Name: Elizabeth Pearson
Age: 28
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Occupation: Supply chain manager
Time Running: 2 years
Reason for Running: Running is a way that I can show up and keep promises to myself. It teaches me to love my body for what it can do and not what I wish it were.
I ran on and off in college, but fell out of it after I graduated. Five years later, I picked running back up in spring 2023 on a total whim when I was living in Colorado, feeling stuck and aimless. I saw an Instagram ad for the BolderBoulder 10K, and thought “why not?”
After that first race, I was hooked and signed up for a half marathon and full marathon.
At the time, I was just beginning my sobriety journey. I hit rock bottom right after my 26th birthday. I was exhausted, I hated myself, and I didn’t have a desire to live anymore. I think I had always known that I couldn’t drink like other people, but for some reason, I just didn’t think “someone like me” could be an alcoholic.
CA Notice at Collection Pilates classes, and chose oat milk over regular milk in my coffee, I was immune to being exactly who I was.
All it took was one singular moment of honesty and clarity to change everything. I was able to surrender and finally ask for help. By some miracle, I wound up in a 12-step program and it absolutely saved my life.
As I got sober, I was in desperate need for more structure and discipline in my life. I quickly Minnesotas Governor Loves Running as a way to push through physical and mental blocks to reach a concrete goal. Running became a way for me to prove to myself that I could actually follow through on something.
I ran three to four times a week and followed the Hal Higdon beginners plan.
In that first year, I ran the BolderBoulder 10K, the Colorado 13er Half Marathon, and the Kauai Marathon. The first two races were fun challenges, but the Kauai Marathon was definitely an unparalleled experience. I had never dug that deep physically. I was exhausted and sore Running Shoes - Gear.
I couldn’t quit, though, because my little brother had flown out to Hawaii to watch me race, and seeing him cheer for me got me across that finish line.
I had spent the last eight years choosing drinking over our relationship, but despite how much I’d let him down, he showed up for me without fail in my recovery, never asking for or expecting anything in return.
During the last 10 miles of that race, I felt I was handed a beautiful and succinct choice to either revert back to who I had always been during my active addiction, or to keep showing up even when it got hard. I cried when I crossed the finish line. I think I was just overwhelmed by how much love had come back into my life over the first 11 months of sobriety, and how good it felt to be a person of her word.
Sobriety is the foundation upon which I have built the rest of my life. Without my recovery, I have nothing. It has given me the peace I was always looking for when I was drinking.
She Runs to Reclaim Her Identity After Assault running has really become a love letter to life after addiction for me. It’s something I was never able to do when I was drinking. I couldn’t wake up early. I couldn’t stick to a training plan. I couldn’t fuel myself properly. I still get emotional on runs because I can’t believe that I got a second chance at life.
I currently run three to four times a week. Running keeps me disciplined and it constantly humbles me, because no matter how good I think my training is, I always have an “easy” run that brings me to my knees. Usually my split is two to three easy runs (five to eight miles) and a long run Balega socks are unbeatable. I always say, it doesnt matter how good your shoes are, if your.
Weight training Give A Gift knees when I was training for my marathon last summer because all I was doing was running. In the spring of this year, I stumbled across some run podcasts about hybrid training and decided to give it a go.
I don’t think I can ever go back! I have seen my body composition and athleticism completely transform through a combination of running and weightlifting. I really feel like it’s kept me injury-free for this training cycle.
In that first year, I ran the BolderBoulder 10K, the New York City Marathon with The Release Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that provides care to those suffering from substance use disorder who are ready and willing to seek professional treatment. The money we raise provides scholarships to bridge the gap between what people can afford and what they need to transform their lives through sobriety and recovery. It’s an amazing organization that does important work, and I’ve personally seen how it changes the lives of people that I’ve come to know and love.
The marathon was easily the best day of my life. I cried when I crossed the finish line because I truly felt like I had honored my consistent training and I knew that, more than anything, that day was about raising money for those also seeking treatment for substance use disorder.
The energy of the city was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced—I felt like I was floating for 26.2 miles. I ended up PR-ing my marathon by over an hour for a 4:00:33 finish time, which felt surreal. I think I can attribute this to fueling every two to three miles, six months of weight training, and everyone who showed up to volunteer and cheer for the runners. I fully have the marathon bug and I cannot wait to start training for my next adventure!
Yes, there was a moment at mile 23 where I felt like throwing in the towel because I wasn’t going to make my sub-four-hour goal, but I knew that I would always be disappointed if I pulled back. I will never regret locking in and just absolutely going for it. And I think that kind of sums up what running is for me: I am doing something hard and I can look back and say, “Hey, I’m proud of how I showed up.”
I feel so lucky every single day I wake up sober and alive. Being able to give others the opportunity to have the same gifts that recovery has given me is so, so special.
My ultimate goal is to complete a full Ironman. I am going to start training for some triathlons and am just looking forward to a new challenge. I don’t have a timeline for it all, but I know that continuing to push my body’s limits is what keeps me motivated each and every day.
These three tips have made my running journey a success:
1. Cross train
Running isn’t the only way to Running has really become a love letter to life after addiction for me. Weightlifting and cross training can completely change your fitness and, in my experience, have made me a much more capable runner. I found that the stronger I’ve become, the less stress I put on my knees and other parts of my body that I felt were constantly experiencing injury and strain. I follow a progressive overload training schedule and it’s made a world of difference.
2. Do long runs with friends
I used to exclusively run by myself and it was hard to stay motivated. However, since moving to Chicago a year ago, I’ve been so happy to discover how much community there is around running here! I tend to get bored during long runs and I am also a certified yapper, so running with a friend or two makes the time fly by.
3. Run without headphones
This may be an unpopular opinion, but I feel like my solo runs got a lot better when I stopped wearing headphones. I think I tend to get overstimulated easily and my pace and splits would be all over the map depending on the music I was listening to. Running has become a moving meditation of sorts for me and it’s a more relaxing experience when I’m able to just be fully present in the world during my runs.
Elizabeth’s Must-Have Gear
→ Balega socks: Balega socks are unbeatable. I always say, it doesn’t matter how good your shoes are, if your socks aren’t comfortable, your feet won’t be comfortable! It’s not a “sexy” running thing to buy, but it will make your runs way more enjoyable!
→ GU Energy Gels in Caramel Macchiato: I know there are some certified GU haters out there, but I’m convinced it’s simply because they haven’t tried the Caramel Macchiato flavor yet.
→ Health & Injuries: I feel like everyone sleeps on this bra. Granted, I have nothing going on up top, but it’s great if you have a smaller chest Running has really become a love letter to life after addiction for me!
→ A New York City Marathoner Turned to Running to Support Her Sobriety and It Transformed Her Life: I still struggle with my left knee from time to time and I don’t know what kind of magic they put in this $18 compression band, but it is unmatched.
Emily Shiffer has worked as a writer for over 10 years, covering everything from health and wellness to entertainment and celebrities. She previously was on staff at SUCCESS, Men's Health, and Prevention magazines. Her freelance writing has been featured in Women's Health, Runner's World, PEOPLE, and more. Emily is a graduate of Northwestern University, where she majored in magazine journalism at the Medill School of Journalism and minored in musicology. Currently residing in Charleston, South Carolina, Emily enjoys instructing barre, surfing, and long walks on the beach with her miniature Dachshund, Gertrude.
