Hearing Your Stories: Julie Hughes
'When it came to running at a young age, I noticed how it changed my mood from sad or upset to happy and calm. Running was my escape. It was my way of dealing with pain.'
Morning, friends! ☀️ You may remember that back in February, I put out a call to share your stories. Ever since, these interviews have become my favorite part of writing THM, as they’ve given me (and all of us) the chance to meet one-on-one, even if only virtually.
Today, you get to meet , a fellow runner and writer whom I met through Substack and has since become a friend. She has written so movingly about her family’s health journey over the past few years, all while competing in some big — really big! — challenges, like the JFK 50-Miler.
I hope you enjoy her story as much as I did — and, if you feel inspired to share yours too, I’d love to hear it. All you need to is reply back by email or in the comments below, and we’ll go from there. — Terrell
So, let’s hear a little bit about you! Who are you, your age (if you’d like to share), where you’re from, what you do, etc.
I’m Julie B. Hughes, a 45-year-old mother runner. I’m a licensed physical therapist, author, and run/write coach in my community. I live with my husband Jeff and two children, Brindsley and Delaney, in central New York.
I’ve written four memoirs about my running journey:
My Road: A Runner’s Journey through Persistent Pain to Healing
And most recently, Miles of Meaning: from Doubter to JFK 50 Mile Finisher
What does your running routine look like? How many times a week, and how far do you run?
I run on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Tuesday is my rest day, and Friday is optional: rest, fitness walk, or yoga.
My runs during the week vary from 50 to 75 minutes. My long runs are on Saturday and usually last 90 minutes or two to three hours, depending on what I’m training for. Strength training is two to three times weekly for 20 to 25 minutes.
Were you an athletic kid growing up? What are your early memories of what fitness and health were about?
Yes, I grew up loving to run and play all kinds of sports. I had four siblings, and we grew up playing pick-up games outside. Softball, kickball, basketball, soccer, etc. Moving our bodies was something we did every day.
My uncle organized the Bloom Run, which took place every year around my grandparents’ wedding anniversary. We would run a two-mile loop on the roads near my grandparents’ house and then have a picnic afterward. The winner’s name was etched on a wooden plaque with a silver spray-painted sneaker.
It’s funny because the sneaker isn’t one you’d wear running; it’s a high-top basketball sneaker, but my goal was to get my name on it. I thought it was super cool, and looking back, I’m grateful my uncle organized this. Fitness became a part of who I was at a young age.
When it came to running at a young age, I noticed how it changed my mood from sad or upset to happy and calm. Running was my escape. It was my way of dealing with pain. I would lace up my sneakers and head out the door to the sound of the wind or birds. Then it was just my breathing and my feet hitting the pavement.
There was no criticism, no judgment. It was just me, alone, and I liked that. I liked being alone. There was a sense of comfort and safety for me on the roads. I found that running decreased my worry and fear, replacing those emotions with a sense of inner calm and contentment. I noticed as a young girl that the longer I ran, the better I felt.
How did you first get into running? Was there something that inspired you — like a performance at the Olympics, for example, or a runner you discovered by watching them on social media or TV? Or was there someone in your own life who inspired you to think, ‘maybe I can do this?’
My Uncle Tim was an avid runner and hiker. He introduced me to road races and track clubs when I was a kid. We received a special yellow T-shirt to wear when we participated in the races. I would put the shirt on over my ponytail, standing taller, with a smile spreading across my face.
I would line up at the start with all the other runners, as music played and the announcer spoke into the microphone. There were cheers as we ran and snacks afterward. It felt like a big party, and I was invited! It was such a fun experience, and at that age, running was never about winning, pace, or who I could beat. Running made me happy because it was my playtime. It got me out of farm chores. (Yippee!)
Lynn Jennings was a professional runner I admired. I remember my uncle taking me to an event where she was speaking. I was so excited to go and couldn’t wait. I sat next to my uncle and watched her speak. Lynn talked about her running career with calm confidence. I loved that her legs were so muscular — just like mine! — and she made a comment about her “bigger than other runners’ legs” in a proud and relaxed way.
That made me feel good about my body. I thought, I look like her. I got an autographed poster of her and hung it on my wall as soon as I got home. I also loved watching Joan Benoit (now Samuelson), and of course, Kathrine Switzer and Bobbi Gibb were women I wanted to emulate.
The more I read about them, the more I dreamed of running the Boston Marathon. This became a goal of mine at a young age, and I ran my first marathon as a senior in high school. I had a great support system as I joined Team in Training to raise money for Leukemia.
How has your interest in running evolved since then? Do you run farther, or faster now?
My dream to run the Boston Marathon became a 20-year mission. I finally achieved it in 2021. Since I crossed that finish line, I wanted to challenge myself at longer distances. I worked with my coach to gradually increase my training load to finish a 50K, then set my sights on 50 miles.
There were a few delays, but I was able to run my first 50 Mile race in November 2024, and my newest book is about my experience running the JFK 50 Mile Race. It was incredible and I highly recommend it.
I enjoy the longer distances and would like to continue working my way up to a 100 mile race.
