29 Jan 2006 PTCRC HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE TERI BESCH
One of the two newest PTCRC Hall of Famers is Teri Besch. Originally from Niles, Michigan, Teri and her husband Ray have been PTC citizens for the past 25 years and running club members for 14 years. Teri is a teacher at Oak Grove Elementary School. She served as the club Secretary from 1998–1999 but is probably best known as having been the Kid’s Fun Run Coordinator for the last 12 years.
In fact, it is her passion for children combined with running that drives her. She says, “I love working with kids and teaching academics. I also started the running club at Oak Grove and still miss being with the students in the mornings when they run their laps. I enjoy seeing them succeed.”
Although Teri has a passion for running, she was hesitant at first to join the club. “I was very intimidated because I always thought it would be a serious club, very focused on running, and I was never a competitive runner. I moved here in 1982 and didn’t join for 11 years. Valerie Reynolds was my neighbor. Between her and my husband, they pretty much forced me to join. I have never regretted it. The running club is like my extended family.”
And now she says, “I feel so good when I’m through (with a run workout). I have made life-long friends through running. I hope that it will keep me healthy. I’m the only one in my family who exercises. I am hoping to beat the odds by keeping fit (my family has a history of heart problems).”
Teri and Ray have two grown children, Kris and John, and are grandparents to Kris’ daughter Bailey Rose. One of Teri’s most memorable runs was “probably about 5 years ago when I talked my mother, two of my sisters, and a niece to walk a 5K. They all finished the walk. My mother was the last person to finish. She kept stopping and talking to people and telling them how old she was and it turned out to be quite the social outing for her.”
Teri was also among the group of club members who took part in the first Disney Goofy Challenge last year. “My goal was to finish before the sweep and I did it with time to spare!” But among her most unusual running experiences was “probably when I saw a flasher a couple of years ago by the nature walk. He waved at me, and I ran faster than I had in years just to get away.” Guess all that training paid off when it counted!