You Start By Not Knowing and Then Trying

In the spirit of inspiration this month, I caught up with Elyse Braner of Arlington, Virginia.

Elyse seems to be everywhere, donating her time. She is a runner, running coach, and leader of Girls on the Run DC. I like to think of Elyse as being the person who does not conform to regular training runs, but seeks creativity in order to make things better for those she encounters.

Elyse takes a vision and slowly turns it into reality while building up a network. She is a powerhouse of energy when it comes to fitness. Elyse is committed, and she shares her values.

The starting point is what do you want from your fitness program?

There is always a spark that touches a person to take some action. Elyse shares the moment she found that spark:

I was approached by the track coach my freshman year of high school. I had never played sports before and did not see myself as athletic. The coach told me to give track a try for a week, and if I didn’t like it, I could quit. I got to practice my first day and could not even make one lap around the track. But from day one, I enjoyed being part of the team. I came back to practice every day and went to track camp over the summer. I went from not being able to complete one lap to being number one on the team by the next season.

I cannot keep up with the times I hear, “I can’t run,” and, “I tried it once.” It doesn’t have to be running; it can be any form of exercise. How quick can you doubt your abilities? There aren’t too many things which you have control over in your life, but in exercise, you do.

Back to Elyse and the attraction of running:

I loved and still love being part of a team. Running for me is social. I loved the team immediately, even though I was the slowest and most out of shape, by far. Having a team to work with and be accountable to will always be my favorite part of running.

The beauty about running is there is a selection as to what distance you prefer. Here is Elyse’s take:

My preferred distance is the 5K. While I run all distances, I am strongest at the middle distances. I attended Smith College and ran the 800m and 1500m, as well as cross-country. I really loved my years running for Smith and joined the Washington Running Club [DC] when I graduated, to keep a team environment.

Progression in the sport is supported by those who inspire. For Elyse:

Most of my role models and coaches in the sport now come from my new running group. We have so many people who have had so many experiences in the sport, that we are able to help and mentor each other. George Banker has been a wonderful role model for me. His passion for the sport and commitment to the community has inspired much of my work with neighborhood run clubs and Girls on the Run.

Elyse is easy to spot in a race with her running accessories:

My grandmother gave me pearls when I was in middle school. My grandmother and I were extremely close. We talked every day, and I still think about her every single day. I loved those pearls so much, and over time, collected more. They are so clean and classic and truly pair with everything.

Elyse seeks companionship and a sense of purpose from the sport. For Elyse:

My work with my local running club has given me so much to look forward to and a way to help others create and meet their goals. For myself, running has provided me with a community and many friendships and adventures. I have run five marathons in Europe with friends that I have met from my running club.

The sport can touch the emotions. For Elyse:

Running is absolutely emotional for me. Especially during long runs and races. I think about things from the past or challenges that I am facing. Running is such a difficult sport that demands everything. It would be hard for it not to be emotional.

Elyse has a method to motivating others:

I approach everyone who comes to my running group with kindness. Some people are very goal-oriented and want to be pushed hard, and some people just come to you and need you to literally hold their hand to get through those first few runs. I get to know the individual first and then tailor my coaching and suggestions to their personality.

There is also a competitive side “sometimes.” For Elyse:

It depends on how I’m feeling. Sometimes I like to go into a race and push hard, and sometimes I like to just be out there. I love participating in the races, whether I am going fast or going slow that day.

We all have setbacks due to injuries and over time we learn from that. For Elyse:

I used to be much more injury prone, but that was because I refused to take time off. Now, I rarely get injured, because as soon as I feel an injury coming on, I respond to it and take a few days off before it becomes a bigger problem where I must take months off. The longest I have taken off has been two months for stress fractures.

For many runners, something usually occupies the mind on training runs. For Elyse:

I often go through my ‘to-do’ list. But I think about the past often and where I want to head, something I am still trying to figure out. As I have progressed in the sport, I realize that time on my feet is more important than a distance run, especially when I am training for a marathon. I always run for time as opposed to miles.

There is a delicate balance on the mental side, too. For Elyse:

My happiest moments are when I’m running with a team or group. I don’t consider that I have bad training days, just days where the effort is so much more than I thought it was going to be. I used to get very upset when I didn’t get the results that I wanted, but now I move on very quickly and sign up for the next race. There are always races to run and results to chase.

Elyse shares words for the novice runner:

Find a co-leader that has different experiences from you in the sport so that you’re able to relate to more runners. Be welcoming and encouraging a social element beyond just running, like going out for drinks or coffee after the runs. While I think anyone can participate in running, I always say that if you don’t love to run, it can be torture.

Is there a fear around the corner? Elyse says:

I have a fear when I am running longer races. I sometimes have a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that I am going to run 26.2 miles.

Life can be a balancing act. For Elyse:

So much of my adult life has been defined by running and running groups that I gladly give most of my free time to running. I have never participated in any other sport. I do enjoy yoga, but other than that, just running for me. I do my best around 35-40 miles per week. I don’t follow a diet. I eat everything in moderation, with extra pasta of course.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WL1GTQQ2Va0