It was the final cross country meet of the 2015 season for Bridgeport Middle School and Beth Fox was doing what she always did at the events. She was there watching and shouting words of encouragement to her eighth grade son Eli Bailey.

 

“I always would be on the sidelines telling him to run harder and go faster. For whatever reason at that last meet while I was yelling encouragement I thought that I’m a hypocrite for telling him to run harder because I was pretty certain I couldn’t even run half a mile,” said Fox. “I watched him giving it everything he had and I decided I needed to get in shape for myself and maybe to run with him. After all, if Eli wasn’t afraid to go out there and stay in shape I absolutely had no excuse.”

 

Understand when Beth Fox talks about her son not being “afraid” to compete, it isn’t hyperbole. This isn’t the typical well-meaning parent encouraging her child. Rather, this is the parent encouraging a young man who she was told once that he may never walk again, let alone run.

 

For those that don’t know, Eli Bailey faces some disabilities as a result of three brain surgeries that finally resulted in the complete removal of the left portion of his brain. Even before he was born, Eli was seizing while in utero and after he was delivered. In fact, he was seizing every three hours after he was delivered. The problems led to a decision three months after birth that the entire left side of Eli’s brain would need to be disconnected.

 

The surgery to do that – and the accompanying medicine along with it – didn’t work. The seizures continued, and they continued for the next three years before the surgery was done to remove the left side of his brain. It would be an eight-our procedure that resulted in Eli’s mother being told that the seizures would never happen again and that any level of normalcy in his life was far from a guarantee.

 

So what the future held for Eli and his mother was anything but certain. As it’s turned out, Eli is not only a bright and engaging youngster, but he’s managed to become the most popular athlete at BMS and I have a suspicion the same thing is going to happen this coming year when he officially becomes a member of the Bridgeport High School cross country program.

 

Eli’s popularity isn’t based on pity. He and his family want no part of that. His popularity is based on the fact that he has a contagious smile and inspires people.

 

Count mom as part of that group. And the result has been beneficial for mother and son.

 

“After I made the decision it was a little too cold to be out running so I started working out at home in the morning,” said Fox. “I’m not a gym person because that would take away time from my family so I started my fitness program at 5 a.m.”

 

So the workouts began. And then came a phone call that changed everything.

 

“The director of the Turkey Trot 5K in Shinnston called and wanted Eli to run in it … Since I was working out I asked Eli if he wanted to run and if I could run it with him. He was so excited and wanted to do it,” said Fox. “It wasn’t just my first 5K. It was Eli’s first 5K and we lived through it and had fun.”

 

And soon after the adventure with her son began full throttle; particularly when the weather warmed up earlier this year. With Fox already continuing her morning workouts and changing her eating habits, they started running together. Although Fox says many times Eli will go in a different direction when they run and at a different pace, he was insistent that they go out together.

 

“I was happy she wanted to run. When I asked if she could run with me and she said ‘sure’ it really made me happy,” said Eli. “I had a running buddy.”

 

Indeed he did. The mother and son, or running buddies who were already tight, found something to make their bond even stronger.

 

“I started running with a purpose in April. A big part of it was to get in better shape and to do it for Eli,” she said. “He was absolutely my motivation to start running and I didn’t want to do it alone. When he was excited about me running, too, that made it.”

 

Recently, they competed in the Strawberry Festival 5K. They followed that up by competing in the Derek Hotsinpiller Fallen Stars 5K in Bridgeport. Then, something mom never thought she could do, or even her son, entered into the thought process.

 

“In May, I thought maybe I should try the Greater Clarksburg (Cecil Jarvis) 10K. … I just didn’t know if I could do it,” she said.

 

Then, she said, she thought of Eli. Her son who was given so little hope to have any type of normalcy had proven to her time and time again that you can do anything.

 

“I think I was looking for an excuse and I see him and realize there’s no excuse to not do something. There’s not one in the world,” said Fox. “Once I decided to enter I knew I would have to see if he wanted to enter it too and, well, that’s a long race and something that’s really far so, as a mother, you worry. But he begged and begged and, even though it stressed me out, I agreed.”

 

What concerned mom most were the hills that the Clarksburg 10K features. She said he struggles with them and this race had more than its share.

 

“When I finished I knew he was behind me and there was no one around to tell me how he was doing; there were just too many people so I got me my water and ate an orange and looked for him,” she said. “I can spot his gate from miles away and there he came down by the fire department.

 

“It was such a relief so I went and met him and crossed the finish line with him,” she continued. “He had the biggest smile on his face.”

 

Part of it was because Eli Bailey loves to run. Part of that smile was because the same thing happened that always happened when Eli runs – the crowd was yelling his name and cheering him on.

 

“That never ceases to amaze me to hear people yelling his name; people he doesn’t even know and it makes him feel good,” said Fox. “I have to admit it makes me feel good as well.”

 

Eli and his mother should know that the youngster makes others feel good too. His effort is why they cheer. It’s why Eli Bailey has become a bit famous in his corner of the world.

 

“What amazes me is that I can’t set limits for him because if I do he just goes beyond. You can’t put limits on the kid. He amazes me every day with something new,” said Fox.

 

Mom and son do a two or a five-mile run nearly every day of the week and she’s dropped a good bit of weight along the way. On top of that, Eli has participated in offseason conditioning for the high school cross country team and in the ongoing three-week summer practice period. To date, he hasn’t missed a day.

 

“I’m excited for cross country and to make new friends,” said Eli. “Coach (Jon) Griffith is really nice too. I think it’s going to be fun.”

 

It certainly will be, and not just for Eli. The soon-to-be freshman who was told he may never walk or lead a normal life may not come in first place or be among the leaders when he competes, but when he finishes he provides something even more powerful to everyone that watches – inspiration and a reason to grasp hope.

 

That inspiration is a reason why he still manages to win every time he runs. He’s inspired everyone to better themselves – including mom.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo show Eli Bailey and his mother Beth Fox shortly after completing the recent Cecil Jarvis 10K event in Clarksburg, while Eli is shown crossing the finish line as his mother is out of the picture running along. Third photo shows Eli with his medal after completing the Strawberry Festival 5K, while Eli is joined by Beth and Chris Fox after the Derek Hotsinpiller Fallen Stars 5K. Photos courtesy of Beth Fox.