Fairytales Do Come True: The Story of Shelley and Jeff

Join us in this inspiring episode as we explore the beautiful journey of Shelley and Jeff, a couple whose love story intertwines with the world of running. Shelley's path back to running is not just about crossing finish lines; it's a tale of resilience, support, and the kind of partnership that fosters personal growth. After stepping back from running due to health challenges, Shelley found the encouragement she needed in her husband, Jeff, who may not be a runner himself but embodies the essence of a dedicated supporter.

Listen as they share their experiences at the Space Coast Marathon half marathon and the magical moments of participating in runDisney events. Discover how Shelley learned that running is not solely about the destination but about every moment along the way, enriched by the presence of someone who believes in your journey. Jeff’s perspective adds a unique layer to their story, revealing the sacrifices and joys of being a cheerleader for love.

In this candid conversation, you'll hear valuable insights regarding maintaining balance with family, work, and hobbies, especially for those who juggle multiple responsibilities. We dive into the importance of setting personal goals and understanding that care for oneself is crucial to maintaining well-being.

Join us as we engage in a heartfelt discussion about community, support, and the magic that running can create in our lives. Whether you’re a seasoned runner or just someone looking for motivation, this episode is sure to resonate. 

Don't forget to subscribe, share this episode, and celebrate every extraordinary stride in your life's journey!

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome to Extraordinary Strides
• 9:32 A Heartwarming Love Story Unfolds
• 19:39 Running Through Life: Shelly's Journey
• 48:49 Finding Strength in Support: Jeff's Role
• 1:13:39 The Magic of Run Disney and Marathon Memories
• 2:36:01 Future Goals: Running Together

Transcript

Coach Christine: 0:01

Welcome back to Extraordinary Strides. I'm your host, coach Christine, and today we have a story that's equal parts heartwarming, inspiring and a whole lot of fun. It's not every day that we get to talk about a running journey in a true love story, but today we get both. Joining me are Shelly Swearingen and her husband Jeff. Shelly is a dedicated educator in STEM who somehow manages to balance life's ups and downs while keeping running and her strength training a priority.

Coach Christine: 0:27

I should definitely say that, and what makes her story extra special besides the fact that she actually is a runner who does her strength training is that she has unwavering support of her one and only Prince Charming, jeff, who spoiler alert, my friends is not an avid runner, so he's been by her side through every mile, every finish line and every post-run celebration snack or meal. So Shelly has made her big comeback to running at the Space Coast Marathon half marathon last year and then, with Jeff cheering her on, she stepped into the magical world of Run Disney at Princess Weekend, and we're going to dive into how she found her way back to running, what training looks like as a non-pro juggling real life, and what it's like to have a built-in cheer squad that doesn't necessarily lace up, but is still there every single step of the way. So, my friends, let's get into it and welcome on in Shelly and Jeff Hi.

Jeff: 1:19

Hello Thanks.

Coach Christine: 1:21

So excited to have you guys here because I felt like I had just a little inkling. I just have been able to scratch the surface of how special your connection and your relationship is at these two race weekends that I mentioned. But I wanted to also just kind of dive in a little bit deeper about how you guys did meet, connect and how running has been part of your story, at least for definitely in this last year. So, Shelly, I'm going to start with you.

Shelley: 1:49

Take us back. How did running first become a part of your life and what drew you to it? Well, I actually started running in high school. I wasn't a, it wasn't my main sport, it wasn't my main thing by any means, but just had some friends that were like, hey, you should come out and run track with us. And so I went out and tried it and the two-miler was my thing. And then the following season was convinced to run cross-country and started running and it's just been one of the best things I ever did, even though it wasn't my. You know, the thing in high school that I loved. It has stuck with me all these years and it's come and gone and for years it was just three, four. Never ran more than five miles for a long time. But that was where my journey started, was being convinced to do it in high school.

