Dear Girls on the Run Heart and Sole Teams,

I am excited and honored to serve as the Honorary Race Chair for this season, especially considering I am a native of St. Louis. You are preparing to take on a massive feat, and you should be proud.

It takes a strong person to commit to the training — both mental and physical — that comes with running a race like this. It’s inspiring that you’ve set your mind to completing this event. 

When considering what to include in my letter, I thought about the many daunting tasks I’ve faced throughout my career as an athlete and as a coach. This race may fall into that category for you, and that’s OK. Everything worth working toward pushes you a bit outside of your comfort zone. Nerves are totally normal. 

I think the most important thing is to make sure that when all is said and done, you’ve learned something about yourself. That may be positive; you may accomplish the goal you set for yourself. You may also fall short of your expectations, which happens to everyone at some point. All you can do is try your best, take a lesson or two away from what you’ve done, and never let a fear of failure keep you from giving it another shot. 

It’s incredible to see young girls and women set goals, work toward them, and achieve milestones like this 5K you are about to run. I couldn’t be more proud. Good luck, keep up the great work, and I hope to see you at the Citi Shamrock Classic after you cross that finish line!

Sincerely, 

Coach Ivey