Runner’s World+ Member: Shannon Wiehoff
Shannon is a Runner’s World+ member. Join her and thousands of others chasing their goals with day-by-day training plans, expert advice from editors and coaches, and unlimited digital access. We regularly feature members online and in print!
While there are plenty of changes that others would point out (I lost 60 pounds!), I’d say the biggest change is in how I view myself. I’ve never been an athlete. Even when I would do athletic things, I never considered myself an “athlete”.
I finally started calling myself a runner when I realized that one of my coworkers was looking at me as her running model. Since then, I’ve done longer and longer runs, including a marathon, which I ended up completing on my treadmill due to all of the race cancelations.
I’m physically stronger for it, but I’m mentally stronger too. I set goals that feel scary, because I know that I can meet them with enough training and determination.
After about the tenth time I was looking for running info online, only to realize I hit the article limit for Runner’s World, I figured it would be worth joining!
I started running due to a scheduling mistake. I saw an ad for a kids theater production that I knew my daughter would love, and I bought tickets without checking the calendar. I found out later that I had tickets to a show in downtown Cincinnati on the same day as the Flying Pig Marathon. We ended up parking in Kentucky and walking across the bridge to get to the show. Our path put us on an overpass where the marathon runners were racing right under our feet. The crowds were insane. There was cheering and signs and music—I can’t really describe the atmosphere to someone who hasn’t seen it before. Apparently the energy is as contagious as they say. I started across that bridge with the marathon being nothing more than a nuisance that closed all the roads. I came off of that bridge wanting to be down there running. Since then, I’ve come to appreciate the long run for itself. I find it a great way to release any negative emotions and just be calm. But for me, nothing compares to the energy and excitement of race day, and I always have one on the calendar.
There’s a 5K walking trail in the woods behind my office that I love to run on. It is nothing but hills, but doing that daily on my lunch breaks puts me in a good place for road races. Plus there are some gorgeous views, and the wildlife will come right up to the trail. Lately of course I’ve been limited to the treadmill in my basement, but I’m looking forward to getting outside again once things settle down.
Xero HFS. I’ve tried so many professionally fitted running shoes, but these are the only ones I can do any distance in. I love all of my Xeros, but the HFS is my favorite from the brand. I’ve had so many running friends tell me I’m crazy, but I just can’t do a supportive running shoe.
I have a fourth degree black belt in TaeKwonDo.
I’d like to run a live marathon one day. I’ve already had two canceled this year, and don’t know if the third one will happen or not. After that, maybe an ultra? Just keep moving up!
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