Chelsea Bieber
Start where you are,
Use what you have,
Do what you can.
-Arthur Ashe
Hometown: Derry, NH
Previous Schools/Clubs: Pinkerton Academy, Stone Bridge HS, James Madison University
PRs:
- 1600m: 5:08
- 5K: 18:34
- 10 mile: 1:05:22
Favorite Horse: “Breton horses! They are real ‘work horses’, known for their hardiness. With compact but muscular builds, they have the strength and endurance to get the job done.”
Favorite Sound: “My kids laughing together”
“I knew I loved to run one sunny day in 3rd grade when our PE teacher lined us all up outside to perform a mile run for the Presidential Physical Fitness Test. Wearing Keds and cuffed pink jean shorts, I felt like I was flying around the field. And beating all the other kids in the 3rd grade didn’t feel too bad either. Later, I ran for my middle school XC and track team while playing year-round soccer. I loved soccer! But by the 8th grade I was often the only girl on the team. After getting a yellow card for overly aggressive playing, I felt that it was time to hang my cleats and focus on running as I entered high school. Through high school I excelled as a runner, but never as one of those runners who seemed like a natural, made for the sport. I was never naturally fast, just naturally tough, and I knew it was my grit that gave me an edge. After accepting a scholarship to run for James Madison University, I unfortunately focused more on what I lacked than what I had as a runner. My dream was to run in college, (and beyond!), but at that very first practice my freshman year, I had imposter syndrome. I couldn’t keep up with the faster girls, and my grittiness wasn’t enough to close the gap. After two discouraging years running for JMU, I threw in the towel and felt tremendous defeat. I became a casual hobby runner, and as one does, signed up for a marathon. Absolute worst experience of my life! So I signed up for another one thinking the first was a fluke – second worst experience of my life. Throw a few half marathons and a third full marathon in after that, and that sums up 5 dark years of running.
After my husband and I had three kids within 16 months, (twins and then an immediate surprise), I found all my runs to feel like they did that sunny day in 3rd grade – free! I started paying a babysitter by the month to come on a schedule that would allow me three hours of running a week. Running through the joy of running is a different kind of running. After coming out of a long patch where running felt like a chore I dreaded doing, it was becoming a light again. It came easily, too. Paces that had seemed hard the previous few years were suddenly effortless. I made up workouts on days that I felt good, and if things were really clicking I’d find a local road race to jump into – usually finishing first in front of the cheers of my sweetest little crew.
Then finally, after twenty years since quitting my very last team, I was ready for running to be more intentional again. Which is when I was introduced to Light Horse Track Club! Never did I imagine I would have the opportunity to be competitive with running again. It takes some real audacity to think you could possibly continue pursuing goals in such a demanding sport. And why not? A courageous spirit knows no age limit, and now I get to run on a team full of them.”