10/01/2026
Unity In Community: October ‘26
clare avendano
When I started running, it definitely was a challenge. I made my Strava debut a year ago, and at the time running a 5K seemed impossible. I was out of breath, constantly checking the time, and wondering how I was ever going to make it to a full 5K. But little by little, I started to notice progress. I could run a little longer, go a little farther, and push through moments when I wanted to stop. What started as a challenge slowly became something I looked forward to. Running reminded me that I was capable of doing hard things, even when I didn’t feel ready or confident.
What started as something I was doing on my own eventually led me to SPARC and a running community that became a huge source of support. I went from feeling like I was running alone to having people encourage me, celebrate my progress, and make me feel like something I was a part of. I started running for myself, but I didn’t realize how much I would gain from the people I met along the way. Shoutout to Lydia O'Connor and Caroline Lupia for being there celebrating those moments like running my first 10 miles, running my first half marathon, and achieving my 5K PR during the VB 10 miler and 5K weekend.
The best piece of advice I’ve received as a runner is “Your race, Your pace”. It’s so easy to look at someone else’s pace, mileage, progress, or accomplishments and feel like you are behind. It is about showing up, being proud of your own progress, and continuing to move forward, even when your pace looks different from everyone else’s. So through the hot, cold, and humid, I am thankful for you. Thank you for cheering me on and maybe you will see me running a marathon in 2027.