Coach Christine: 2:36

Were you into a different form of athletic. Is there something else that you loved Was running your punishment, or were you okay with it?

Shelley: 2:43

It wasn't my punishment. Actually, I was a dancer and I was on the dance team like the kick line and did that kind of stuff. I was a tigerette, um, and we would run um just as warmup, and so it was fun to. You know, it would run the couple laps around the school to warm up. They would tell us we needed to work on our cardio and I would be at the end and drag in and I also always was super proud whenever I started running. Then the couple, two or three of us that were also running, we're getting out there and actually enjoying it. We were running those laps and, you know, encouraging the others on the team to it's not so bad, we can do it.

Coach Christine: 3:23

I love that. So you have quite the athletic background. So I'm going to ask Jeff did you have a sport choice when you were in school, or was running your sports punishment, or was it really your jam at all?

Jeff: 3:35

Oh, I did everything. I played football, turned down a D1 scholarship to play football and to play baseball. That's what I was still showing. I was like, yeah, I did all my running in college. I was a pitcher so you had to run all the time, you know so, in football course, ran, ran, ran, ran. And I did do track because I was faster than most people, but I I disliked that part of it, so you know so. But I did for many years and then I don't know here lately I've been lazy, I walk but I don't run.

Coach Christine: 4:12

Hey, I think walking is a phenomenal way to move our bodies. It's we know now that like it's actually like almost one of the superior forms with low impact steady state. So good for us. By no means of stretch imagination, here are we definitely saying that walking isn't incredible. I find it fascinating that sports is such a big part of your lives and actually now I can see why there's that big connection in STEM, because I do think they parallel each other a little bit. So I'm kind of curious, though from my understanding, shelly and feel free to correct me if I'm wrong at some point, running did take a little bit of a back burner for you. Is that correct? Absolutely.

Shelley: 4:48

And it's been kind of an on and off. But after I had my girl the girls that was, you know it kind of did just being a mom, didn't run a lot and I actually have ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease and went through some rough years with that and when I started to feel a little better, my first half marathon I signed up for was to run with the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation. When I first did the Miami half, it was in 2008 or 2009,. I believe was my first run and then a couple of years later, I really got into it for a few years where I did a lot, and then in 2018, our family just went through a lot of hard things and going through a divorce and things like that. I just didn't. I let it all slide, let it all go, wasn't taking care of myself for a long time.

Coach Christine: 5:40

So we call it seasons in life, right, and there's certain seasons in life that, unfortunately, we are having to prioritize other aspects and sometimes our wellness does take a little bit of a back burner. So we're happy to have you back and that's one of the things I want to talk about, because I know that when you guys connected, I think that running wasn't a big part of your life, is that, jeff?

Jeff: 6:05

yeah, that's correct. I mean she did run and I knew she ran. Uh, after we got married and I was moving all of her stuff in and we have this big placard with all these ribbons and all these you know her, her numbers and all that kind of stuff, and it's a beautiful thing. But I was like holy moly and and then she just slowly kind of started uh, uh, training a little bit. And then you know some of us, I hit my 50th birthday and and so everybody had to start running around here, so so were you surprised were you surprised or were you?

Coach Christine: 6:38

I mean, what were you thinking when? Because it sounds like Shelly, you eased him into it. Smart woman you are, it sounds like it wasn't maybe that much of a shocker, but were you surprised that it kind of started adding up and then you took on a role of like number one support crew? Or did you see it coming and you were pretty happy with it?

Jeff: 7:01

Yeah, you can kind of see it coming. I mean the number one support, that's just what we do, that's what I do, uh, and I can see it kind of coming. And then, especially when she hooked up with you and started training and having some results, I mean it's something because she'd be out running and days I'd go to work and I'd go to work and I'd see her coming back and I could see her form getting better. I could see her getting better. And you know, I think we just she kind of started it. She needs a goal.

