Most people quit before they even get started but for one St. Louis area inspirational runner that was not an option. I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Carli Fierce, and this was just one of the key points she shared with me on her journey as a runner.

Over the past 7 years Carli has chronicled her running journey through her blog, Running Into Shape, and social media channels where she is active every day inspiring people to be active. 

Want to be one of her ‘Fierclings’? (with a name like that…who wouldn’t right!)

Then make sure to like Carli on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.

Seven years ago, Carli was extremely inactive and took an important step and lifestyle change by joining a weight management program. You will notice me mention this over and over that starting is the hardest part. I think it is crucial to point out that Carli made the decision to take action and has not looked back since.

Like any motivated and inspired person, she eventually realized that she was outgrowing the weight management program and needed a new stimulus to keep progressing.

“I always thought runners looked like cool people.”

That was Carli’s response when I asked her how she chose running as the next step in her journey. She knew that she needed to push past the plateau she was facing at the time and took it upon herself to keep moving forward.

After some Google searching and reading some online resources Carli was introduced to the Couch to 5k Running Plan (C25k). The C25k plan is very popular and has helped change thousands of lives not to mention introduce new people to the sport of running. As a beginner runner it is important to have some guidance along the way.

The C25k training podcasts helped her complete her first 5k but left Carli realizing there was room for improvement in that platform. It was with that experience that inspired her to create her own 5k training podcast which you can learn more about HERE.

This inspirational runner is Fierce!!!

She did not stop there though and it is no wonder she is known as Carli Fierce! When you listen to the interview you can tell Carli is the type of person that truly enjoys motivating people to be active. 

Carli took her podcast one step further and created a great resource for beginning runners and those new runners looking to complete their first 5k. Her Running Into Shape: Official 5k Training Guide is available for purchase through her site. It is packed with information that she wishes she had when she was starting out as a runner and wants to pass that knowledge along.

It is action like that that really inspires me to continue reaching out to runners of all levels to hear what they are doing to ‘pay it forward’ for a new wave of runners and endurance athletes. Carli could very well keep plugging away and keep all of this to herself but it is apparent that she takes great pride in inspiring others to follow along her path.

Put your money where your mouth is…

To back her personal experiences and the knowledge she is now passing onto to others, Carli took it upon herself to become a certified ACE Group Fitness Instructor (read about how elated she was to pass that exam HERE) and Certified Lifestyle Fitness Coach.

As someone with a degree in exercise science, I can attest that these are not certifications that you just wake up one day, take a test online, and pass. There is time and money involved, not to mention the right mindset to WANT to pass them. Carli put her money where her mouth was and committed to these certifications so she could be comfortable with her knowledge and viable to pass that on to others.

I commend her on that just as much as I do her running journey. That is NEXT LEVEL stuff!

I really enjoy people learning that they can tap into that inner part of them that they haven’t tapped into since 5th grade when they were running around at recess.

Carli Fiercerunningintoshape.com

One question I always like to ask runners and endurance athletes in general is ‘What one thing do most people get wrong when they first start out (running, cycling, triathlon, etc)?’

Carli’s response pretty much hit the nail on the head and it is advice I wish more people would heed…“People typically start out too fast…start out gradually and build from there.”

What happens when you have a new endurance athlete is they are very excited to start down this path. That exuberance can lead to overuse injuries and burn out if you are not careful. Or as Carli put it…you can ‘feel defeated’.

Having a support system and training plan for your first half marathon can make a bad day GOOD…

Numerous 5k’s aside, Carli fiercely took on the next logical distance (sorry 10k, you’re not enough of a challenge)…the Half-Marathon!

Over the years, half-marathons (13.1 miles) have grown in popularity and regularly outpace marathons in regards to participants. 13.1 miles is not for the faint of heart so having a proper half marathon training plan in place and a support group is a great recipe for success.

Every year Team In Training gets more and more new endurance athletes TO the starting line AND across the finish line! Not to mention the money raised by their participants supports a great cause…the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

It was this program and support group that helped get Carli across that finish line on a blistering 90+ degree April day in St. Louis. As she put it when I asked her how her experience was in her first half marathon…”I wish I could put sprinkles on it and tell you it was wonderful, but it was not.” She was quick to point out the fact that even though the heat made it a difficult process…she DID finish and her Team In Training coach was there in the final miles to make sure she finished strong.

Talk about the power of a team!

As you can tell, Carli has some great quotes that go along with her running insight. My hand was sore from writing them all down as I re-listened to our interview. I really appreciated her sharing with us her story about her lifelong struggle with weight, but highlighting the fact that it has not held her back…actually quite the opposite.

She is a very driven person and wants people to know that “Anybody can do it…If I did it, then I know that you can!”

Putting yourself out there and sharing stories like Carli’s is precisely what people need to hear and read about to realize you are not alone in this journey as a new runner. We are all connected with the common goal of being active, leading a positive lifestyle, and making an impact on others.

With that…I can not thank Carli Fierce enough for chatting with me and I look forward to following her journey!

Running just shows you that when you really stick with something, and commit, and train you just elevate yourself to a new level to let you see I can really do what I put my mind to.

Carli Fierce @CarliFierce

What are you waiting for? Check out the ‘Resources’ below so you can become one of Carli’s Fiercelings today!

Resources

Become a ‘Fierceling’

• Carli’s Blog: Running Into Shape
• Carli’s E-Book: Official 5k Training Guide
• Become a Fierceling on Facebook
• Follow this Fierce Runner on Twitter

Books to Read

• The Courage to Start: A Guide to Running for Your Life by: John Bingham
• Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In The Sun, and Be Your Person by: Shonda Rhimes

Team In Training