FEET-URED RUNNER: Becky with Relay running is a family affair

“Two years ago, I started running again. I’ve always loved running, but after my son was born, I was really inconsistent with working out and just not living my best. I had run two half marathons prior, but that was many years ago. So last year, at 42, I decided to run another half to prove to myself I could do it. It was a no-brainer to pick ECM as my comeback race. I loved the atmosphere and energy and especially the Blugold Mile (I’m a UWEC soccer alumni). 

Last Christmas, I asked my sisters if they wanted to do the ECM relay this year, and then out of nowhere, my husband, who despises running, volunteered to be our 4th. He had never run a race before but printed out a training schedule and stuck with it. Unfortunately my twin sister ended up tearing her ACL, so to take on the 4th leg, I thought maybe I’d run the last two and make my race more of a half marathon. It would be the most I had ever run, but as soon as I felt doubt creeping in, I stopped myself and realized the person telling me that is myself. 

trained for a half with a goal time in mind, but I surprised even myself by beating my goal time, beating my last half time from 12 years ago, and getting a PR. I was so proud to ring that bell and it reminded me that we don’t always take time to recognize our efforts and tell ourselves we did a good job. 

I could not recommend ECM more. There is so much hype and the atmosphere is like no other race I’ve been to. The spectators are so motivating that it brought actual tears of joy during my race.

The best part was immediately after,  my run-despising husband said he would do it again next year!. So we have a new runner in the family.”

-Becky