Angela Garlock

I have been running as long as I can remember - through the woods or laps around our property. I competed in Track and Field, specializing in High Jump, but college is where I was exposed to running more than a half mile at a time. Every Wednesday, we were to complete conditioning runs (which weren't always completed - sorry Coach!) and after obtaining an injury my junior year, I found myself on the treadmill instead of on the apron. Runs grew longer and easier. After graduating, I felt lost as to where I was expected to focus all of this competitive energy, and started running races. In 2014, I ran my first half marathon. In 2017, I ranas part of a 6 person relay, telling my husband as we watched people tackling the 100 mile distance alone there was zero chance I would be interested in running more than a marathon, which I was slated to run the next year. I completed my first marathon in 2018, a year after having my daughter. I remember looking at my mom after she asked at the finish line if I would do it again and telling her no. Fast forward to 2025, I have run multiple marathons, ultramarathons, and preparing for my second attempt at 100 miles. While I am proud of my accomplishments, I have also had front row seats (sometimes side by side) to watching people that I care about conquer half/full marathons, Spartan Races, and ultramarathons. I have watched them grow through running and find the joy that I have in setting goals and proving that they can do what they have set their minds to.

I hate the idea of failure and will push through things until I can't -which is a double edged sword that has cut me more than once. I can say with full confidence that the reason I have achieved the things I have is due to my inability to give up and seeing that I was capable of doing so much more than I thought. However, over the years, I have passed out during time trials, blown up in races, obtained overuse injuries, and have put myself back as a result of not recognizing I was doing too much. I have learned from these experiences and use this knowledge in my training efforts now. They have taught me a great lesson of being able to check in honestly with myself and be flexible. Just because you have to modify a workout or take an unplanned rest day doesn't derail all of the work that is being put in. I can be a stickler for plans, but sometimes plans need to change and that's ok.

Running has made a solid imprint on who I am today and would love to pass that on. Whether they are just starting out or lookingto take on a different challenge, I want to help athletes developtheir relationship with running by identifying goals and learning to love the process. The majority of time spent is in training - the goal is just the celebration of the journey. I would hope they couldlook back and say they've enjoyed how far they've come.Running can take you anywhere (literally) and there is a whole world waiting.