Meet Melanie
Welcome to our Runner's Spotlight, where we celebrate the dedication, achievements, and inspiring journey of one outstanding individual in the Russell Run Club. Each month, we spotlight a member who embodies the spirit of our community through their passion for running, commitment to personal growth, and contributions to the club.
Running can be hard, not just the actual activity and training but also just getting out the door and showing up. This was the case for Melanie - our August 2023 Member of the Month. She shares the story of how "just showing up" for a group run on a cold, snowy Sunday morning changed her life.
Yes, the Russell Run Club provided the training and support to help her reach her goals. However, her hard work and dedication serve as a role model to others. I (Coach Michelle) saw this on a rainy early morning track workout in the Summer of 2023. She was the only person to show up at 5:30 AM. I was standing in the rain, getting soaked and being miserable. My "hardship" quickly disappeared as I watched this quiet but determined lady run each interval. I'd call out the times. She was running faster than planned - maybe too fast. But I'd see the joy on her face when she heard each one. You could tell she was tired but still pushing through.
"Can you do one more?" I asked.
"Of course," she replied with no complaint.
At the end of the workout, I flip through my notebook and compare it to a similar workout done weeks earlier. "You're improving," I said. I will never forget the smile on her face when she heard that.
"That was fun," Melanie replied, drenched in the rain.
But as you read Mel's story below, you will realize how important this workout was for her.
Melanie's Story:
As I approached my 40th birthday in 2023, I wanted to celebrate this milestone differently. After dedicating the past 20 years to raising my two beautiful girls, I found myself at a crossroads, ready to focus on my own goals and dreams for the first time. As a shy, introverted, and quiet girl who was still trying to find herself, I decided to set a challenge that I once believed impossible:
Running a 10K
Despite having completed a few 5K races in the past, which I found incredibly challenging, the thought of a 10K race felt daunting and extremely hard. I didn’t necessarily like running—in fact, I hated it! But I was determined to prove that with the right mindset, I could achieve something I never imagined possible.
By understanding the importance of surrounding yourself with like-minded people (who have similar goals and values), I decided to join the Russell Run Club. Despite my shyness, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and join one of their Sunday morning runs.
It was a stormy winter morning in January 2023. I had every excuse to stay home, but I reminded myself of my promise:
“Mel, just show up.”
And so, I did.
It was then that I met Coach Michelle. Her welcoming presence assured me I’d made the right decision. As the group prepared for a 10K run, my anxiety peaked:
“How will I manage this? I don’t want to slow anyone down.“
But Michelle stayed with me, starting with a manageable 2 and 1 run/walk ratio and ensuring I was comfortable.
I soon learned about Michelle’s running clinic and joined without hesitation. It wasn’t long before I fell in love not only with running but with the group. For the first time, I felt comfortable talking and opening up to people, and I felt a true sense of belonging.
Hearing their inspirational stories, learning about their struggles and achievements, and seeing how we motivated each other during those tough winter runs made me feel truly connected.
I began looking forward to our runs rather than dreading them. As my endurance grew and I was able to run longer distances, I experienced a profound sense of accomplishment and joy. It wasn’t just about fitness; it was about discovering a new part of myself and building meaningful connections.
Crossing the finish line of my first 10K race in April 2023 was an extraordinary feeling. I couldn’t believe I had achieved it, and it made me realize just how capable I am of reaching my goals. Things are, in fact, possible!
This experience made me feel hungry for more, so I signed up for a half marathon in September 2023. I’ve never felt as strong as I did during that race. Everything fell into place. The weather was perfect, the support from everyone was incredible, and I felt unstoppable.
Finishing in 2 hours and 17 minutes was surreal, especially considering I once couldn’t run for more than 4 minutes continuously. “Mel, la gazelle”, as someone from our group started to call me, was emerging.
This inspired me to sign up for the 30K Around the Bay race in March 2024 and then the St. Lawrence Marathon in April 2024.
Running has become a significant part of my life at this time. I genuinely felt that I was improving in all areas :
Physically: I’ve had energy and endurance I didn’t have in my younger/teenage years.
Socially: Late night drinking or binge-watching Netflix turned into early Sunday morning group long runs, 5:30 a.m. track workouts, or lunch hour runs with a colleague.
Spiritually: Solo runs have become moments of meditation and reflection.
Mentally: Running has helped me cope with stress in a healthy way and taught me how to overcome mental challenges.
I discovered a profound happiness within myself that I had never experienced before.
