Law School Stress Relief to Ultra Marathons: Adria DeLaune’s Inspiring Running Journey

Running has the power to transform lives, and few stories exemplify this better than that of Adria DeLaune. From using running as stress relief in law school to tackling ultra marathons, Adria’s journey is about the inclusive nature of the sport and its ability to teach valuable life lessons.

The Accidental Runner

Adria’s running story began in 2006 when she moved to Philadelphia to attend law school at Drexel University. “I moved to Philadelphia by myself. I didn’t know anybody, and running was my connection point,” Adria recalls. Prior to this, she had never run for fun, only as training for other sports.

Facing the stress of law school and being in a new city, Adria turned to running as a way to cope and connect. “Running, for me, as in all things that I do, I didn’t just go for a run. I started a running club,” she says with a laugh. This initiative not only helped her build a community but also laid the foundation for her future in endurance sports. Simultaneously, it provided stress relief from law school despite the added responsibility.

Discovering the Joy of Trail Running

After law school, Adria moved to Nashville and found herself struggling to maintain her running habit due to her demanding career in the music industry. However, a turning point came in 2014 when she attended a trail running mixer organized by Fleet Feet.

“I had the thrill of a lifetime running on the trails,” Adria enthuses. “I felt like a kid running with total abandon. Just enjoying the joy in that and enjoying every step.” This experience was so impactful that she bought trail shoes the very next day and hasn’t looked back since.

The Progression to Ultra Running

Adria’s journey from a casual runner to an ultra marathoner was a gradual progression. She ran her first ultra in 2016 and is now training for a 100-miler. When asked about this progression, Adria chuckles, “I’ve done smarter things but you should talk to my friends.”

She explains that it started with a personal challenge she called “one year, one goal,” where she aimed to race every distance from a 5K to a 50K, including duathlons and triathlons. This challenge pushed her boundaries and opened her eyes to what she was capable of achieving.

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Lessons Learned from Running

Adria identifies three key lessons that running has taught her: consistency, resiliency, and problem-solving. She credits road running for teaching her consistency, while trail running and ultra running have honed her resiliency and problem-solving skills.

“Running is nothing if not problem solving,” Adria explains. “Everybody’s going to get, you know, an ache somewhere or pain or a blister or a cramp or nausea or a myriad of problems that come with the things that we do. And it’s, how do you solve that in the moment to make the next step easier?”

These skills have proven invaluable in her professional life as an artist manager in the music industry. “Being a runner and a committed runner who enjoys solving problems on the fly has made a world of difference in my personal and professional life,” she says.

Advocating for Inclusivity in Running

Adria is passionate about making running accessible to everyone. As a running coach, she primarily works with children, people recovering from illnesses (particularly cancer), and populations that can’t afford traditional coaching.

“Running is for everybody, and running is for everybody,” Adria emphasizes. She strongly believes that anyone who wants to run is a runner, regardless of pace or equipment. “If you are putting one foot in front of the other and you are running whatever pace that is, you are a runner,” she asserts.

Advice for Beginners

For those just starting their running journey, Adria offers this advice: “Do it afraid. It’s not hard because you’re incapable. It’s hard because it’s new. Everything we do for the first time is difficult. Literally everything.”

She encourages beginners to push past their doubts and fears. “Run hard and fast, no pun intended, at whatever your goal is. If your goal is to run for two minutes, run so hard at that goal that you don’t give yourself a chance to go, ‘Oh, my God, I can’t do this,'” she advises.

The Importance of Smart Decision-Making

Adria’s recent experience at a race weekend highlights another crucial aspect of running – making smart decisions. Despite planning to run a 50K as part of her training for a 100-miler, adverse weather conditions forced her to reassess.

“Sometimes the hardest thing to do is the easy thing,” Adria reflects. She made the difficult decision to drop down to a shorter distance for her safety, understanding that risking injury could jeopardize her larger goal of running 100 miles.

This experience reinforced her belief in the importance of running your own race. “Don’t try to be all of the things that whoever the small group of runners is that’s telling you this is how you run, this is what you should do. All of the things that they’re feeding you, don’t try to go after that, because you’ll end up hurting yourself,” she cautions.

Benefits Beyond The Physical

Adria DeLaune’s running journey is a wonderful reminder of the transformative power of putting one foot in front of the other. From law school stress relief to life lessons, from personal growth to professional success, running has been a constant thread weaving through her life.

Her story will inspire runners of all levels. It is a reminder that running is truly for everybody. Lacing up your shoes for the first time? Training for your hundredth ultra marathon? Adria’s journey shows that you can achieve more than you ever thought possible.

So, take Adria’s advice: do it afraid, run your own race, and remember – if you run, you are a runner. Period.

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