When The Miles Become Secondary

The Miles Became Secondary

Joyce Young wasn’t going to run marathons.

Seven marathons later, with three more planned, that declaration hasn’t aged particularly well. But Joyce’s Fireside Chat isn’t really about how many finish lines she’s crossed. It’s about everything that happened between them.

Running Started With Maybe I Can Too

Joyce began running after seeing friends complete half marathons and wondering whether she could do it too. She hadn’t run anything longer than two miles, but the thought was simple: if they can do it, maybe I can too.

Running eventually brought her into the Bay Area running community and Hella Bae Running, a group Joyce describes as providing support and motivation.

Finding Community Through Running

She has also watched opportunities for women in running grow, from more run clubs to greater representation throughout the sport.

Then running was interrupted.

Running After Breast Cancer

In 2022, Joyce was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent multiple surgeries and eventually found herself rebuilding as an athlete.

That changed the conversation.

Instead of simply trying to recreate the runner she had been, Joyce became more thoughtful about training. Strength and stability became priorities. Mileage came down. Patience became part of the process.

“You progress a little bit at a time,” Joyce says. There may be no better description of the Everyday Athlete experience.