Jeff: 7:32

So she picked a race and I don't even remember what the first race that when we were together she started training for. But you could just see it coming and coming, and coming. And then you know now, uh, the half marathon, uh is a little bit more uh involved. There's a lot of five in the morning getting up and and I get, I get up that early, so it's not that big of a deal, but uh, you know it's because we like to spend in the evenings together, so it's getting up at the crack of dawn and she does not like to get up.

Coach Christine: 8:02

So so I feel you girl, I don't like it.

Jeff: 8:04

I don't like it either. I don't like it either.

Coach Christine: 8:07

I love sleeping in. It's the best. I call myself a Goldilocks runner. I don't want to go too early, I don't want to go too late, I want to just write, but there's not that option most of the time.

Coach Christine: 8:15

So, okay, so, jeff, you saw it coming, you saw that she was getting more focused on it and again I think you mentioned it, shelley you are very metric focused, you are very goal oriented, I think, in your day-to-day life anyway, and it's been incredible to see how you've attached yourself and your identity to just this consistency. I don't ever hear you ever complaining. So I'm going to ask Jeff if there's any complaining going on. But before we get into that, I want to know a little bit of what was it like when you started to committing back to this training and getting into this time for yourself. And then I'm going to ask Jeff what did he think of seeing you kind of as you started to progress in this commitment from the more casual to how he mentioned? It's definitely a lot more committed now where there's a lot of crack of dawn type of wake-ups.

Shelley: 9:09

I think it's. I guess the him seeing it coming was me doing a 5k here and there. You know, 4th of July, a firecracker run on 4th of July, and here and there, and so it was doing a little bit and then it was me turning 50 last summer and you know like, okay, I'm not gonna let this isn't going to be, I'm going to take care of myself and with Jeff support, like not feeling guilty about doing those things for myself. I mean it is require the gear that I need, the, the training support. They need the, the time and not feeling guilty and having that support.

Shelley: 9:46

And then just realizing how the health benefits, the stress relief because my job is very demanding and does require a lot, but that being able to get out and do something for myself and put my book in my ear, my music in my ear, and being able to go out and, you know, just step away from the hard things sometimes and do something for myself, and having that support to not feel guilty and making that time. And it is the commitment also because I do want to have my. I'd like to have my evening, so I like to get up and get it done and taken care of in the morning, but it's definitely been just good that mentally, physically and in every way felt good, getting back to taking care of myself and doing something for myself.

Coach Christine: 10:31

It's been so beautiful to see it from my perspective, and it's also been beautiful to hear about the support that you receive, because, from day one, I think you guys have such an incredible relationship in that you're really partners in this game of life, right? So it feels like there's a lot of talking about these choices and balling it back and forth, and I know you mentioned early on that Jeff was fantastic at supporting with, like you said, the gear, because this is unfortunately, this is the most expensive, inexpensive sport that I think that there ever could be.

Coach Christine: 11:02

I do know that I want to talk a little bit about that, jeff, because we hear on this side and I'm sure you hear it, but you're probably a little too humble to even realize how incredible your support of Shelly has been. I think specifically I'm going to think back to summer, where it's 98 degrees at four o'clock in the morning and you're dropping by and bringing her some fuel or hydration or supporting her on these longer runs. Um, how does it feel to kind of know that you're such an instrumental part of her training and these goals that she has?

Jeff: 11:40

Well, again, it's just kind of something I do and it's something that I enjoy, so it's fun. It's not like work, you know, because you're so right. I mean she gets up, I mean on Saturday, to go do one of her long runs, and during summer, if you don't get up at five, I mean by the time you're, you know, three quarters of the way done. It's so hot, it's just dangerous. And then we've never found the exact right thing for her to carry and hold water and stuff. So it's just like, well, you know, I'm not doing anything, so I come, I get to check on her too, you know, because I mean she's running all over. I mean it's crazy. It's like we have a golf cart. I wouldn't take a golf cart as far.

