountain biking, which took him on LOTS of adventures into adulthood. When he got fed up just one year into the corporate rat race, his bike was among the few material possessions Jason didn’t get rid of before he headed out to live in the mountains of Ashville, NC. (You need to run with Jason and you NEED to ask him to tell you this story! I’ll just say tent living and communal bathing are just two golden nuggets of this one.)
Both Jason and Laurie both started college at the University of Tennessee and finished at Middle TN State University, but somehow neither of those places are where their love match was made.
As luck would have it, they were in their late-twenties before fate would bring them face-to-face. Laurie was working as a leasing agent (maybe not the best job for a tenderheart) at Brentwood Downs near Nippers Corner. Jason just happened to be living there, with some of his more, shall we say, rowdy friends. Laurie remembers writing him a warning letter about empty beer bottles strewn near his apartment (the verdict is still out on that one). However, it was Jason’s trip to the office to request a lease discount extension that spurred the sparks. Laurie remembers:
“He came in with these big brown eyes, wearing athletic shorts, Umbros or whatever, and asking if he could have a 3 month extension on his lease. So, I said, ‘I’ll have to have you talk to Nina, my manager.’ And then I was like, ‘I play adult league soccer.’”
This spontaneous remark was the beginning of many more conversations, which ended up with them dating a few years later and ultimately, getting married in 2006.
This couple works as hard as they train. Jason is on call maintaining the IT for a company that provides screening for colon cancer. Although challenging at times, he enjoys his work and supporting the fight against this deadly disease. One of the things Laurie loves about her job in Learning Development with a major insurance company is the ability to help people. Between sharing her knowledge and talents, and utilizing new tech, she gets to create and implement the programs that are helping her team members enable patients to get the care they truly need.
Both Jason and Laurie got involved with NRC through the Couch to 5K – Laurie as volunteer and Jason as a participant. Laurie has great memories of her years mentoring, hanging with her 2:1 interval crew (a.k.a. Two Legit 2 Quit) and playing good cop to JoAnne King’s bad cop as a mentor for the walkers. The accountability and friendships made the challenges worth it, and they both can’t say enough good things about Wendy Mucci and Kathy Sorenson for all they do to make C25K such a great training experience.
Inspired by Laurie and several friends from church who ran, Jason signed up for the NRC Couch to 5K in 2017 and was assigned to the 5:1 interval group. Since then he has stayed focused and crushed some serious goals, gaining speed and skipping right over the marathon distance to bust out a fat a** 50K organized by his friend, Ray Sadler and others. Well, he did stop and take a picture of his watch at 26.2, before moving on. But, I mean, who needs a tech shirt, when you can get a one-of-a-kind bottle cap medal from NRCer Terrie Peterson and an awesome 31 mile journey with friends!
Jason is also proud of his half marathon PR at Rocket City 2019, taking 9 minutes off his previous best time. He must have an affinity for hellacious hills because he will be returning to the Music City Trail Ultra for the 25K this March, is running the infamous Oak Barrell Half in April and the NightStalkers Ultra 50K in May!
You can usually find Jason out running the Nolensville roads with NRCers such as Ray Sadler, JoAnne King, Jenny Phillips, Melissa Riggs, myself and Craig Taylor. He’s also a regular at The Town Barre’s new NRC Strength and Stretch sessions on Sunday afternoons.
Laurie likes to try new races and will tell you, you don’t have to go far to see a part of Nashville you’ve never seen before. Occasionally, she’ll do a repeat – like the Hot Chocolate 15K which she PRd with her friend and NRCer Liza Vaughn. She hits the trails in March for the Baby Bell Ringer and will take on the crowds to run the 2020 Nashville Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon in April.
It’s crazy to think that Laurie’s running story was almost not to be. While training for the Middle Half in 2013, Laurie suffered a setback requiring hip surgery. It was a tough recovery and she thought she’d never get back to being able to run a half marathon.
Still it wasn’t all bad. In downshifting gears, she found friendships with the amazing walkers of NRC! Having run with NRC in its early years (think way back to meeting at Martin’s BBQ), Laurie loves how NRC has grown to include walkers and interval runners, along with our fasties.
She worked hard to safely return to running and set a goal to do the 2017 Rollin Nolen 10 miler. The adrenaline from that accomplishment spurred her to go for the half marathon distance, and she signed up for the 2018 Oak Barrell. It would be tough, but she was bound and determined to make the time requirement and didn’t let herself look back during the race. After cresting Whiskey Hill, she knew she could make it in time. She’ll never forget rounding the bend, and seeing the finish line with the NRC crowd still there after 3 hrs 40 min to cheer her in. It meant so much to her!
Since then, she’s done 3 half marathons, and in just under 18 months she’s snagged an over 40 minute PR! Laurie credits a lot of her success to Jason for holding her accountable and encouraging her to stick with her weekday runs no matter what.
Another motivator for them to get outside and move is their lovable chocolate labrador mix, Bridget! They got her the same day as Jason’s first ever 5K – the 2017 Nolensville 5K – and they didn’t even shower before going to pick her up to make sure they got to the shelter as soon as possible! (They’d missed out on 2 dogs not long before – Ask them about how they found out that it was two NRCers that had scooped them up!)
When they arrived at Nashville Humane, all the other dogs were yapping away and Bridget was sitting pretty, not making a peep, just waiting for her Mom and Dad! Bridget loves walks, is a budding social media influencer, and is all about accessorizing!
When they’re not running, Jason and Laurie travel like a boss. Together, they have taken trips to Quebec, Montreal, Seattle, Portland, Charleston, Savannah, Paris, London, Italy, Japan, and Scotland, you know, just to name a few!! This year, they’ll be joining other adventurous NRCers heading abroad to run the 3 Country Half which will take them through Germany, Switzerland and Austria. This once in a lifetime trip is being spearheaded by some of our newest european “NRC ambassadors”, Christian and Christina Mathesius-Pfreundschuh.
What’s next? Jason would like to run some National Park trail races, and has flagged Montana for the first destination. NRC destination race 2021, anyone?
The Bostelmans are also active members of Nolensville First United Methodist Church, volunteering for everything from the children’s ministry and VBS to helping their Sunday school class organize ‘Room in the Inn’ winter stays for the homeless. Jason thinks of the guys in his UMC Men’s group like brothers, and their church friends are like an extended family – a lot like NRC.
Laurie and Jason are not only transforming themselves, but they are a force for positive change in the lives of all those they meet. There is so much more I could share… Jason’s beard phase, Laurie’s dance instructor days, Jason’s ‘rivalry’ with nemesis NRCer Kathy Sorenson and Laurie’s journey to lifetime member status with Weight Watchers… but, that’s all the more reason to catch them on a run and get the rest of the story!
SPEED ROUND – Laurie Bostelman
Song that psychs me up: “Defying Gravity” – Wicked the Musical
What I wish had never been invented: A/C – people don’t congregate as a community as much, even though I keep my house at museum level!
My hidden talent: I know every piece of pop culture trivia, especially 70’s, 80’s & 90’s.
Hobbies: Reading and book club; I once had a C.S. Lewis book club.
Favorite 80’s movie: The Lost Boys!!!
SPEED ROUND – Jason Bostelman
Song that psychs me up: “Paul Revere” – Beastie Boys
What I wish had never been invented: TV.
My hidden talent: I can do the splits and I won a dance contest.
Hobbies: RC flyers, drones, anything with a remote control, and making my own obstacle courses.
Favorite 80’s Movie: Yep, The Lost Boys!!!