Happy National Running Day! Even though it seems like this is a US celebrated day, why not spread the joy of running across the continents especially when so many things include worldwide shipping!

Today’s post will be broken into two parts – great National Running Day deals and programs followed by my running story. For some long time readers, this is a familiar topic but as there are new readers joining daily, sharing my running story is always appropriate on National Running Day!

National Running Day Deals and Programs

Timex – For every use of #IMARUNNER on National Running Day, Timex will donate $5, up to $20,000, towards the Boomer Esiason Foundation’s Team Boomer program! In addition, runners can share their story on the Timex Facebook page in order to qualify to win a Timex Ironman watch! I highly encourage each of you to use the hashtag #IMARUNNER as this is such a great cause!

Rock’n’Roll Race Series 24 hour discount – Save up to 25% on 26 of their upcoming races including the new and improved Savannah race series in my hometown!

Women’s Running Magazine – Get a new 1 year subscription or renew your current subscription for just $10!

Women’s Running Series discount -  Save up to 20% on their upcoming races in Nashville, Scottsdale, and St. Petersburg, FL!

Pro-Compression – Get 50% off ANY of their great socks and sleeves, including my favorite hot pink compression socks, when you purchase 2 or more products! (Coupon code JUNE expires June 15th.)

I Run this Body – Dorothy has extended the sale on her site, including Erica Sara designs bracelet  through tomorrow!

My Running Story

Running has evolved for me over the past seven years. In the beginning, I ran for weight loss. Then, in Philadelphia I ran because I was depressed and lonely. In New York City, running became a social activity and something I did to build friendships and develop a new passion with Bo. But, now, running more than anything is the way that I experience and see new cities and places. So while I may not qualify for Boston anytime soon and I may not achieve every goal that was on my list at the beginning of this year, I will continue to run everywhere I travel whether alone or with friends and loved ones by my side.

“Have I always been a runner?”

Hell no! In fact, my passion and love of running only began 7 years ago. My relationship with running has evolved quite a bit from where it began.

 The Beginning

On July 2nd, 2005 I walked into a Philadelphia Weight Watchers center desperate for a change. My size 14 shorts no longer fit, I had outgrown my favorite clothing store J.Crew, and I was perpetually the girl with the “great personality.” I was depressed, tired,  and finished with settling for being a “big girl.” Per my mom’s suggestion, I gave Weight Watchers a try. She insisted that it would be a safe, friendly area without the normal intimidation associated with idea of weight loss. I loved it! Within two weeks, I had lost my first 5 pounds and was learning about portion control and incorporating more fiber and protein into my diet. I was reading everything I could get my hands on ranging from books to health magazines.  But, then I hit a plateau and found that even two straight weeks of eating well weren’t helping the weight loss. My “coach” suggested I try running. I laughed at her and explained that I was the girl who avoided the mile run during elementary and middle school. I even avoided team sports in high school for fear that I wouldn’t be able to keep up with the other girls even though I loved volleyball and soccer in middle school. She challenged me to start walking and take it from there. That night, in an old Villanova dorm fitness center, I stepped on the treadmill for the first time. I started out slowly, setting the speed to 3.5 just trying to find my balance. After 20 minutes, sweat dripping down my face and body, I increased the speed. I remember bartering with myself. “If I can do 1 minute at 5.0, then I can stop.” Success!  That night, I jogged for 1 minute and felt invincible. I had taken my first true steps towards finding an exercise that I would come to enjoy and love.

In the days that followed, I added one minute every evening. I kept track of my mileage and time in my Weight Watcher points diary each day until I realized that I was half way towards a 5k. Every summer, during college, my sorority sisters celebrated the end of the season with a lake weekend in Macon. Each year, I stood and cheered by the sidelines of the Macon Labor Day Road Race while they ran past. This year would be different. I kept my new found activity a surprise from everyone. By the last day of my summer internship and my final Philadelphia weigh in, I had lost 11 pounds and was able to jog, albeit at a 11:45 pace, a 5k on the treadmill. My friends and family couldn’t compliment me enough when I returned to Georgia. This positive energy, along with the fact that I was finally under 190 pounds, kept me yearning for more. By Labor Day weekend, I was able to finish the Macon Labor Day Road Race in 33:12! Throughout the rest of my senior year, I lost 30 more pounds through careful eating and exercise. I ran three days a week throughout campus, normally logging 3-4 miles. I spent this time thinking, releasing stress, and thinking. Sometimes, I was able to convince another sorority sister, who was willing to jog at my pace, to join me for an evening run. It quickly became my favorite time of the week.

Middle

When I moved to Philadelphia on May 14th, 2006 I was excited for the future, but very aware that I was leaving a great deal behind. I left my friends, boyfriend (now husband Bo), family, and past in Georgia in order to start the next chapter in my life. I was pursuing my dream job, but I was miserable. I spent my time immersed in working out and cooking when I wasn’t working. Each morning, I woke up at 6am and logged 4 miles on the treadmill. Each night, I would return to the gym and bike or spend time on the elliptical. I wanted to be anywhere except in the loneliness of my apartment. During this same period of time, my best friend Amy, who had also started with P&G, convinced me that I could run further than 4 miles. She thought that training for races, virtually, would help me. It gave me something new to focus on and something fun to think about. We planned her visits around our Philadelphia races, often making a weekend out of the hour or two hour race. We were second class citizens at our first race, The 2006 Philadelphia Marathon’s 8k. Trust me, on a marathon weekend, the event planners do not think twice about those folks running their smallest race. But, for me, on that day I ran my first race with Amy and my furthest distance. I was immediately hooked on the endorphins I felt after a race and the energy I gained running a new distance. This confidence spread into my everyday work as well as my social life. Bo and my friends saw a new, happier and more confident Ashley while my co-workers quickly termed me “The Running Gal.”  Over the next few years, we conquered multiple mileage marks together including 5k, 8k, 5 miler, 10k, 10 miler, and eventually half marathons together. We planned for each race in the same way. We used Runner’s World to build a training schedule and would each train religiously, never missing a day and recapping our runs and training on email and phone. By the time I left Philadelphia, we had logged 10 races together spanning from Philadelphia to Charlotte, North Carolina.

While living in NYC my relationship with running evolved into a ritual. It helped me make friends, become closer with co-workers, clear my mind and find camaraderie. While there I completed 38 races including my first New York City marathon, a day I will never forget.

I had the opportunity to learn more about my body’s abilities and my running by working with Gia, a role model and friend, for two years. With her help I was able to go from running 2:20 half marathons to a 2:02 half marathon and realize that my legs can run sub 9 minute miles. With hard work and dedication, the body can achieve what the mind believes.

Current

Since moving to Geneva, running continues to be a ritual of mine which allows me to see new cities when we travel across Europe and discover parts of Geneva that few other people see. In addition it has helped me make and build friendships with female runners who inspire me daily, even though many of them live in London versus Geneva!

I am in awe and pushed more as a runner than ever before by my good friend Renaud who is an accomplished ultra marathon and sky runner. I’ve started challenging my body in new ways by transitioning from road running to trails and look forward to completing my first trail 10k in Chamonix this month.

However, trail running at this point isn’t competitive for me, instead it is a chance to get out into nature and enjoy the beauty that surrounds me here in Switzerland. On the road, I continue to push myself as I begin training for the Berlin Marathon, where I hope to run a sub 4:40 marathon, taking more than 10 minutes off my current marathon PR. 

If you’re a reader who needs help getting started, please always feel free to reach out to me. As you can tell from this post, I was there once too. It can be intimidating to start, especially at a gym, but once you start you’ll never stop!