RunSport: Growth Through Community
Written By Brandon Green
Excitement among RunSport clinic participants is reaching an all-time high. Each week, the track, streets, and trails come alive with energy and enthusiasm of runners from all corners of the city, translating into a number of opportunities for amateur and seasoned runners alike to achieve their goals in the sport.
RunSport clinics aim to create a culture that blends community, challenge, and growth. Mariah Kelly, head coach of RunSport’s camps, highlighted that the camps not only enhance athletes’ physical abilities but also encourage them to embrace challenges. This approach aims to equip athletes with the confidence to tackle challenges in their lives off the track. Kelly further stated that while RunSport fosters this supportive culture, its success ultimately depends on the participants' willingness to show up each day with a positive mindset. At the end of the day, the true goal with the clinics is to provide a community that feels like home where people feel welcomed, inspired, and encouraged.
One member of that community is Elizabeth Booth, a participant in this summer’s RunSport Clinics. Booth shared her experience as a RunSport athlete, a homeschooling mom and full-time night shift ER nurse. Initially, joining a team seemed challenging for Booth. However, the flexibility offered by RunSport allowed her to consistently attend sessions and eagerly anticipate each week with a growing circle of friends.
“I have so many golden memories and achievements through the RunSport clinics and races,” recalled Booth. “I am working towards a goal that is becoming increasingly attainable. But the greatest joy has come from watching my teammates achieve their goals together. There are those perfect evenings when the temperature is mild, there’s a gentle breeze, and I hit paces I never thought possible. It’s in those moments that the experience truly shines.”
All stories like Booth’s having to start somewhere, and the progress shown from this season’s RunSport athletes have been amazing to watch since clinics kicked off earlier this summer. Clinics comprise of athletes from diverse athletic backgrounds and levels of skills. As a result, an optional Fitness Mile clinic kicked off the year to assess the participants current fitness levels. This test provides results that determine personalized goals and programs, tailored to help each athlete achieve success. For many, it was their first experience with fitness testing, sparking a mix of excitement, nerves, and more! It was inspiring to witness the effort and new personal records set by the runners, and it will be exciting to document future stories from the RunSport community!
