Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Platt.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
For 10 years, I told myself I would never ever run a marathon. I’ve been a runner for as long as I can remember. I started in middle school, kept running through high school, and even signed up for running classes in college.
Running was always part of my life, but I stayed in my comfort zone, 5Ks felt manageable and familiar. Then one day, my neighbor convinced me to sign up for a 10K. I remember thinking 6.2 miles felt so hard but I did it. Not long after, she convinced me I was ready for a half marathon, so I gave that a try too.
But when she said I should run a marathon, I shut it down immediately. A half already felt like a big challenge, and the idea of doubling that distance felt overwhelming. I didn’t think I could do it. And for the next 10 years, I told myself I never would.
Then COVID hit, and something shifted. I started getting more into running, spending more time with it, and seeing it differently. Around that same time, I saw that Gatorade Endurance was looking for ambassadors. I applied, got accepted, and that moment changed everything for me. I was suddenly surrounded by people running marathons and Ironmans, things I had always thought were out of reach. Being in that environment made me start to think differently. I started to wonder if I could do it too.
So in January 2021, I decided to find out. I signed up for the Disney World Marathon and ran it virtually. Finishing that race changed the way I saw myself. What once felt impossible didn’t feel so far away anymore. After that, everything moved fast. I ran my first in-person marathon at the St. George Marathon, then one week later ran the Boston Marathon, and three weeks after that ran the New York City Marathon.
Now I’ve completed 14 marathons, including my most recent Boston, and it still blows my mind that this all started with something I once said I would never do.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth ride. After my first three marathons, I started putting a lot of pressure on myself to chase a new PR. What once felt exciting started to feel heavy. It became harder, more frustrating, and somewhere along the way, I could feel myself starting to lose the love I had for running. I didn’t like where it was going so I made a change.
I joined Social Running Club in Fort Worth and that completely shifted things for me. They were so welcoming, so fun, and so kind. It reminded me of a side of running I had lost, just running for the sake of it. No pressure, no pace, no expectations. Just movement, community, and enjoying the moment with other people. That experience brought me back to why I started in the first place.
And then, of course, there are the physical challenges that come with running. I’ve dealt with sciatic nerve pain, hip pain, and most recently plantar fasciitis, which I’m still working through.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Through my running journey, I kind of fell into becoming a running content creator. It was really a way to hold myself accountable. I started sharing my runs, my pace, and what I was going through in real time, both as a runner and as a mom. If I’m having a good run, I share it. If I’m struggling or things feel off, I share that too. It’s never been about trying to make it look perfect, it’s just been about being real and showing what the process actually looks like and I think over time people connected with that.
What I’m most proud of is that I’ve continued to show up for myself, even when it hasn’t been easy. Doing the uncomfortable things, working through setbacks, and not giving up on it. That’s meant more to me than anything else.
And I don’t really think anything sets me apart. If anything, I just try to be relatable. I want people to see that they can do this too, no matter where they’re starting or what it looks like.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I think it really depends on where you are in your running journey, but for me, it always starts with getting the basics right.
One of the first things I always recommend is going to a local running store and getting properly fitted for shoes. That’s the most important step. With how much stress running puts on your body, having the right shoe for your feet makes a huge difference. They’ll look at how you run, check things like overpronation or underpronation, and help you find what works best for you.
I would also find a local run club. There are so many great running clubs in the DFW area, and it’s such an easy way to meet people, learn from others, and just feel part of something.
And if you’re looking to take things a step further, working with a running coach can also be really helpful, especially if you have specific goals or want to improve.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephanie.runs