Coach Christine: 12:31

I love that you mentioned that because, shelly, I know some of your running paths and you're almost crossing city lines, like you're literally running through cities, my friend in some of these, you're not just running in your neighborhood or your town.

Shelley: 12:40

It is, it is and it's. Yeah, and I like him coming to check on me. It's more fun than carrying extra water with me. It is, I agree. It's something to look forward to when I run. I agree. Yeah, I want to get to this point before he gets here, so I'm going to keep going Seeing his sunshiny face bringing you gear and stuff.

Coach Christine: 12:56

Yes, Right, it's weird a little bit about that as well in terms of okay, so you've touched on it Shelly, you touched on it Jeff. You guys, this is not like where we get to. We're not sponsored. Brooks or Nike hasn't come calling. You still have really busy lives. You're both very active in church and different organizations. You both give back to the community. I know that's very important to who. You both are Very busy work, jobs. How do you juggle it all and still find time for each other?

Jeff: 13:29

That's the hardest part and her biggest sacrifice is she does wake up at five because she could go run in the evening. But, like you said, we have a church group that we lead together and we do that on Thursdays. We do outreach to our church, you know, and that's not that often, but I've got a church meeting I go to usually once a week by myself with her, and then half the time my daughter's with us and we've got all these things going on. So she does that. And then the gym she gets up and goes to the gym at five in the morning and that way we have an evening. So when we come home, she's a teacher. She doesn't ever come home on time.

Coach Christine: 14:08

Right.

Jeff: 14:11

But we make time and what time we get. We do pretty good together, yeah.

Coach Christine: 14:17

Yeah, and friends, shelly is so passionate about her work. I want you guys to know I know. First of all, thank you for being an educator and for what you do in shaping our future generations. It's such a thankless job and we so appreciate it. But I think that it really does put a pep in your step, shelly, and as to part of your DNA, of who you are, because I know that you are so passionate about really pouring yourself into every aspect of what you do. So it's quite beautiful to see, and I know, that that kind of bleeds over both into your running. I'm curious if you feel like you wish that you could impart a lesson that you've learned through running to maybe some of your kiddos that you are lucky enough to interact with you, or some of the different people in the world. If you could share a little nugget of wisdom that you've learned through running, what do you think it would be?

Shelley: 15:08

Hard work pays off, I think would be the hard work pays off and that when you put your mind to it you can do more than you ever think you can. And it would be the two things but I just want to throw out there too. While you're saying that and we haven't talked about this, but coming back from Ren Disney this weekend, you would not believe how excited my middle schoolers were for me, like they had asked me to bring my medals to school. They wanted to know why I wasn't wearing my race shirt. They wanted to see pictures. I had a picture of me running up on my bell work Monday and they wanted to see pictures. I had a picture of me running up on my bell work Monday and they wanted to see more pictures. And they wanted to hear about it, because I left school early Friday to get over there and had told some that I was going and that was so fun to share.

Coach Christine: 15:51

That Exciting let's do it. Let's talk about Run Disney. You just experienced your first Run Disney race. We spent a little bit of time before you jumped onto the microphone, friends, talking about how intense these early workups are, but I do want to ask you, Shelly, first as to was it different than any other race experience that you've had?

Shelley: 16:12

It was so different, very different, and the pros and cons, like we talked about, it's tiring and exhausting, but it's exhilarating. And running through the parks was just. There was not, especially for the first day on the 10K. There was not a moment I wanted my run to end and I was like I even sent. I had a pouty picture of me running out of Epcot because I didn't want. I sent Jeff, I was like I don't want it to end. It was just, it was magical, it is, it is and it's um, it was really exciting, like and I you know, living as close as I have and running, and I've never done one of those, and so it was. It was definitely a very exciting weekend, very awesome opportunity.

