Extraordinary Strides
Welcome to Extraordinary Strides, the podcast that celebrates the spirit of running and the inspiring stories of those who lace up their shoes and hit the pavement.
Here, we dive into the heart of what makes running an extraordinary adventure.
Whether you're a seasoned marathoner or just starting out, Extraordinary Strides is your go-to source for expert tips, motivational stories, and the camaraderie of the running community.
Our episodes feature seasoned runners, coaches, and everyday athletes sharing their triumphs, challenges, and the joy they find in every run.
Join us for casual, uplifting conversations that will leave you excited to put on your running shoes and hit the road. We believe that every run, no matter the distance, is a step towards something greater.
So, subscribe now and join our community of runners who are making every stride extraordinary.
At Extraordinary Strides, we're here to inspire, motivate, and celebrate with you every step of the way!
Extraordinary Strides
Running Back to Life: Stephanie & Maya’s Journey with Home State Run Club
Imagine overcoming a health setback only to come back stronger and inspire an entire community. Stephanie Rosberg did just that. She moved to Disney with dreams of running marathons, but an autoimmune disease put her on a detour. Hear how that detour led to the creation of the Home State Run Club in Central Florida. Alongside Stephanie, we have Maya Cohn, a dedicated member who started running in third grade with Girls on the Run and has since tackled the Boston Marathon and going on to her biggest challenge yet a perfect WDW runDisney season. Both share their love for the camaraderie of the runDisney Marathon Weekend and the life-changing impact of community-based running.
What happens when you decide to start a run club with no prior experience? Stephanie faced that very challenge when she moved to the Hamlin area right before COVID. Partnering with a local brewery, she launched the Home State Run Club and watched it grow from just a handful of runners to a bustling community. Maya, initially hesitant to socialize, found her tribe here. Their stories highlight the power of accessible, community-driven fitness initiatives that welcome everyone, regardless of running ability.
Balancing personal goals and community leadership can be tricky, but Stephanie has mastered it. She shares her strategies for making new members feel at home and connects people with common interests, likening her role to hosting a wedding reception every Monday. Maya emphasizes the importance of personal initiative in forming connections. From chalk-written motivational messages to dream scenarios of running with celebrities like Taylor Swift, the episode is filled with insights and lighthearted moments. Dive into the supportive and inclusive spirit that makes the Home State Run Club feel like a family, and discover how you can keep running, shining, and making every stride extraordinary.
Have questions or want to chat? Send me a text!
Join the newsletter list for updates, special offers, and exclusive behind-the-scenes content.
Join fellow pod and running enthusiasts at The Stride Collective community on Facebook or follow us on Instagram.
Welcome, friends, to another exciting episode of Extraordinary Strides. I'm your host, coach Christine, and today we have such a special duo joining us. Yes, first up we have the incredible Stephanie Rosberg, the driving force behind the Home State Run Club, which, for folks that are here in Central Florida or even coming down for Run Disney will know, this is one of the largest run clubs that we have in Central Florida and I can't wait to learn more about it. But we also have one of her faithful and really passionate home state run club members and a former guest who's been with us before welcoming back, maya Cohn. I can't wait to talk to both of you. Welcome, friends.
Speaker 2:Hi, thank you for having us. Yes, thank you so much. It's so nice to be here.
Speaker 1:So I am thrilled to talk to you both and I know that I've kind of been, I feel, like stalking the social media channels for some time because I haven't actually made it out to one of the Run Club meetups, but I'm going to. For folks that are maybe a little new, haven't heard of Home State Run Club and want to learn more about you, I want to first ask you about your running stories. So, stephanie, how did you get into running?
Speaker 2:So when I moved down to Disney I saw the Disney marathon and it looked amazing and super fun. I was so young, so it became a bucket list item, without realizing that I had to train to run a marathon. But unfortunately I became ill with an autoimmune disease during that training cycle, so once that left me in a wheelchair due to severe pain in my legs. So the recovery process became more towards working towards earning that deferral of the marathon and it became a comeback story instead.
