by Bill Shaw

This feature is a continuation of the Front of the Pack article in the October 2003 issue of Runner Triathlete News. To get all the details on Bonnie Jo Barron and Bertie Jo Moore, pick up a copy of the October issue of Runner Triathlete News. Subscribe to RTN today!

Mother and daughter Bertie Jo Moore, 72, and Bonnie Jo Barron, 41, of Houston share the running life and inspire one another on and off the road.

"I believe the biggest inspiration she has in my life currently is seeing her at 72 years old getting out and really competing in these fun runs and continuing to show improvement," said Barron. "It is very inspiring to see that she can work her full time job, get up very early on Saturday mornings to compete in a 5K fun run, and then turn around on Sunday morning, wake up early and do her training run at Memorial Park. She is just incredible."

Moore also instills a sense of pride in her daughter.

"Something I am very proud of is how proud other people are of my mom," said Barron. "It makes me feel so good when others say positive and encouraging things about my mom. It also makes me proud and happy when I see other runners stopping to talk to her in Memorial Park or picking her out of the crowd at a race specifically to have a conversation with her. Another thing that makes me proud is that so many runners from the entire Greater Houston running community know who she is and always have a friendly wave, smile or kind word to give her as they pass by."

The Sunday morning training session with her mom is Barron's favorite.

"We meet other Bayou City Road Runners (BCRR) members for a 6:30 a.m. run. Mom does her own thing while we do the River Oaks course," said Barron.

These Sunday morning runs have helped Moore develop her confidence.

"For a while, Mom was a little bit intimidated with running at Memorial Park, but not anymore, and, in fact, she now often ventures out of the park and does part of her training run down Memorial to Shepherd and then back to the park, " said Barron. "We look forward to our Sunday morning training run, even though we are not actually doing the training run together, we know that the other is out there. Also, I feel good when I am coming back into the park and a lot of runners will pass me saying 'Hey, Bonnie, we just saw your mom.'"

Mother and daughter have grown closer through their shared experiences in running.

"We have mutual respect and admiration for one another as runners," said Barron. "We both encourage the other at all times. Right before every race, we give each other a hug and kiss and say good luck. We love out and back courses because we can pass each other and give each other encouraging words or at least a 'thumbs up' or a wave as we pass."

Mother-daughter support continues after the races.

"On the way home from a race, we discuss our race -- what went right, what went wrong, what was fun, what could have been better, who was at the race, who we were competing with," said Barron. "We give each other constructive criticism, but mostly we give each other support."

Moore's support extends beyond the area races. Moore and Barron's husband Paul, who is not a runner, were in Boston in April to cheer for Bonnie Jo.

"That was a very special trip for all three of us," said Barron. "It was my very first Boston. I will never forget finishing the marathon and hearing my mom and Paul from the sidewalk yelling my name and cheering and clapping for me."

Barron has qualified for the 2004 Boston Marathon and looks forward to her return trip.

Moore was also on the sidelines in Austin in February at the Motorola Marathon cheering on her daughter and other BCRR club members.

"Last year at Austin, she went as a supporter of all the other BCRR participants, including me, who did the relay with another BCRR member, Bill Crich," said Barron. "While she had a great time supporting all her BCRR friends, she is looking forward to actually participating in the half-marathon in 2004 as she said it was difficult to be on the sidelines watching when everyone was out there having such a great time."

Barron sees her mother as magnetic.

"My mom has an extremely sharp mind and is very witty. She is one of those people that all people just seem to migrate towards," said Barron. "Even when she is not smiling, which is not very often, she always has this warm, loving vibe around her that attracts people. She never meets a stranger, and she is kind and nice to everyone. She speaks her mind, she is independent, and she does not let anyone walk all over her. She can get along with 20-year-olds just as well as she can get along with 80-year-olds. In short, my mom is just one super- cool person."

Moore's feelings are reciprocal. She sees her daughter as a role model, and their running has strengthened the mother- daughter relationship.

"My daughter keeps me focused, helps me improve and cautions me when I may be injured to take it easier that day," said Moore. "This has made our relationship stronger and her setting of goals and then attaining them has shown me she is a determined woman. Along with this comes her compassion and caring for other runners. I am so proud of my daughter, who has influenced me to become a better person."

Bertie Jo and Bonnie Jo, mother and daughter, strengthened by the bonds of running.