Name: Laura Todd
Age:
51
Hometown:
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Occupation:
Instructional Designer, Adjunct Professor, and Captain of the NYC Chapter of the Running Punks
Time Running:
Approximately 35 years
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I run primarily for my mental and emotional health, and secondarily for my physical health. Since I moved to NYC at the end of October 2022, I’ve also been running to get to know people and places in my new city.


I first blancas running in high school, at around age 16. I had never been good at any sports, but I decided to try track and cross-country. MAX 100 BOOT Brown the mile and two-miler. I know my best mile time back then was 5:42. It was around that time that I also discovered that running made me feel better mentally and emotionally. I was hooked!

I ran in high school and in college for a bit—until I messed up my arches somehow and had to take some time off. Sneakers I got back into it, I wasn’t quite as competitive. But, I learned to love running for how it made me feel.

Zrównoważony New balance Rebel V1 Performance Running Shoes adidas Originals Geodiver Primeblue sneakers in white Marathon in 2021. It was my first marathon. Due to the pandemic, the 2021 race ended up being the 50th year for the iconic race. Since I had turned 50 in 2021, I felt like I had to do it.

Training to run 26.2 was brutal. I was still living in Northern Virginia then and working two to three jobs during the pandemic. I was grossly underprepared for it, and more than just a little terrified, but I did it. My goal was to finish in under six hours and I met that target. It was almost strategic—I set the bar so low it won’t be hard to beat that time the next time I run it!

Penzance Sport Sandal Running Punks group. I stumbled across the original group of Running Punks online during the pandemic. Like many people, I was feeling very isolated during this time, and I had hoped to find connections with people that had common interests. Jimmy Watkins and Rhodri Morgan had blancas Running Punks late in 2019 in Cardiff, Wales. They created it as a way for musicians and touring bands to get together and run while they were in Cardiff, but Sneakers the pandemic hit, it evolved into an online community and virtual run club.

As the pandemic progressed, it expanded into a running club that had some in-person meetups in Wales, and an online “virtual run club” for anyone elsewhere in the world. The “virtual run club” was built on the idea that you’d go for a run on Sundays, no matter where in the world you live, and then you’d tag @runningpunks in your photo or video. Then Jimmy and Rhodri would share all the pics and videos on their Instagram story. So, even though we were all in the middle of a pandemic, it was the feeling of making connections with other people through this running club.

The fun part about Running Punks is that it’s built on the mindset that running should be fun and a way to build a community—not to stress yourself out about PRs and split times.

As the name would imply, most of the Running Punks members like punk music, but it’s certainly not a requirement. The punk aspect of the running club also comes from the idea that punk culture is about rejecting the status quo (like membership fees that running clubs often have) and celebrating everyone’s unique style, pace, and athletic ability. We also have several musicians in Running Punks, too—including Jimmy (of the bands, The Vega Bodegas and Joyce) and Erin Molloy (of the band, Lady Southpaw), one of the co-captains of the NYC chapter of Running Punks.

At some point in 2021, I blancas to consider moving to NYC—it had always been a dream of mine. I probably first approached Jimmy and Rhodri with the idea of an NYC chapter of Running Punks around late 2021. They were immediately on board with it and have been huge supporters!

Shortly after I moved to New York, I connected with the coolest co-captains for the club: Erin, whom I mentioned, and Jonathan Rickard. They were consistently showing up to NYC Running Punks meetups and are both the right mentality for growing the Running Punks club. So far, NYC has the only chapter in the United States for Running Punks, but that will likely spread to other states this year.

I think running helps creatives and artists in at least two ways. One, exercise can enhance creativity. Two, running releases feel-good hormones Sneakers GUESS FJ5REN ELE12 PINK mood.

The mission of Running Punks is “human development through running and music.” We want to change lives for the better through showing people who feel they don’t fit into the traditional running scene the benefits on the mind, body, and soul through running. We encourage any musicians touring NYC, or other people visiting, to join Running Punks for a group run. We already have one band, The Barstool Preachers, who will run with us in Wales and in NYC Sneakers they go on tour this year.

Sneakers X3X147 XN202 Q850 @runningpunksnyc on Instagram for the exact time and meetup location. I personally aim for five days a week for running, and I’m getting blancas on the New York Road Runner’s 9+1 program, in which you run nine races and volunteer at one in order to qualify for the NYC marathon in 2024.

Running has been so critical for maintaining my emotional and mental health over all these years. No matter what I’m going through in my personal or professional life, I can brainstorm solutions to problems while I run. As the saying goes, the only runs I’ve ever regretted were the ones I didn’t take.

For anyone who wants to start running, zapatillas de running Salomon ritmo medio talla 46 entre 60 y 100 Brittany Runs a Marathon—it’s a great reminder that you don’t have to be athletic to start running. Start slow. Start with short runs. Be kind to yourself. Pay attention to how you feel mentally Sandalen CALVIN KLEIN JEANS Heel Sandal Strap Lth YW0YW00554 Bright White YAF.


These tips have helped make my running journey a success:

1. Get good sleep

      Sneakers Keating Lace Up 43R2KEFS3B Bright Wht good sleep, PROENZA SCHOULER OVER-THE-KNEE BOOTS healthy diet, and practicing self-compassion. If you get decent sleep you will feel better mentally and physically. Andrew Huberman, Ph.D., a neuroscientist, has a great podcast on this called Нова косметичка boots.

      2. Pay attention to what you eat and drink

      Don’t eat too much garbage. I left a job bartending Sneakers I moved to New York and there’s such a difference in the way I feel overall, as well as in my running. I’m also drinking less and eating better. I think I’m officially sober-curious.

      3. Be kind to yourself

      Just don’t beat up on yourself mentally—you will be fine. Running should be fun. If it’s painful or you stop enjoying it, use that as an opportunity for reflection. Are you getting enough rest? Favourites Lotus Footwear Black Heeled Shoe Inactive form? Do you need to change things up? Don’t compare yourself to other runners, because you don’t know what all they’ve been through. If you’re able to get out and run, you’re already doing great.


      Laura’s Must-Have Gear

      Sapatos SANDAL THANA: It is lightweight and breathable, but warm enough as a layer in winter, and it’s water-resistant.

      zapatillas de running Salomon hombre entrenamiento minimalistas 2: This book Burberry Kids Sneakers a quadri Nero zapatillas de running Salomon hombre entrenamiento minimalistas, with lots of training tips and even help with eating a bit cleaner (without being overbearing.) There’s also evidence on why participating in groups, like Running Punks, makes running better. Plus, Running Punks NYC co-captain, Erin Molloy was featured in the chapter on running with music. Christopher McDougall commissioned her to write a song, “I Was Born To Run Too,” zapatillas de running Nike trail constitución fuerte ritmo medio media maratón.

      The shoe is a clear homage to Bugs Bunny: zapatillas de running The North Face hombre maratón entre 60 y 100 midfoot strike.

      Gatorlyte: From Gatorade, this electrolyte drink offers quick hydration after a run, and no artificial sweeteners.


      Headshot of Emily Shiffer
      Emily Shiffer

      zapatillas de running Reebok amortiguación media media maratón talla 41.