Speaker 1:Oh, my goodness. Well, welcome back. And so your first marathon was after having this experience with your autoimmune disease. Is that correct? Yep, wow, okay. Well, we're glad that you are able to cause. It sounds like not only did you have that marathon but, much beyond that, have also been able to go on and do quite a few other races. Which brings me to Maya. Maya, do you want to share with the audience a little bit about how you got into running?
Speaker 3:I mean if the audience have listened to the past episodes of the podcast, they already know that I started my running journey with Girls on the Run, so in third grade.
Speaker 1:So I mean again. I was going to say, stephanie, you sound like you were rather young when you started running, but I think Maya may have beat you by a little bit, right? I?
Speaker 2:think Maya's got me beat. Yes, absolutely, I think I beat most people.
Speaker 1:I would say so because you started running with Girls on the Run, but you've continued through and I know that you have quite the adventures as well of being a soulmate and being a fundraiser, and you're Boston, so you guys have had quite the illustrious running journeys between the two of you. Before we dive into a lot about Home State Run Club and the incredible community that you have created, stephanie, and that you're a part of, maya, I do want to know, since both of you are Run Disney fans, do you have a favorite Run Disney weekend?
Speaker 3:That's a tough one, but I think Marathon Weekend since it was my first Run Disney race weekend that will always be my favorite and hold a special place in my heart.
Speaker 1:Oh, I love that. How about you, Stephanie?
Speaker 2:I agree with her 100%. Marathon weekend is the best. I just love the camaraderie that comes with it and obviously Dopey is one of the largest challenges. So to see everyone working towards that goal and everything, it's just so inspirational.
Speaker 1:Well, let's talk about inspirational and that camaraderie, because I think that when I think of home state run club, that's exactly what comes to mind. Is those two words? And, stephanie, what made you decide I want to start this run club, or what made you decide that you wanted to lead it or take a bigger part in it?
Speaker 2:So I've been a part of the running community for about 10 years now, but always on the quiet side of it, always the back of the packer, just kind of there for more of the race experience than trying to work towards any big PRs or big time goals or anything like that.
Speaker 2:And then I moved to the Hamlin area before right before COVID, so right before everything shut down and it was a newer area with not a lot to offer to be in with. So once COVID was over and I heard a brewery was being built, I said, wow, this is my opportunity to kind of start something and start it for the people like me. So I approached the brewery as they were being built and I said, hey, I'd really love to start a run club. You don't know me yet, but you're going to, I want to work with you guys, for me again just having that fun aspect. So I felt like the brewery was the perfect place for that and I was able to create the run club. I created it with a timed run instead of a distance run, so it doesn't exclude any pieces, and it just kind of grew from there. It became my baby.
Speaker 1:Do you want to share a little bit about maybe some of the concerns or trepidation you may have had in approaching a brand new location and this is kind of your first foray into doing this. You haven't organized run clubs or any run events prior to correct.
Speaker 2:Correct, I work for a athletic company, but this was my first solo venture. I was definitely nervous about crowds showing up. I begged all my friends, just come for the group picture. You don't even have to run, I'll buy you a beer. Please come for the first week. And it was about 10 of my friends and 10 complete strangers from the neighborhood who all had seen my post and from there it just gave me the confidence that hey, people are seeing my stuff, people are interested in this, and within the first three months we tripled in size from 15 to 40 people. It just grew so rapidly that it was just I could tell the want was there and it just fueled my fire to keep it going.
Speaker 1:I love that, stephanie.
Speaker 1:I love how you just saw that there was a need and you pushed forward, because I think that's such an important part, and I also think that running and our running journey allows us to have that confidence in a lot of ways that I don't know about you, but I would probably never have done that on my own prior to running, but I'm also guys.
Speaker 1:You have to check out their Instagram because when you do, you'll see that when she's talking about originally starting off with 20 runners which, by the way, is a lot of people, a lot of movers and shakers out there for 20 for your first one out, but now I don't even know how they fit everyone into their group photos because it looks like they have to like have like a drone, go away and take it from a mile away because it's so many people. Which Maya brings me to you. I know that you, while you started running with girls on the run and you continue through you really got into your training, kind of during COVID. So when did you first hear about Home State and what made you decide to take the plunge and meet up with them?
