Why You Should Join the Alpine Runners 🏃‍♂️

If someone had told me back in 2005 that by 2025 I would have run seven marathons—and actually enjoyed them—I would’ve laughed my head off.

Back then, I was living a mostly sedentary life. Long work hours, weeks of travel, and unhealthy eating habits had taken their toll. Then one morning in Tokyo, everything changed.

I was staying on the 27th floor of the Intercontinental Hotel in Tokyo Bay. As I stepped out of bed, a sharp pain shot through my heel. I couldn’t put my foot flat on the ground—I had to walk on my toes like I was wearing invisible high heels. Somehow, I managed to get through the trip, but the pain stayed.

When I got home, the doctor prescribed medication and sent me to a podiatrist. Custom insoles helped me walk, but didn’t fix the issue. I felt trapped in a limiting, painful lifestyle.

Then, during one visit to replace my insoles, the assistant looked at me and said something that stuck:

“This is your third insole. You can keep collecting them—or you can start stretching and change your lifestyle.”

That was my wake-up call.

I started simple daily stretches as prescribed. Slowly, the pain faded. I removed my insoles—one shoe at a time—and began walking regularly. My food habits improved. I dusted off my kids’ old bike and started cycling a few miles in the mornings.

Then one day, while walking, I decided to jog downhill. The cool morning air hitting my face felt amazing. It became a habit—walking the uphills, running the downhills—and soon I was running more than I was walking.

In the year 2014, I joined a new company that actively promoted running. They had an internal running club, so I joined in the summer of 2015. That decision changed everything.

At first, I struggled. I could barely make it past a mile without running out of breath. But the running community welcomed me warmly. They offered advice, encouragement, and endless motivation. Some tips worked for me, others didn’t—but every conversation helped me grow.

Gradually, I improved. I ran my first 5K, then a 10K. In 2017, I ran my first Chicago Marathon—and finished in 5 hours. That was my milestone moment. Now, I could proudly call myself a runner.

Over time, I learned running is as much about the mind as it is about the body. Stretching, hydration, nutrition, pacing, recovery—it all matters. I learned which gels and electrolytes worked for me, how to prevent shin splints, and how to deal with sore calves and tight hamstrings.

And, like every runner, I learned that injuries are a natural part of the journey. One misstep or an ignored signal can set you back, but consistency and patience always bring you back stronger.

Running also taught me to prepare and plan. Know your course, study the elevation map, plan your water breaks, and understand the weather. If you’re racing, test everything beforehand—your shoes, socks, gels, sunscreen—no surprises on race day!

And practice in all weather conditions. You can’t control what race day will bring, but you can control your preparation. Rain, wind, heat—they all teach you something about your limits and resilience.

That’s exactly what you get when you run with a club like Alpine Runners. You get experience, community, and support. You get people who’ve been where you are—ready to share what they’ve learned.

Every Saturday morning, our group meets at 7:00 AM at Lake Zurich High School. Runners of all levels join—some are training for marathons, others are just starting. We run together, share stories, laugh at our mistakes, and encourage each other to keep moving forward. We take a breather at planned water stops, where free water and Gatorade are made available by the club and placed by volunteers.

If you’ve ever thought, “I’m not a runner” or “I could never do that,”—I’ve been there.
But trust me, if I could go from limping in a Tokyo hotel room to running marathons across Chicago, so can you.

Join us for one Saturday run. Experience the energy, the camaraderie, the joy of starting your weekend with movement and friendship.

🏃‍♂️ Join Alpine Runners — Every Saturday, 7:00 AM, Lake Zurich High School.
No pressure, no judgment—just encouragement, conversation, and miles of smiles.

Your running story starts here.