The Around the Bay Challenge was great, but I had been dealing with foot pain for a while, ignoring it and hoping it would eventually go away.
I went into the race fully aware of this, taking Advil and Tylenol beforehand, hoping it would numb the pain throughout. However, I began to really suffer around the 25K mark. Unknowingly to me at the time, my left leg began to compensate for the discomfort and pain in my right foot, leading to issues with my left calf. So, not only did my body have to endure the new distance I was running, but the pain in my right foot and left calf also became unbearable. Every step of those last kilometres felt like torture. Stubbornly committed to completing the race, I pushed through the pain, finishing with a time of 3 hours and 30 minutes
I was reluctant to confront the problem. I didn’t want to hear that I couldn’t run the marathon or, more importantly, that I had to stop running completely. I hoped that a few weeks of recovery would get me back in shape for the marathon.
Unfortunately, the rest did not help. My last long run before the race was extremely painful, and I had to face a hard truth: I was advised not to run due to a possible stress fracture.
The grief I felt was overwhelming. It was as if I had been building something for over a year, only to see it all come crashing down. The thought of starting over felt unbearable. I had put in the work and was ready, not just to watch from the sidelines. My old limiting beliefs began to resurface, and thoughts of failure and unworthiness were creeping in.
The support from the run club was incredible. They understood my pain and helped me see that I had already achieved so much. Their encouragement turned my disappointment into a powerful reminder of how far I had come. I was happy to return the favour by cheering them on from the sidelines!
No, I didn’t get to run my marathon. This is not the story I anticipated sharing at the end. But I’ve won and grown in ways I never thought possible.
Yes, I may have to start over, but I will rebuild from a stronger foundation and come back stronger and better.
It’s also a reminder that setbacks, mistakes, and disappointments are part of life; it’s your attitude toward them that will define you. Learn from them, never give up, and keep moving forward. I know there’s a greater reason this happened that I may not fully understand now, or it may seem unfair, but I know it’s for the better, and I have faith and trust in the process.
My running journey has taught me that it's about more than just running. I've learned to apply the runner's mindset to everyday challenges and goals, whether it’s in fitness, career, or relationships.
When you believe in yourself, you open the door to incredible possibilities. Keep taking steps toward your goals and create an environment that helps you thrive.
Setbacks are inevitable, but with the right attitude, they can become stepping stones. Learn, adapt, and keep moving forward. You’ll find your way.
Progress may be slow, and success doesn’t happen overnight, but persistence and patience will get you there.
Anything worthwhile is hard and can be scary, but the feeling of accomplishment far outweighs the short-term pain.
There’s always room to grow and discover a better version of yourself. What you can achieve is limitless.
Ignoring problems only makes them worse. Face them head-on to heal, learn, and move forward stronger.
Choosing to say "yes" rather than letting excuses hold me back on that stormy winter morning transformed my life in ways I never could have imagined. It was in that moment of courage that everything began to shift for me.
Thank you to:
My coach, Michelle, for building this run club and supporting me throughout this journey.
Shawn, for biking along with me on long runs and ensuring I was fueling properly.
Tara, for your gift of listening and making me feel comfortable to open up to you. I value our conversations and friendship.
Jen, for running my first 10K with me.
Dominic, your motivation is contagious, thank you for pushing me through my limits and your continuous support.
Tammy, for teaching me how to fuel properly.
Stephanie, I love our lunch runs. Thanks for pushing during tough times.
Crystal and Pat, thank you for joining me on long morning runs.
Scott, for introducing me to trail running.
Mike for organizing the Around the Bay race. I now have a 30K under my belt
In fact, each member of the run club has played an important role in my growth, and I’m forever grateful.
My heartfelt advice to you is to believe in the impossible. As Prince Ea said,
“At the end of your life, you will not regret the things you did, but you will regret the things you didn’t do, the risks you didn’t take, the dreams you didn’t pursue.”
So, take that first step toward your dreams. Find a coach and a supportive community. They’ll help you grow and lift you up when you fall. Embrace the journey, and know you have the power to achieve the extraordinary.
As I continue to heal and prepare for my marathon in April 2025, I’m excited for new achievements. Each new challenge and goal will be an opportunity to learn, grow, and evolve, knowing that every step I take will bring me closer to a better version of myself, whom I’m eager to meet.
Do you have a story to tell or want us to learn a little more about yourself and your running/fitness journey? We are looking for members to be profiled in upcoming newsletters and our blog page. Sharing your story can be a great source of motivation for others.
If you are interested reach out to us info@russellrunclub.ca
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