Name: Liz Ferguson
Age: 46
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Occupation: Stay at home mom/part-time fitness coach at STRIDE Fitness
Time Running: 30 years
Reason for Running: Being able to run and feel healthy and strong is truly a gift, and I feel so lucky that I get to run every day!
I played lots of sports growing up. I was never the star player, but I loved the process and the training. In college, I began running more often because it helped me keep a routine and gave me an outlet that wasn’t school-related.
In 1995, when I started dating my husband, I began running with him. He was on the cross-country and track teams at Virginia Tech. He taught me about shoes, distance, and pacing, and we still have running dates when we want to talk and catch up. I simply loved the progress and the results I could get with running, and how I could challenge myself in different ways. More importantly, I liked how strong and accomplished I felt after running. There is no sweat like a sweat from a good run—it feels cleansing.
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In the beginning, I didn’t think of myself as a “runner,” but more as someone who ran as a form of exercise. I remember being so scared lining up for my first 5K in 1995 in Charlottesville, Virginia. After that race, I gradually added more distance and signed up for my first full marathon, The Marine Corps Marathon in 1999. I am now in the Marine Corps Runners Club, which you can enter if you run the marathon at least five times.
Some of my most memorable runs have not been races, though. On one of my first dates with my husband (while in college) we went on a run and I ended up running for one whole hour–which, at the time, was my longest run. I felt so proud of that milestone.
Today, some of my favorite runs are my Saturday morning long runs with my neighborhood mom friends, and anytime my sister and I get to run together is the best, because we live in different places.
My love for running has led me to a nine-and-a-half-year run streak, which means I run at least two miles continuously every day.
I started my run streak on Sunday May 4, 2014. I went out for a run and felt really good, so the next day I ran again. I knew I wanted to make a commitment to my health and my family, to take that time for myself, and to just do something challenging. I decided to run every day for the rest of the summer. When I did that, I told myself I would run until the end of the year. Then, of course, once that passed I kept going to make it a full year.
After one year, I decided to see how far this journey could take me. I fully invested in it, and I realized the more I gave running, the more it gave me. Now I can’t imagine life without my run streak.
Since I started running, I have completed several marathons, half marathons, and a few ultramarathons. I like competing and pushing hard in some races, but I also like running a race for the enjoyment of the sport, and to run hard enough so I am still having fun but am also able to be a mom after the race.
Having races on the calendar is a great way to keep myself accountable each day. I love the process and training—the long runs, the hot runs, running alone, running with friends, running in the rain, and the runs when you don’t have the motivation to run. The races for me are the icing on the cake and the celebration that I get to move my body and be around other people who like to do the same.
For me, running is non-negotiable—it’s like brushing my teeth. Luckily it helps to have such a supportive family who knows this and who understands that running makes me better at all my roles in life. I have more energy, patience, and more to give if I run.
Staying healthy and injury-free is important for my run streak. I do a lot of my runs at an easy pace, especially if I am focused on marathon training or running more distance. I also believe in cross training—having your body move in different planes and training different muscles is so important, since running is a forward-only motion. I love lifting weights, swimming, and taking classes at the gym. Since college, I have done the same 15- to 20-minute stretch routine everyday.
Eighty percent of my runs are at an easy to moderate pace. During a typical week, I like to include one long run, one mid-long run, and one tempo run or one speed session per week. If I can, I like to incorporate a STRIDE Fitness class (the boutique fitness center where I coach) because you can get a great running workout, with loud music, and a super supportive atmosphere. Today, I run 60 to 80 miles a week.
Running has gotten me through many highs and lows of my life, from meeting my husband to challenging myself in ways harder than I ever thought possible.
Lastly, I believe running keeps you healthy and strong, but it also shows you how much your body can do, and how hard it can work. I also appreciate the routine and consistency of running—it provides me a daily reset and almost like an internal shift to help me be a better person. I am so thankful for every run!
These three tips have helped make my running journey a success:
1. Start small and be consistent
It does not take much to start running. The hard part is the consistency and determination to keep going back. You don’t have to complete a run streak, but you do need to be consistent. Start small but challenge yourself. Aim to go out for 10 to 12 minutes a day for five days in a row. You could run all of it or do a walk/run. Gradually add time. It’s easy to say I will go run tomorrow, but do it today. A little tough love is required but it’s so worth it!
2. Find comfort in being uncomfortable
Our modernized lives are based around being comfortable at all times. Being uncomfortable is not pleasant, but I think it’s essential for running and life success. When you are tired in a long run or hurting in that interval, settle in, smile, breathe, and relax. Find your groove and your comfort there. Your body can handle it, but you need to train your mind and attitude because that part wants to quit. The more often you experience discomfort the better adapted you get to facing the hard things during a run or race or your life.
3. Ditch the technology and just run
Forget the Garmin or the GPS. Do some runs where you are going on effort only. Find the joy, take in the sights, have a long conversation, listen to a podcast. Don’t get caught up in your pace or your mile splits. Take a moment and remember why you are a runner, and why you love it so. This is especially true when running in Texas humidity!
Liz’s Must-Have Gear
→Balega Socks: Good socks are essential for running so I think it’s important to invest and spend a little more money on them! I love these because they are moisture-wicking and provide the best blend of cushion/compression
→Goodr Sunglasses: I love Goodr sunglasses! They are light and they don’t slip when you are sweating. They also offer cute styles for wearing at the pool or walking the dog. Also, they are a good price so you can get several pairs!
→Hyperice Normatec 3 Legs Air Compression Boots: These are pricey but my whole family uses them for athletic recovery and because they feel great!
Emily Shiffer is a freelance health and wellness writer living in Pennsylvania.