Coach Christine: 16:59

It was exciting to see and to feel your energy because it is so beautiful. I mean, again, I know that for folks that haven't done Run Disney or maybe aren't big fans of Run Disney, it truly is a magical experience. We could probably we could list a lot of cons Cost is probably at the top of my mind, those early wake-ups is another one but it really does have a lot of magical aspects to it. I think one of the most magical aspects to it, though, for what I saw of you guys, was it Shelley, for you running down Main Street and knowing that you were going to find your prince charming right before the Cinderella Castle was something you were very much looking forward to. So, jeff, can you give us an idea of how you made this magical moment happen for Shelley? Because it's not easy. Spectating on Main Street is not for the meek by any stretch of the imagination. So can you talk us through how you made it happen and maybe your experience as a spectator there?

Jeff: 17:54

Well, you don't even know, I almost blew it all up. So the 10K we had our plan. She got up, took the disney bus there, no problem. I drove right in park zero problem. Well, she did the same thing the next day.

Jeff: 18:08

And then I get up, after I shower and I'm getting ready to go, I looked at my uh map quest. What the hell did my map quest, apple maps and it shows that the roads are closed, that you have have to like walk four miles. So I kind of freak out and go out. I'm like, okay, well then I'm going to get on a bus. I go out there. There's no buses, no, nothing. So I sit there. I'm like I don't really know what to do here, hon, and she's like it's okay. And I'm like, yeah, okay. And so finally I got in the right place and stayed put long enough that here comes a bus, I get on there and luckily got there.

Jeff: 18:47

And then I think I'm so late now because she's finally started and I'm tracking where she's going, and I get there and I hightail it up and you kind of got to wait to get all the way over to downtown Disney, and of course I beat her easily and that was something. Um, you know most of these races, they're, you know, just a bunch of people running around and you know you're doing business. Well, here, I mean even spectators. You walk into main street and then all the lights are on, all the people are clapping and cheer and there's a castle and you know I've taken my daughter there and now you know shelly's getting to run up there. I mean, oh, my goodness, that was did you tear up a little bit.

Coach Christine: 19:27

It's okay, you're amongst friends, you're in a safe space, my friend, did you tear up a little bit?

Jeff: 19:32

of course I mean because I've I've got a picture of me just bawling my daughter on my shoulders and that's about where we're standing, almost uh, when I got to see Shelly, which wasn't the easiest thing in the world, we're having to talk. I mean, I've never seen a race where you know she calls me. Okay, I'm coming here, when are you? And I'm like hey, there's somebody with these big pink bang stick things sticking up on my right behind me.

Coach Christine: 20:02

Friends. It is a dedication. I mean it truly is to be able to spectate at Disney. We've talked about it before in the podcast. I'm definitely going to suggest you guys go back. If you're thinking you want a spectator For my friends that are listening in, you're going to want to listen to that episode with Lynn, because Lynn definitely does have a lot of tips for spectating. It is not easy. Main Street is super intense because people really do stake their spots out super early because it is such a magical experience. I am so glad to hear that this fairy tale did have a happily ever after and you were able to make it there, because I do know that, Shelly, I know that you would have been okay if you wouldn't have been able to make it.

Coach Christine: 20:39

I was telling him it was, but I know that it was a little extra special to have him there and, of course, also knowing that after that he hightailed it back over to the finish line and I mean there's a lot Friends he's putting in, some he's putting in like at least his own half marathon during all this process. I want you guys to know that it's definitely dedication and we love it. I want to ask you, jeff, what's one thing that you would tell other partners of runners that have fallen madly into this, madly in love with this sport and or down the rabbit hole of all of the shiny metal things. What are some things that you would maybe suggest them or tell them? Or a little nugget of wisdom as to how to best support the individual as they pursue these goals?

Jeff: 21:25

Well, I mean, I imagine everybody's different. Shelly, she just needed somebody there to say it was okay to go do it. My wife thinks of everybody else and herself. Last I remember, when she joined you had you know, I'm not exactly sure, but she had like a trial thing where there's a group and it didn't cost a whole lot and she was like I think you want to try this and it. You know, I think I don't even remember it was 100 bucks or whatever it was.