Speaker 3:It was through another friend that I had met and she was like I run with this group. It was a different group at first, but after one run with that group I decided it wasn't really possible. Right for me, because they were all faster than me.
Speaker 1:And you know, when I first started with this group it was funny because I would immediately following the run, I would go home and basically like I never went Okay, so you would kind of sneak in there's 300 people, there are not necessarily like, and then you head out before anybody gets a chance to say anything.
Speaker 3:Okay, it was probably like a good month or two until I actually started like socializing with people.
Speaker 1:First of all, I think it takes a lot of courage to go to any run club, but I think it's a testament that, stephanie, you've created such a welcoming, inclusive run club and part of your formula, as you said, is that it's time-based, where you have folks meeting up at 6.30, 6.45 pm on a Monday night is when they actually take off for a run, and then you have 45 minutes so people can get in whatever distance they want during that 45 minutes. Does that sound about right?
Speaker 2:That's correct. Yes, they can run, they can walk, do intervals, whatever they want to do. As long as they're out there moving and grooving for 45 minutes, we're happy to support you. I am so madly in love with that, which, of course, Happy to support you.
Speaker 1:I am so madly in love with that, which, of course, maya, I want to know from you. I'm coming out here. I feel like I've taken a lot of courage, but I want to actually be part of the group. What was the next step for you to immerse yourself and to maybe stick around and strike up a conversation with folks?
Speaker 3:I guess meeting the right people within the group, because like there was a lot of people, guess meeting the right people within the group, cause like there was a lot of people and it's just like you have to find a mini group within the big group.
Speaker 1:I think that's perfectly said. Which, Stephanie, how do you feel like you do that, Like what is one of the things that you're able to say that makes your group stand out from others in terms of although it's really large, that people still feel very passionate about finding their people within their really large community?
Speaker 2:Yes, so my husband and I my husband's the one who passes out the bracelets and stuff at the beginning, so he'll find out who the new members are kind of give them the spiel, but also point them out to me and then what we call it making the rounds afterwards, and it's kind of like you know, it's our own wedding every Monday.
Speaker 1:I was thinking the same thing when you're saying it. I was like they're literally doing their wedding reception line.
Speaker 2:And we, and we seek out specifically the new people just to get to know them, say hi, welcome into the club. And then what I do is I listen, for what race are they training for, or are they a dog or cat person or little things like that? And I will physically pull them over and be hey, so-and-so is training for this race as well. Here you are and just hope that they can hit it off and from there it's just it's same thing. You know, it's just.
Speaker 2:It's difficult when it's such a large group. It can feel like there's already these little potholes. But you can always look around the room and assess. You see two people sitting by themselves, one person sitting by themselves, and so once kind of the dust has cleared, I try to go over to them and get them into a larger circle. I know I have a good group of us who they help me with that. So I'll be like hey, so-and-so's new, they're sitting by themselves and Bobby Joe will go run right over, or, you know, I can just send whoever and they can take care of that so that person doesn't feel by themselves and I can't attack everyone at once.
Speaker 1:But I try to. I love that you have that and I also love, like Maya, that you pointed out a great point that you made it kind of happen for yourself, because I think that we do have to take responsibility of if we want to create these connections and this friendship. While Stephanie is going to do her absolute best to find out if you're a dog person or a cat person and connect you with your people, it's still really important that you already have a connection with these individuals that you've chosen to meet up with, because you know that they're fellow runners and they also love breweries, I assume. So just striking up a conversation, as scary as it may be, is sometimes what people really kind of need to do. But I'm curious, stephanie, since you did say this are you a dog person or a cat person?
Speaker 2:I am definitely a dog person. I think cats are cute, but I have the allergies, so I admire from a distance. But I have two boys and I love them very dearly. Oh, do they get to go out to the run club with you? Unfortunately not, they're a little too rowdy for that. But they do run with me outside of run club.
