Here at runladylike.com, Fridays are all about sharing the inspiring stories of fit people who motivate all of us to be better tomorrow than we were yesterday. My Friday FITspiration series profiles runners, triathletes and casual exercisers who are making choices every day to be as healthy as they can be – in both huge ways and through simple, small victories. Their stories are about the journey of transforming from ordinary to extraordinary each and every day.

Today, I’d like you to meet Elizabeth Werdesheim. I met Elizabeth nearly 10 years ago. Her husband and my husband (Mr. rUnladylike) are best friends, and the 2 of us have always enjoyed our mutual passion for running. Elizabeth is an awesome mom of 2 who is taking a break from corporate America to focus her time and energy on her young children and community. She loves running and ran cross-country competitively at the College of Charleston.

This year, Elizabeth led an effort to inspire children to develop a joy for running and physical activity by starting a run club at her daughter’s elementary school. You might recall that I ran this recent 5K race to help pace one of the girls on her team. As the program director, Elizabeth has motivated 130 children and 20 volunteer coaches to participate. Not only does she coordinate all the logistics, communicate with families and make sure the coaches have what they need to be successful, she also co-coaches the fifth grade girls team … all while training for her own running events. Check out Elizabeth’s inspiring story and her thoughts on running, starting a youth run club and her next training goal.

When did you start running and what inspired you to start?
My first race was a Halloween fun run in first grade. I remember being surprised by how long a mile was, but I had a blast. In sixth grade, I joined the track team and was instantly hooked. I loved the discipline of running as well as the camaraderie of a team. My parents are not runners but have always been very supportive. My mom had polio when she was 5 and taught me about tenacity and mental toughness. These skills have been invaluable in running.

You ran cross country at the College of Charleston. What was it like to run competitively in college? Is there a specific moment that stands out as a favorite from that experience?
In college, I had a great group of women to train with, and I met my best friend on the first day of practice as a freshman. I enjoyed running on the collegiate level, but the mileage took a toll on my mind and body. Running had always been fun and my outlet for stress, but in college it was my job. I’m thankful for the things that I learned from my coaches and trainers, but I don’t miss the twice-a-day practices.

You recently ran your first half marathon in March (congrats!). Tell us about that experience. What advice would you give to someone thinking about running their first half marathon?
I loved my first half marathon. The weather was ideal, and the crowds were engaging. My advice on training for a new distance is to create your support team. Find friends and mentors that can encourage you but also challenge you. It’s helpful to have a training group for the long runs and the cold, dreary days.

What running accomplishment are you most proud of? Why?
I was pleased with running a 1:48 for my recent half marathon and tickled pink that I ran negative mile splits (running the second half faster than the first part of the race). As I get older, I’m learning to embrace accomplishments and appreciate the journey. I’m also really enjoying sharing running with Caroline, my 6-year old daughter.

This year, you started a running club at your daughter’s elementary school. What inspired you to do that? How does the club work? 
I wish I could say that I had a grand vision, but the run club was very organic. Last summer, I met Lisa Hladish – a very cool mom who’s also passionate about running. Lisa’s good friend, Heather Chasman, had created a thriving run club at a neighboring school. Heather was instrumental in guiding us through the start-up process. The 3 of us met for coffee a few times, and the run club was born. We were looking to create a run club that would be fun, empower elementary-aged children to run and focus on character building.

We started the club in March of this year with 130 students and 20 parent volunteer coaches. The club is open to any students from second through fifth grade regardless of their athletic abilities, while kindergarteners and first graders can participate in the Junior Run Club. The cost for each student to participate is $100 (scholarships are provided to those who need financial assistance). The fee covers each runner receiving a short-sleeve team T-shirt, a cinch bag, a pedometer, a water bottle, running laces, toe tags and a 10 percent discount at the local running specialty store. At each 60-minute after school practice held on Thursdays, participating children learn the importance and joy of being active by participating in running drills and games. A personal pedometer measures each of their steps. The children can run, walk or skip and they are grouped by gender, grade level and interest in running. For the Junior Run Club, there is a 1-to-5 ratio of coach to runner and then a 1-to-10 ratio for the older runners.

The season culminated in running a local 5K on May 17, 2014. The race supports a neighboring elementary school, which launched a now-thriving PTA-sponsored run club in 2011 and whose leaders have provided valuable guidance to the parents who formed our club.

What has been the best thing about starting the youth running club? What has been the most challenging?
The best part of the run club is to see 130 kids excited about running and exercising and to see the program as a positive catalyst for the parent coaches and families of the run club. I have also been fortunate to make several incredible friends through the run club process.

The most challenging thing was working through the liability-insurance issues and jumping through hoops with the school system. For example, our volunteers had to drive 30 miles to be finger printed and had to undergo a background check before they could coach.

What advice would you give to other parents who would like to start a youth running club at their child’s school?
Create a team of volunteers and get the buy-in from your principal, PTA and PE teacher. I would also highly recommend automating the registration process and having an online waiver and medical questionnaire.

What is your next running goal for 2014?
I’m planning to run several local races, but I’ll be training for the Chattanooga Half Marathon in October. I also have my eye on the Big Sur Marathon in April of 2015. I actually enjoy running hills and always choose scenery over fast courses.

If you or someone you know would be a great candidate for Friday FITspiration, email me at runladylike@gmail.com.

If you have children in elementary school, does their school offer a run club? If not, is it something you would ever start? What inspires you most about Elizabeth’s story?