Though he may not have realized it then, Randy Bogits, 63, was always on track to become a successful runner. Growing up in a rural county in Kentucky, Randy spent much of his childhood running distances to meet up with friends and explore, though he never thought to join his school’s track team. When he enlisted in the army after high school, he instantly noticed the benefits of a childhood spent running. “I had endurance for days, and could run two miles in my uniform and boots in less than 12 minutes,” Randy remembers.
After three years in the military, Randy moved to Memphis to begin what would become a 30-year career at FedEx. During his early career, his fitness was primarily focused on weightlifting, with some running and rugby here and there. Soon enough, Randy met his wife Trish, and they married and started their family, before temporarily moving to Colorado Springs for an opportunity within FedEx.
During his time in Colorado, Randy’s work was incredibly stressful, and a health scare at age 37 made him realize he was on the brink of serious health issues. Cognizant of his family history of heart disease, and wanting to be his healthiest self for his family, Randy decided to start taking his cardio seriously and start running regularly. He found a five-mile loop in his area and began running as far as he could each day, then walking the rest of the way home. Before long, he could run the whole loop and then some, and he thought about trying out a race. “Pretty soon after starting to run, I dropped 50 pounds, and have never had a cardiovascular issue since,” Randy says.
In 2002, at age 40, Randy competed in the Pikes Peak Ascent Half Marathon, a primarily uphill and incredibly challenging race — the first event to spark his interest in running competitively. After moving back to Memphis, he decided to try a full marathon and surprised himself by running a 3:35 marathon in 2005, then a 3:31 marathon in 2006. As his marathon time decreased, Randy started toying with the idea of training to qualify for the Boston Marathon. However, Randy began experiencing knee pain and issues that required multiple surgeries and recoveries. “I thought I would probably never make it to the Boston Marathon, but I never lost my drive for running. I learned a lot about my inner strength and overcoming such a tough challenge,” Randy says.
Randy then ran the St. Jude Marathon in 2016 after recovering from three knee surgeries, and the Boston Marathon in 2018, which he remembers as one of his greatest accomplishments in running. However, Randy’s knee issues were exacerbated after Boston, and though he continued running, he had worn down all remaining cartilage in his knees. He eventually got two total knee replacements in 2022 and 2023, with amazing care and recovery that he credits to his surgeon since 2007, Dr. Chris Ferguson, at OrthoSouth. “When you are an active person facing injuries, it is so important to find a surgeon who understands your goals and lifestyle,” Randy says.
Now, Randy is back to running with knees that can take him the distance. His current regimen includes running 20-25 miles per week, lifting weights at the gym, and riding his bike. Outside of his impressive workout routine, Randy loves spending time with his wife Trish, his daughters Niki and Hunter, and his grandson Finan. From annual family beach trips to traveling to cheer on the University of Kentucky basketball to planning dream international vacations, Randy has no plans to slow down.
By Zoe Harrison
Photo by Tindall Stephens