What do you balance your running with? Do you have a family to take care of? Kids, parents or other relatives or loved ones? If so, how do you balance all of it and still make time to run/care for yourself?
I balance running with writing, inspiring others to move and write, hiking, teaching my children, and preparing meals in the kitchen. My husband Jeff and our two children keep us active as they decide what activities they want to participate in.
I make time for myself by waking up early. I’m thankful to be a morning person, and I attribute that to all the early 3:00 a.m. wake-up calls while growing up on a dairy farm. So, I get up and go for a run before my children wake up. It’s a habit I’m grateful for.
I’m realizing that a true balance might not really exist. Some seasons, I have to shift or change my training load, race schedule, kids’ activities, and priorities as life unfolds. When my husband was sick, I learned that some days you just won’t be able to do everything, and what matters most is the time we spend caring for each other.
Is there anything you’re especially proud of that you can point to your running and say, ‘this helped me achieve ______’?
Running has helped me prepare for life. When my husband went through chemotherapy, I was very thankful for my running. I was already an endurance runner and used that mindset to get through that difficult time with my husband.
The physical and mental training from running extends to many areas of our lives. As runners, we have a big advantage in this regard. I’m so grateful.
What have you learned about yourself from your running journey? Is there anything that’s changed about you since you started?
I have learned so much that I’ve written four books! I have improved how I talk to myself, and I’ve learned to recognize my inner critic as well as the mindset tools and skills to prevent that voice from controlling my life.
For many years, I had a very unhealthy relationship with food. The old story of “thinner meant faster” or “thinner meant better” was a belief I clung to that caused years of pain, fatigue, and unhappiness.
I used to put enormous pressure on myself and wanted to be such a fast runner that it consumed me. I developed an unhealthy relationship with food, over-trained, and went through a period when I couldn’t run and was in a really terrible situation.
I experienced so much emotional pain that it affected every aspect of my life. Yet, running was what pulled me back up once I was able to get back to it.
When I worked with Marni Sumbal, a sports nutritionist, she helped me shift my focus from my weight to asking better questions: “Do you have good energy for your workouts? Do you feel strong, resilient, and healthy? Are you able to recover well after your workouts? Are you feeling stronger, faster, or fitter?” She wanted me to pay attention to how I was feeling and evaluate what my body could do instead of how it looked.
I learned to question my thoughts instead of just criticizing myself or pushing thoughts away. When negative thoughts took over — You don’t belong here, You’re not fast enough, or You’re not good enough — I learned to ask, What else could be true? Who does God say I am? I questioned and prayed instead of defaulting to self-criticism. This questioning helped me make a shift each day to decide whether the story was worth listening to again.
Marathon training and racing taught me a lot about the importance of having a mantra. When I’m tired, I ask myself what will keep me going. When I feel pain or nerve twinges, I remind myself of words that motivate me. I’ve realized these mantras carry over into my life. Some days, I get tired. I don’t want to do another load of laundry or dishes, and having a mantra helps me push through. Life can be so hard, but running gives me the perseverance and endurance to keep going.
Where would you like to go with your running? Is there anything special you’d like to achieve — like, say, running all six World Marathon Majors, or running an ultra?
I run because I love it and want to keep running for the joy of it. That said, I would love to complete a 100-mile race. It’s my next big goal to work toward. I haven’t ruled out the six World Marathon Majors either.
What keeps you going? Especially if you’ve been running for a while — do you ever get bored with it? How do you find new things to motivate you, to keep you going?
My children motivate me to keep going. I want to be healthy and strong to keep up with them. I also aim to instill a love of movement and the importance of working hard toward a goal, regardless of the outcome. I set goals for myself to stay motivated. That’s why I race at least four or five times a year. It keeps me motivated and gives me a challenge. I want to show my children that goals require time and effort.
I love to run, which helps. I enjoy being outdoors. What will I see, hear, and smell? It’s glorious. Every time I step out the door, it truly is an adventure, and I’ve noticed how it fuels my writing. I don’t get bored with it, but if I start feeling a little off, I change my routes or buy a new pair of sneakers or apparel to get excited about heading outside.
Look back at yourself when you were a kid, maybe say 10 years old. Remember how you felt, what you thought, especially what you thought you were capable of back then. If you could talk to that kid now, what would you say?
You have what it takes. You don’t need to be fixed; you are loved. Your running will fill your life with joy. You’ll make new friends, see new places, and through it all, you will grow stronger physically and mentally.
I want to hug Julie as a little girl so hard for choosing to run in the dark, the rain, the snow, and the sunshine. Choosing to run no matter what. If it wasn’t for running, I may not have kept going. I may have stayed in the trenches of self-doubt, self-sabotage, and a victimhood mindset. I may have accepted my pain and given up.
Running saved us, little girl. We made it!
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This is great! Maybe my favorite line distills the essence of running, particularly trail running: "What will I see, hear, and smell? It’s glorious." Go get that 100-mile buckle, Julie.
Love reading these. What amazing accomplishments. 50 miles seems impossible to me, but so did 13.1 before I had done it the first time.