Running helps Beach couple stride toward a stronger bond

By Amber Kuehn

At a race as large as the Chicago Marathon, it's rare to spot the runner one is looking for. Even once.

Knowing that, Ray Johnson carefully mapped out where his wife, Lisa, probably would be at certain times. He encouraged groups of strangers to shout her name to get her attention.

So, when Lisa ran her first Chicago Marathon in October, she and Ray made eye contact four times during the 26.2-mile race.

"The marathon pushes your body past what it's physically capable of, so it was a mental and emotional boost to be able to see Ray," Lisa said.

The Virginia Beach couple have supported one another in running as well as in life - and the cheers haven't always come from the sidelines. The Johnsons have run in every Virginia Beach Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon together and, although Lisa said they don't run side by side, training toward a shared goal has strengthened their bond.

Lisa, 41, encouraged her husband to sign up for the first Rock 'n' Roll Half in 2001 after reading about the event in Runner's World magazine. Ray agreed but wasn't much of a runner and hadn't trained properly, so he didn't think he would finish. He completed the race in 2 hours, 45 minutes.

T ears came when he crossed the finish line.

"You talk about emotional; I must've cried for 15 minutes after that," he said. "Running when I was 32 was so foreign to me. Exercise was not part of my routine. After that race, the thrill of being a part of that type of event inspired me."

Seeing her husband achieve something he didn't think was possible inspired Lisa, who began running competitively after the birth of their second child.

"He's not a disciplined person and I didn't think at the time he'd stick with it," she said. "I was so proud of him. Running for both of us has now become a huge part of our lives."

The couple belongs to the Tidewater Striders running club. Ray has since completed five full marathons.

Lisa has run in 11 half-marathons and four marathons, including the Boston Marathon in April 2007. Fifty mph winds caused temperatures to dip into the 30s, causing concern about hypothermia, but Lisa finished. She also qualified for the 2009 Boston Marathon.

"The Boston Marathon, for the average person, is graduation, wedding and the Super Bowl all wrapped into one," Ray said. He and his two boys waited for Lisa at the top of Heartbreak Hill.

"I will never forget watching her come over that hill," said Ray, his voice cracking.

Lisa hasn't forgotten it either. Nor has she forgotten how the 2005 Rock 'n' Roll Half became more than just a race.

Ray's father had a heart attack just weeks before the race and Lisa said they nearly lost him. The ordeal inspired six family members who had never run before to sign up for the Virginia Beach race. The couple has two posters of the family at the beach that day. One hangs in their bedroom, the other on the wall of the Ray's office. They remind how running brings people together.

Although each has run numerous races across the country, both say the Rock 'n' Roll Half is special. They rent a limo to take to the race each year.

"To have a life partner also be a source of athletic motivation provides a tremendous edge," said Dr. Casey Cooper, a sports psychologist in California.

Ray will run the Chicago Marathon in October. This time Lisa will be the one watching. She said it's her chance to return the favor.

"My goal is to see him three times on that course," she said. "For once, I'm going to be a fan for him."