People First, Runners Second Always

The Miles Are Just the Invitation

I have been participating in endurance sports for 19 years. Over the course of that time, things have changed. A lot. One thing that has changed for me is that I see people first and runners second. In the past, I saw runners. Choices revolved around running. It burned me out as well as made the sports less enjoyable than they are today.

We say we’re obsessed with splits, heart rate zones, and whether carbon-plated shoes make us faster. But if you sit down long enough with the people in this community, you realize something pretty quickly:

The miles are just the invitation. The real story is the people.

That realization hit me again during a recent Fireside Chat on the Everyday Athlete Podcast Network when I sat down with Juliabna Coughlin, host of the Runnah Podcast and a driving force behind the Cape Cod Marathon.

We started talking about running before it turned into something much more meaningful.

This is what happens when runners talk to me long enough. Eventually we start talking about life.

People Who Run

Julianna began running back in 2011, like many of us do with a curiousity, being unsure, and probably wondering why we voluntarily wake up before sunrise to run in circles.

But her perspective on the sport is what really stood out. We discussed the idea that we are people who run, not just runners.

It’s a subtle but powerful shift in perspective.

When we define ourselves only by pace, distance, or race results, the sport gets smaller. When we recognize that runners are complex humans with careers, families, hobbies, and stories beyond race bibs, the sport suddenly becomes bigger.

And a lot more welcoming.

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The Magic of the Cape Cod Marathon

Julianna helps organize the Cape Cod Marathon, and the way she describes it makes you want to pack your bags immediately.

It’s not just the coastal views or the scenic course but also the town.

Volunteers show up. Spectators cheer like you’re an Olympian. And somewhere near the finish line, someone is handing out homemade apple cider donuts like they’re medals. Sign me up…..maybe on the 2027 Everyday Athlete Clubhouse Run Club Tour?

That’s the kind of race environment that reminds runners they’re part of something bigger than their finish time.

You’re part of a community.

Building a Race Where Everyone Belongs

The conversation eventually turned to something that matters deeply to both of us: belonging.

Julianna is actively working to make racing more inclusive.

The Cape Cod Marathon now offers free entries for adaptive athletes, non-binary categories with equal prize money, and partnerships with organizations like Pride on Foot to ensure LGBTQIA+ runners feel welcomed and supported.

And this work isn’t theoretical for Julianna.

She lives with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and ankylosing spondylitis, which gives her personal insight into the barriers disabled athletes face.

Her mission is simple and impactful:

Make the start line a place where everyone feels like they belong.

Why Running Is Better Together

The truth is, endurance sports don’t need more gatekeeping.

They need more campfires.

More conversations and laughter. Create more stories about life beyond the run.

When we stop seeing runners as numbers on a leaderboard and start seeing them as people, the sport becomes what it was always meant to be.

A place where everyone can show up exactly as they are.

And maybe, just maybe, grab a donut at the finish line too.

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