See Running Partner Encourage Howell Boy In Mile Quest

HOWELL, NJ — A stranger's kindness has a Howell couple reaching out via social media to thank the anonymous man who ran the last lap of a mile with the boy at Howell High School over the weekend.

Elise Monteforte shared her family's experience in a Howell residents' group on Facebook, saying, "Our (very competitive and determined) 7-year-old bet us he could run a mile at the high school track. On lap 4 he started to slow down and this wonderful man slowed his own pace to run the last lap with him — encouraging him the whole way. I’m sure it was a small thing to him but to a 7-year-old on a mission it meant the world. If anyone knows this man, he deserves a big high-five for the kindness he showed."

Monteforte, who along with her husband, Dylan, watched the man's kind encouragement, shared a photo and video of it along with her post.

Luca, her 7-year-old son, is not a runner, she said.

"My stepson is on the freshman football team and every time we drop him off, Luca asks if he can run the track," Monteforte said, describing Luca as "an adrenaline junkie" whose primary sport is surfing. Luca plays soccer as well. He is extremely competitive.

"Everything is always a competition in our house, much to my dismay sometimes," she said. So on Sunday, Luca bet his parents a pack of Pokémon cards that he could finish the mile without walking."

"While he never gives up, he might have slowed to one step above a walk on that last lap if not for that gentleman cheering him on," she said.

The response from her Howell neighbors "has been heartwarming," Monteforte said. "There is always so much negativity; I just wanted to showcase something positive for a change. It definitely gave Luca, my husband, and I something to smile about all day yesterday!"

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Photo and video courtesy of Elise Monteforte, published with permission