Jeff: 21:57

It wasn't a whole lot and I'm like, well, we'll do it and you know, see what happens. Worst case is you hate it and it's horrible. And then, after it was finished, she's like I don't really want to finish. And so I guess my thing is is, if it's it's so much for her that it has to be. I mean, I didn't like getting up at 2.45 in the morning, even though I stayed in, I was awake, you know all that kind of stuff. But it's so amazing seeing her. She was sending me pictures while she's running. I remember the first couple of races she did the first couple of 5Ks. I thought, you know, man, you know that was the first time I thought, well, I probably better start running and try to help pace her. But that was before sheadowing real help, I would have been no help.

Coach Christine: 22:43

But that's not about that, my friend, that's going to be one of the questions I'm going to have, so if that's coming down the pike. But so what I'm hearing you say is that there are going to be sacrifices, but that's part of being in a relationship regardless if the person's a runner or not runner, they have to have their passions, things that kind of that they look forward to.

Coach Christine: 23:01

And just being that sounding board and also that person who helps to encourage them to put a little bit of themselves first, that's that's truly extraordinary.

Coach Christine: 23:12

So, again, I can't express how much we love to hear that. So listen up, my friends that are out there that maybe are not don't have quite that same support. You need to send this podcast episode to your other half, because this is what it's literally all about. I want to bring it before we move on from Run Disney because I do want to hear what's next for both of you. But I would love, shelley, because I feel like one of the things that is pretty amazing about the Run Disney world is because it is a little bit different and by that I mean a whole lot different than a lot of other race experiences. And you said you learned a lot. What are some of the things that you feel like you learned that if there was a brand new run Disney person listening in and they just signed up for a race coming down the pike that you wish that you knew going into it, or that you would want to impart that knowledge onto them.

Shelley: 23:59

Gosh, I don't know that. There's one particular thing, I think, more thinking people that are considering it do it. And even if it's not something like I don't know, that I'll be the, you know, can do every single one and do it every single time. But it is so worth the experience and I hope I can do at least one a year and but it's so worth the sacrifice of the getting up early. It's worth the waiting in the lines, going through all of that to experience that as a runner I almost felt like it was a reward for all these years of putting in the running that I was doing. I have worked hard all these years and now I get to go run through Epcot and get to go run through the castle and down Main Street, and now I get to go run through Epcot and get to go run through the castle and down Main Street. That it's, you know. Yes, there's the early mornings and all of that, but it's absolutely worth that experience.

Coach Christine: 24:51

I'm going to hear it, as what I'm hearing is that it's really almost coming from a place of gratitude, that this is something we get to do and, yes, it is incredibly rewarding after years of training. So I think that if you have yeah, I love that that encouragement with folks, and I think that's something valid to think of as well. We see in social media quite a bit where you see folks that are like they're doing it every weekend, or it doesn't have to be that. It can be something that we have a bit more sparse in our life or it's something that we look forward to maybe every five years. But trying to have that as an experience that we budget for and plan for, I think is pretty exceptional on its own as well.

Shelley: 25:29

All right, I would say go. Oh sorry, no, you go. I was going to say I was going to say just go and enjoy it and have fun too. I guess that's too, that not worrying about my pace and my time and just getting out there and being able to take it all in.

Coach Christine: 25:43

Yes, and I cannot reiterate that enough. If you guys want to run for speed, there are tons of hometown races that cost a fraction of the cost, that do not have that on-course support and entertainment. But run Disney. It's truly about immersing yourself into it. I'm curious what's next for both of you guys. Shelly, I know we're going to be seeing you and Jeff again in just a couple of weeks, shamrock but do you have any other big goals on your horizon, since we know that you're a goal metric focus kind of gal?

