Becoming Through Running, Identity and Sobriety

What Does It Mean To Be A Runner?

When Lace Coughlin sat down with me for Season 2, Episode 13 of Enduring Minds, I knew this was going to be different.

She’s the first woman on the podcast. During Women’s History Month that felt special and important. But what mattered more was how she introduced herself.

A mom.
A sister.
A daughter.
A friend.

Running came last.

That stopped me because I always find it interesting what people list and in what order..

We live in a culture where people lead with their athletic identity. Marathoner. Ironman. Ultrarunner. But Lace flipped the script. She isn’t a runner who happens to be a person. She’s a person who runs. This concept has been rattling around in my brain for a bit and Lace put it front and center.

Running As Medicine, Not Performance

Lace shared her six-year sobriety journey with a level of honesty that takes courage. She quit drinking cold turkey. What followed wasn’t applause but instead it was loneliness.

Invitations stopped coming. Relationships shifted. The isolation was real.

But instead of shrinking, she leaned in. She had hard conversations and rebuilt connection. Instead of sitting on the sidelines watching the world go by, Laces chose growth.

During her years in law enforcement, running became her medicine. Three miles could reset her entire day. Not because she was chasing a PR or because Strava needed updating.

Movement regulated her nervous system.
Wweat processed emotion.
Forward motion reminded her she was still here.

We talk about paces and miles but those three items above tend to get lost in the conversations.

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Identity, Heritage, and Becoming

We also talked about identity, through her culture, and what it feels like to not feel “enough.”

Through connection with other Indigenous women, Lace found strength and pride in who she is. Now she’s raising her children differently. She is teaching them emotional openness while encouraging big dreams. As a matter of face, she taught me something through this conversation. She taught me that I am not dreaming big enough. This is why I love talking to people. The lessons learns and the impact it has on me.

At the end of our conversation, I asked her what she wants to learn this year.

Pottery. Sewing ribbon skirts.

Not podiums. Not medals.

Just growth.

The Quiet Power of Becoming

This episode isn’t about recording splits or writing race reports.

Sobriety.
Motherhood.
Cultural Identity.
Mental Health.

Become who you’re meant to be even if you do it one mile at a time.

Enduring minds is a supportive space and we prove that you’re not alone. Lace’s story will hit you for various reasons and it is why we do what we do.

Yes, we talk about running, triathlon, swim and cycling. Those sports might be the vehicle but they aren’t the entire picture.

Go forward and become YOU. That’s the real race.

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