Your name and role in the Steeplechasers. Brigitte Farrell; just finished up as a 5K training coach for the Women’s Distance Festival, and now starting as a 10K pacer for the co-ed program!
How long have you been a member? How long have you been in this role? I joined the Steeps in 2015 I think … I joined the training group for that year’s Frederick Women’s Distance Festival and that’s still my favorite race! This past year I started coaching – I helped coach the 10K group last Fall, then the Half Marathon group in the Spring and, most recently, the Frederick Women’s Distance Festival training group. Because of several other commitments, I’m taking a break from coaching this Fall but have volunteered to be one of the group pacers for the 10K group.
Are you training for anything in particular right now? I’m training for the 10k Cunningham Falls Race held Nov. 2 this year. [Editor’s note: if you plan on doing this one, don’t neglect your hill repeats! IYKYK :)]
Do you have any running partners? My pal Missy Sites has been my running buddy for several years now! We try and meet up once a week for a run, plus the Saturday morning training runs.
Back when I first joined the Steeps, I hadn’t run for years and a wonderful woman named Loretta Fahy walked and ran with me, encouraging me every step of the way. Loretta, Missy and a few other gals and I were running buddies for a few years and did a lot of the local races together. Loretta moved to Tennessee a few years ago but we get together for a walk/run whenever we get the chance when she is up here visiting.
Tell us a little bit about your role in the Steeplechasers. I approached Sue Schultz Searcy last year expressing my interest in coaching; I felt that after being a member for so many years, it was time for me to give back to the organization. I wanted to help other new or returning runners just like my pal Loretta had done for me. From that perspective, I have really enjoyed coaching and have met so many wonderful women of all ages who are just looking for some encouragement. Coaching the Frederick Women’s Distance Festival with Sue and my wonderful new pal Wendy Rollison was a great experience this past summer, in spite of the crazy heat and the thunderstorms that seemed to threaten a majority of our Wednesday night runs. The women who turned out to run and walk were just fantastic … everyone had such wonderful positive attitudes and were all genuinely supportive of each other. I continue to believe this training group and race really showcases the best of the Steeps!
What’s your favorite part about it? See above LOL
If you could impart one piece of wisdom to the Steeps, what would it be? When I started running with the Steeps, I literally could not run up a small slope without getting out of breath, but the encouragement I found in this running club kept me going. Find your people! They are here! Also, I find it helpful to always keep setting goals … as soon as I finish a race, I know I have at least two ahead of me so I just keep running!