Bristow’s own Billy Ledbetter ran in the Forrest Gump Challenge 5K race over the weekend. The 2021 Forrest Gump Challenge offered a virtual race as well as a 5K race and a half marathon at Branson Landing in Branson, Missouri. Organized by Cross Country Missions, the challenge functioned as a collection of charity runs. Although themed for movie character Forrest Gump, the challenge made clear it “is not endorsed, sanctioned, or in any other way supported directly or indirectly by Paramount Network, any of its representatives, or actors from the movie.” Instead, the challenge focused on the lead character, encouraging costumes and gifting participants with Gump-themed goodies.
For those who do not yet know Billy Ledbetter, he was not always a runner. Although he had been an athlete in high school, he had fallen away from sporting and athletic events and exercise in adulthood—at least until 2010, when his lifestyle necessitated change.
In late 2010, Billy said he weighed 240 pounds and began experiencing some cardiac problems. He had high blood pressure and cholesterol and was borderline diabetic, requiring him to take five medications. He noted that during an appointment, Dr. Cooper quizzed him about his diet and exercise habits, recommending dietary and weight loss changes.
Billy shared the story of his inspiration for those changes: “When all of my problems were just beginning, I was wearing a heart monitor. It beeped and sent messages when it detected something abnormal. One night, in the middle of the night, it beeped. I woke up to my wife crying because she worried that she might wake up one morning without me. I decided right then and there to do everything I could to make sure that I exercised and ate right. I’d lived in Bristow since 1967 and never run the Wildflower Run, so I decided I was going to do whatever I had to do to run the Wildflower Run that year. Dr. Cooper recommended I lose twenty pounds. Actually, I lost twenty pounds plus ten more between February and May. My goal for the Wildflower 5K Run was simple: start it and finish. As soon as I finished the race, I ran up to my wife and told her I’d never had so much fun in my life. I told her she better find me another race to run in two weeks, or I’d be nice and plumpy again by Christmas. That’s where it all began. Running the 5K races kept me motivated.”
In his first year of running, he ran eighteen races. He set a goal of running 100 races, and the Forrest Gump Challenge 5K last weekend completed his 90th race. Additionally, the race also served as his birthday present to himself. On October 4th, Billy celebrated his 66th birthday. He gave himself quite the gift: a more healthful life. He also earned second place in the males ages 60 to 69 category and in tenth place overall with a time of 28 minutes and 9 seconds.
Strikingly, the one achievement of which he is most proud is that he never took a single diet pill to lose the weight. He managed it all through diet and exercise. In maintaining his healthful habits of eating well and regularly exercising, Billy achieved more than completing ninety races and winning a few of them. Currently, he only takes a single medication. He also serves as an inspiration for adults who question their ability to impact their own health after decades of inactivity and unhealthy eating. His life and health serve as his testimonial and encouragement never to give up or lose hope. His message is simple: “Have that cheeseburger with mustard instead of mayo and an apple instead of fries. Trade the riding lawnmower for a push mower. Start small, but just start.”