Runners Spolight

Runner’s Spotlight: Sarah T.

October 23, 2024 /

When I think of Sarah, I think small but mighty. Sarah impresses me with not only her strength and endurance in terms of running, but in her strength of character, so I was very glad that she was willing to share her story with us! I often run with Sarah and another friend, so that is why you see us as a trio in these pictures! Pretty soon, though, we won’t be able to keep up!

How and when did you start running?

Until my freshman year of high school, I was a nerd who hated sports. I decided to try track after a gym teacher casually mentioned that I might like it. It was harder than I’d ever expected. Running endless laps around the track was so exhausting that I almost quit, but I happened to see the movie “Chariots of Fire,” and it inspired me to keep going.
I started off running the 800 meters, then later switched to the 1600 and 3200. I was probably the slowest runner in the history of the school. At district meets, I sometimes placed, but only because hardly anyone else ran those events.
The one good thing about track was my teammates. At my school, sports tended to be racially divided, and for a while I was the only white girl on the team. One of my best memories of high school is of my teammates shouting, “Go, little white girl! Go!” Even though I was so slow, I loved being part of a team.
When I was tired and wanted to quit, I promised myself that I would run all through high school and then never force myself to run again (ha).
Twenty-five years later, in February of 2023, I was going through a hard time. I was sad over some recent life events. I was also tired all the time and out of shape. I was working three jobs and had a young daughter and a disabled husband. Driving home from work one day, I saw a sign advertising the Glow for Life 5K and felt a little inward nudge. I thought about signing up, but my life seemed too busy to fit in another activity. Then I realized that I was ALWAYS going to feel too busy, and there was never going to be a “right” time. I asked my husband what he thought. To my surprise, he immediately said, “You should do it. I fully support you.” (And he always has.)
I mapped out the course for the Glow Run and figured out a practice schedule. During my first run, I thought I was dying after about 20 seconds. Unfortunately I had told all my coworkers I was going to run a 5K, so I couldn’t quit! For the next four weeks, I went around the course three times a week. At first I had to walk most of it. Gradually I was able to run more. Each day, as soon as I finished, I texted my finishing time to my husband. Each day it was a little faster.
I loved the Glow Run, even though I had to walk parts of it. I went home afterward and signed up for another 5K. After my first few 5Ks, I started running with Wire2Wire and found that I improved much faster when I ran with other people. I also found a whole group of new friends. Run Club nights and Saturday morning group runs became the highlights of the week.

What keeps you running?

My friends keep me running!
I also like having an identity as a runner that’s separate from work and family.
After a wet 9 mile run!

Do you have goals associated with your running?

I’m planning to run my first marathon in November. This is something I NEVER thought of doing until just a few months ago.
I don’t have definite long-term goals. Right now, my race times are still improving, but at some point they’ll stop getting faster. When that happens, I’d like to try other things such as trail running.

What do you like best/least about running?

I love finishing a long run, then getting to eat potato chips for the rest of the day.
I also like finding ways to drop the phrase “training for a marathon” into every single conversation.
Seriously, my favorite thing is how the limits keep stretching. The marathon I’m planning to run is literally 200 times longer than the distance I could run when I first started.
My least favorite things are speed workouts, hill repeats, blisters, and sweaty running clothes. Also, the amount of time that running takes from other activities. I would like to be able to sleep late on Sundays, have coffee and a crossword in bed, make cinnamon rolls for breakfast, run six miles, and still make it to church on time, but there aren’t enough hours in the day, so something has to go–usually sleep.

Share a running story/adventure (can be funny, struggle…).

I have a lucky lime-green headband that I wear for important races. Last winter it disappeared for several months. The night before my first half marathon, I was looking for a headband for the race, but I couldn’t find one that I liked. Finally I gave up. As I was getting ready for bed, the lucky headband suddenly appeared in front of me. (It had been hidden under a book.) The next day, I wore it in the race, beat my goal time, and placed third in my age group.

A bientôt!

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