3rd Overall 2023/24 Polar Bear Grand Prix
I played soccer growing up and really had never thought about running as a sport, just as part of the game of soccer. Part of my soccer days included running hill repeats every Saturday morning, which I think is why I love running hills so much (looking at you Cherokee Park). The years of hill repeats led to the suggestion by an old soccer coach, that I try cross country. I tried cross country in 7th grade and loved it, which started years of running myself ragged. Every Spring I was playing club soccer and running track. Every Fall I was playing school soccer and running cross country. By my senior year of high school, I started getting worn out and knew I needed to make a change and that ultimately ended up being the decision to only focus on running, leading me to run cross country and track in college. After my freshman year at a very small university, I decided to transfer, which meant a larger school with a D1 program that I was certainly NOT cut out for, meaning running just became a hobby. After years of just running for the heck of it and jumping into races without any training, I finally decided to focus in on the sport more, and I joined Fleet Feet Louisville, where, after two seasons of training, I was able to join the racing team. I am now a mentor in our training group and I also get to lead a Thursday run club every week. All in all, I have been running for 17 years and I have loved every second of it.
It was in my first season of training at Fleet Feet that I first heard about the Polar Bear Grand Prix. The group I normal ran with had a team in the races and I wanted in, so that first year I just ran the Grand Prix solo. The second year I formed a team, now known as The Devil Wears Strava and we have been having so much fun ever since! We all LOVE the Polar Bear Grand Prix and will never not do these races. It offers such a great atmosphere and fun/friendly competition…plus it just feels so good being a part of and supporting our great local running community.
My favorite distance is currently the half marathon. It’s challenging but not so long that it makes me feel like my next step may be my last LOL. I have attempted one full marathon before (with ZERO training) and it did not end well. Long story short, I am not brave enough to try that distance again…yet.
My favorite place to run in Louisville is Cherokee/Seneca Parks. They offer me the hills that I like, flat areas for speed work and central location that is easy to add on to for long runs. The only thing they don’t have are the bathrooms of the Parklands. My favorite place to run outside of Louisville is any place that I am visiting. My favorite way to explore a new town is to go on a run with no plan. It’s the best way to see the area and find places that you wouldn’t typically find on Google.
My favorite race/most unique race I have run currently is the Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon. While this wasn’t necessarily the “best” race I have done, the memories that were made there made it the BEST. I have a goal of running a half marathon in every state, so when I found this race as part of Destination Races, I immediately asked my best friend if she wanted to do it with me and before you knew it, we were renting a cabin, planning our stop at Buc-ee’s, and signing up for the Black Bear Challenge which meant racing a 5k at 6:30 the night before the half marathon. We learned that the best race recovery involves a hot tub and Pedialyte in champagne glasses…and maybe getting lost in the woods on a hike.
My favorite thing about running is the way it makes me feel. I can be having the worst day and go for a run and feel a thousand times better knowing that, regardless of how the rest of the day went, I was able to get out and move around and accomplish something. Running gives me a space to feel things and process things in a safe space. It’s free therapy for me. I also LOVE the community. The running community in Louisville is second to none. Getting to run through the park and see so many familiar faces is such a great feeling. It gives me a sense of pride, being a part of this great thing. The relationships that I have developed through the running community, are relationships that I cherish and ones that I know will last a lifetime.
If there was any advice that I would off, it’s to keep moving. It doesn’t matter if you are a running, walker or somewhere in between, you are doing something productive and you are accomplishing something; that is something to be proud of.
Another piece of advice I would give is to do as many River City Races as you can throughout the year. Each event River City Races hosts is always such a great time. You get to get out and move, you get to be a part of this amazing running community we have in Louisville, and you get to give back. You also get to challenge yourself too. With so many races throughout the year, it’s really a great way to push yourself and see what you can do from race to race.
I would encourage everyone to come out, regardless of ability/pace, and be a part of this amazing community that we have here in Louisville and that River City Races is helping grow. I think I speak for everyone when I say, we’d love to have you.