A Moment of Gratitude
As we head into Thanksgiving week and the holiday season, I wanted to use this opportunity to express some gratitude.
As I reflect over the last year, and especially the last few months as we have launched the official website and this blog as a part of KJWC Run Club, I am so appreciative of every one of you who has supported this journey and who takes some time out of their day to open the website and read my thoughts and views about this sport we all love so much.
To my readers—thank you for investing your time and trust in me. While I never began writing this blog to go viral or to gain internet fame, I have found it to be an excellent way to not only put my journalism and language and literature degrees to good use, it has been an awesome creative outlet. I love taking time during the week to research running trends and blend scientific research with my own running experience and journey. I have learned so much in the process, and I appreciate every one of you who have reached out with suggestions for blog posts, questions about running, suggestions for topics, and especially those of you who say the things I write about also resonate with you as runners. If you have any suggestions or feedback, please don’t hesitate to contact me at kjwcrunclub@gmail.com or shoot me a DM at @kjwc227 on Instagram.
To my running clients—thank you for putting your trust in me as both a coach and a hype woman. When I first started coaching, I did it as a quiet little project for some close friends and family. Fast forward six years later, and I have worked with hundreds of runners, some of whom are looking to run their first mile without stopping, some who are looking to run sub-three hour marathons or qualify for Boston, and many many more in between. I have absolutely loved being on this journey with each and every one of you. While you may look to me for guidance and help with your running plans, I have learned so much from each and every one of you. No one’s running journey is the same as another athlete’s, and that is what makes this sport so much fun. I can’t wait to keep working with you all, and I am so excited to see what this new season of training brings for all of us in the spring and early summer!
To my own legs—thank you for continuing to log so many miles, whether it be solo, on the road, on the trail, strength training, or leading community runs with friends. It is so easy to fall back on the negatives of the sport: our times weren’t that we wanted, we don’t feel good, it’s too hot, it’s too cold, it’s too early, work kept me too late… but what we fail to realize is that moving our bodies is a privilege. I like to circle back to that sign I saw on the Boston Marathon course so many years ago: “One day, you won’t be able to run this race. Today is not that day.”
I don’t know where I would be without the sport of running. It gives me an escape, it helps make busy days feel lighter, it challenges me, it breaks my heart, it builds me up, it gives me big goals to work toward, it has taken me to so many beautiful places. I am forever grateful for every single mile these legs have run in my lifetime, and I will never take running for granted. I strongly encourage every single one of you to do the same: what you are doing is not easy, but it is beautiful.
And last, but certainly not least, a HUGE moment of gratitude to my good friend Chen, who is the mastermind behind my website and who works tirelessly to edit my blogs, post, create emails and layouts, and does it all with a smile on his face. Thank you for your vision, your execution, your feedback, and your friendship, Chen. Here’s to keeping this good thing going together into 2026 and years to come!
So, so grateful for you, readers and runners. Enjoy the holiday and please, please don’t wear the carbon plated shoes to the local turkey trot!