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It’s with profound gratitude that I write this post and give the greatest of thanks to @stravatrackclub and @dizneena, as I bid the club farewell after an amazing 8 years on the team.
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I first joined Strava Track Club (then called New Balance Silicon Valley), in 2010, not long after graduating from UC Davis. I’d run 34:01 for 10k and had a dream of running professionally and qualifying for the Olympic Trials. When I first talked to Dena about joining the team, I was out of shape post-gallbladder surgery and had just started my first job in San Francisco. Despite questionable fitness, she welcomed me with open arms, believing in my dream at a time when I was far from the fittest or the fastest runner. And so began my journey in post-collegiate running!
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I’d trek down to the Stanford track on Tuesday nights to join the team for workouts. While circling the track and at post-workout meals, lifelong friendships were born. At races from the South to the Pacific Northwest to eventually Europe, I competed proudly with team’s name on my chest. Tuesday practice, weekend adventure long runs, and team races remain some of the highlights of my time in SF as a new post-collegian.
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The team became Strava Track Club in 2015, and as the club went through a transformation, I did as well. Now with @strava on my chest, I had a breakout year, running 32:09 for 10k and qualifying for my first 🇺🇸 team. I proudly represented the club at 3 Olympic Trials events in 2016, as well as in 2017 when I ran my marathon PR of 2:32. My biggest running accomplishments have occurred as a member of this team ♥️
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It’s important to also highlight the club’s support when I wasn’t running so well. Dena and the team supported me through 8 years of ups and downs, and I can safely say that without their support, I most definitely would not be where I am today. Sooo many thanks to give: for taking a chance on me, for keeping me in the sport all these years, for the countless joyful miles (and the hugs and love when they weren’t so joyful), for the friendships, the guidance, the belief. THANK YOU, Strava Track Club and Dena - I’ll forever be a fan! 🏃‍♀️
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