On today’s episode I talk with Stacy Griner, Owner and Operator of Kika Stretch in Atlanta, Georgia. Stacy wasn’t always an athlete, in fact she grew up avoiding sports and sweating all together! Through big life events and changes, Stacy found her inner athlete at age 41 and began her journey as a cyclist, marathon runner, triathlon competitor, and traveler.
Though Stacy has not been an athlete her entire life, her journey is what makes her story and message that much more special. Stacy has overcome many challenges in her life to reach an inner peace that can only come with experience and reflection.
We discuss:
- Life events that change us for the better.
- Pursuing a dream you never knew you had.
- The transition and rebirth as an athlete.
- Shifting your mindset when it gets tough and always pushing forward.
- Finding that peace within yourself and continuing to grow.
… and more!
Here are some highlights.
Finding Your Community
“At the time it was really a matter of finding myself and finding my voice. Coming to some realizations about who I am and who I love. I found this organization called Black Girls Run and they didn't have a big following in the South Bay but they had quite a presence in Oakland. I connected with a few women and I got in community with these women who were into running and they were like, ‘Hey, you can do a half marathon.’ And I was like, “I don't even run, like, I don’t even know if I can run a mile without stopping.” But, they were very supportive and they were like, ‘Well then you can walk it.’ And I didn't even think about walking a mile. Like, I knew I was out there, but I just... I wasn't aware of measurement like that.”
Standing in Your Truth
“I started to train for my first marathon that I did in Paris that I actually was like, gosh I’m sweating. And by that time, I had come to the realization that I was standing in my truth as a queer woman. I was just out, proud of who I was and that journey I was starting from there to after I had finished that first half of marathon, it was like laying the foundation for me standing in my truth. And then from there it was just building on that muscle and building on that to make myself stronger.”
Having Something Just For You
“My entire life I did not have to have anything just for me. Like my career, my marriage, all of this stuff was for other people, and becoming an athlete was all me. Which was one of the reasons why I love it so much, because it was the one thing where I was able to show up for myself and really prove to myself that I could do something. Now mind you, obviously I had other accolades like, I’m a Mom, I have a great career, but for some reason… that felt great, but becoming this athlete was just something that I didn't ever dream of. Like, when I was young, I dreamed of getting married and having children and having a great career. I never dreamed of running a marathon. I never dreamed of riding my bike 545 miles. I never dreamed that I was going to do an Iron Man. I just didn't have those kinds of dreams.”
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