Heike and Brooke signed up for our Mighty Niagara Half Marathon Training Program and dove into training this past summer with a shared determination to take on something new. Each faced her own personal challenges. When Heike saw hill and track workouts on the schedule, her nerves kicked in—speedwork had always been outside her comfort zone. Still, she embraced the challenge and pushed herself in new ways. The long runs tested her mentally, especially with early wake-ups to beat the heat. Meanwhile, Brooke loved those sunrise long runs and found the track sessions refreshingly nostalgic. Her main hurdle was fitting in after-school runs; as a teacher, this required plenty of creativity and commitment. Despite their individual challenges, both found motivation in the program’s structure, confidence as they progressed, and energy from training with the Middle Trail community. Supported by the group and guided by the coaches, they didn’t just finish the program—they completely crushed it.

Training taught both Heike and Brooke valuable lessons. For Heike, it meant discovering her mental toughness and discipline—waking up early, logging miles consistently, and carrying that resilience into other parts of her life. For Brooke, it was realizing her commitment to seeing things through; each time she crossed off a workout, she watched her progress build day by day. By race day, they were ready. Crossing the finish line didn’t just mark the completion of their first half marathon—they exceeded their goal times and proved exactly what they’re capable of. Their achievement was all the more impressive given their race day’s toasty conditions!

Heike and Brooke both have ambitious running goals for the future. Right now, they’re training for the iconic Buffalo Turkey Trot, aiming for new personal bests in the 8K Thanksgiving race. Looking further ahead, Heike plans to take on the challenge of a full marathon, while Brooke is setting her sights on the Buffalo Half Marathon this spring, a fast and scenic event through downtown Buffalo.

When asked what advice they’d share with new runners or anyone considering a new distance, both Heike and Brooke emphasized the importance of patience and finding community. Heike encourages giving yourself grace—social media can make running look effortless, but it’s perfectly normal to start with run/walk intervals and build endurance gradually. She stresses that speed doesn’t define you as a runner; as long as you’re putting one foot in front of the other, you belong in the running community. Running with others, she notes, opens your eyes to how wonderfully diverse and supportive that community really is.​ Brooke agrees, advising beginners to start slow—perhaps with a 5K—and to progress step by step. She also believes that finding a group to run with makes all the difference!

For Heike and Brooke, running has grown into something much deeper than just workouts or races. Heike loves the sense of strength—both physical and mental—that running brings her. Brooke values the peace found in each run, a quiet escape from the bustle of her day, along with the sense of accomplishment she feels, no matter what else is happening. We are so proud to have Heike and Brooke in our Middle Trail Run Club. Their story reminds us why we run: for growth, for confidence, for joy, and most importantly, for the people who run beside us. Their first half marathon is just the beginning, and we can’t wait to see where their running journeys take them next!