Shelley: 26:17

Well, I will surely sign up for Space Coast for next fall to keep going. I do and, like Jeff said earlier, I need to have and I like having a race on the books and to keep my run and my goal to keep going and not to get you know those seasons and now that I've been back at it for coming up here in a year, in a couple months, the biggest goal is to stick with it and not let it end. And I see these ladies out there of all ages, out there running and I want to keep with it.

Coach Christine: 26:55

That's my goal too. For the record, I want to literally run until like the last possible day, Jeff. What about you? What's next Are we going to have?

Jeff: 27:06

you tow up to the line at maybe a Run Disney 5K or 10K oh, I don't know about Run.

Coach Christine: 27:08

Disney, but maybe another race.

Jeff: 27:11

Do tell. I mean you know it's pretty addicting when you're there. I mean you like especially me, I don't run now, but I did and I'm like 5K, even the 10K would have been easy. We did that before breakfast every morning and so I know I'm capable of it. So maybe I mean I'm not totally against it. It's, you know, it's a ways off.

Coach Christine: 27:37

Am I? Well, I don't know, I don't know. My friend, as you mentioned, you've already put in. You pretty much did a half marathon, a half marathon day, racing around and trying to find Shelly at that castle, in the finish line and afterwards. So, um, we're here to support you, friend, just as you've been in such a great support for Shelly. So let us know when we can cheer you on as well. With that said, I'm going to ask you guys maybe to share any last thoughts that you would have about what running has meant to you in this season of your life.

Shelley: 28:12

I think it's been this time around has just been so different. I feel like it's me totally taking care of myself. It's that turning 50 and looking at things differently, whereas I don't have to get out and beat anybody or beat any certain time, I just have to take care of myself and love what I'm doing and I guess that's just the run, keeps me sane, I guess keeps me feeling physically with having the Crohn's and colitis and living with that immunosuppressant, the medicines, and the feeling like I'm in control of something in my life and feeling good about who I am and what I'm doing. I love being able to set a goal and reach it and feel great about where I am and that feeling of knowing that I have such an incredible support and that Jeff and I really are doing life together and we truly do enjoy everything we do doing things together. So I love that I can be out there at the races and see him there and also knowing that I have the support, you know, 110 percent.

Coach Christine: 29:28

I love this. I want to thank you guys for being such an inspiration because, honestly, your relationship is just so beautiful to witness, even in the little small pockets of time, that I've been able to see how much you do truly care for each other.

Shelley: 29:40

Shelly, do you want to give a shout out to maybe some of your students that were there cheering you on for your run Disney, oh gosh that would be so hard because once I start saying names, there was a girl, little girl Peyton, that she was actually at Epcot later that day and she was like my aunt said, she would have taken me if I'd known. There was another girl, elena, who signed up for a race, and then just I mean a bunch of my girls that are the boys too, I can't say just the girls, but a bunch of the girls that just have been super sweet, super exciting.

Coach Christine: 30:19

Another girl's faith, just a lot of them, super sweet girls that just have been along cheer me on Well, they're lucky to have you, and I'm glad that you were able to get that support, because it sounds like again, they were super excited. And let's mention the inspiration that you're providing, because that's always incredible, guys. I want to thank you so much for taking time to chat with me and for sharing this lovely love story with our audience. It's been such a fun conversation.

Coach Christine: 30:43

Shelly, your story is one that is truly going to resonate with so many runners, and we're all probably going to be calling in asking you exactly how can we clone Jeff, or at least have some of like? Maybe he can do a seminar for some of our running spouses. So, to everyone listening, whether you're the one putting in the miles or the one waiting at the finish line, I want you to know that you do matter and we love to have you as part of this community. I hope this episode reminds you that every runner's journey is unique and every support system matters. If you love this conversation, be sure to subscribe, leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear it, and until next time, keep moving forward, keep embracing the journey and, as always, dare to be extraordinary.