Speaker 1:Well, that's okay, we love them for who they are. How out of one book? Well, that's okay, we love them for who they are. How about you, maya? Are you a cat person or a dog person? I am not a cat person, okay, so you're not necessarily voting for dogs, but you're voting definitely against cats. Yeah, I got you. I feel you on that. They have a different vibe. They have a different vibe. So what would you suggest to folks and I'm going to ask you, stephanie, for somebody who is listening, and maybe they're coming down to run Disney or they live in Central Florida and they wanted to join in on a Monday night club what would you suggest would be a good way for them to feel more at home within this incredible community?
Speaker 2:just as far as introducing yourself. I know it's hard. Just be brave, you know we have. I like to think that I attract a lot of great people into this group and I can't look around at the end of the night and tell you it's single table. That wouldn't welcome you with open arms If you just said hey, can I sit here? Oh, I love that.
Speaker 1:Be brave, it will pay off, I promise I feel like we've got a little bit of like that run Disney kind of a Disney Pixar kind of inside out feeling. Here we're just so you may feel a little awkward but have a little extra joy when you approach the group and you'll be good to go. I'm gonna ask you, maya, if there was a specific time that you can call out a memory or experience that you've had with this run club that just you knew this was for you, that this would be your people, your family, that somebody you'd continue to hang out with every Monday night.
Speaker 3:I don't know, that's a tough one no-transcript.
Speaker 1:I can guarantee you that I just wanted to sleep. So how about you, stephanie, anything you can call to mind that stuck out for you along this way. I mean, I know you have to have like a mama's pride of what you've grown, but is there a couple of maybe standout stories that stay in your mind about the Run Club?
Speaker 2:Oh, definitely there's too many. I would say our first Run Disney meetup it was, I believe it was Wine and Dine Weekend of 2022. So our group was still relatively smaller then and I was just like, hey, Kevin and I will be cheering, We'll be there for the 10K. And the amount of selfies we took with athletes on that course was just insane and I was like, oh my gosh. And people were yelling out Homestead, even if they didn't know our names, they knew Homestead and to be there to cheer them on and to be recognized for it was really cool.
Speaker 1:So that sounds incredibly special and it goes to show again how you kind of have created such an incredible community. I'm going to ask though do you have difficulty balancing your own running goals with also kind of having to cause you do? It sounds like you have a little bit of mama bear energy Do you? Are you able to still balance your own running goals with the group when you're out for group runs?
Speaker 2:It's a little difficult. So on Mondays everyone always makes the joke that I don't run because I'm there to cheer. But I actually fun fact I do run. I run before the club to write the motivational chalk writings on the course. So I actually run the 5k course before all the athletes get there, sometimes at three in the afternoon and 100 degree weather. So that's always definitely a goal for heat acclimation, right? I would absolutely say so. Yes is great. But I think it's just done the opposite, where it's just encouraged our group to meet up for more runs, and throughout the week. You know, it's not just Mondays, it's hey, I'm running on Wednesday here, do you want to join? Hey, we're running Saturday here, Do you want to join? And it just gives you that motivation and encouragement to go out there for more runs. When you're stuck training by yourself Sometimes it's hard to get out of the house, but when a friend is waiting for you it makes it a lot easier.
Speaker 1:And it sounds like with this grip, you have more than just a friend waiting for you. You have hundreds of friends waiting for you, whether they're there on Monday night or not. I'm curious is the route always the same on Mondays, or does it vary from run to run?
Speaker 2:Always the same. We only had to edit it one week because there was actually construction on the trail. I believe in the consistency of it. I think just everyone knowing they have a safe place, everyone knowing exactly when they show up, what to expect, and not changing that Again. I'm trying to make it a safe place and inclusive place, and so I feel like consistency holds hand in hand with that.
Speaker 1:That makes perfect sense, which I'm going to now ask a little bit of a kind of a wishlist dream If you guys could have any celebrity join you guys for a Monday night and, maya girl, you know, I know yours already but if you guys could have any celebrity join in for your fun and maybe you have had a celebrity already, but if you could have one who would it be?
Speaker 2:I want to hear Maya's first. You have me intrigued.
Speaker 3:Coach Christine already knows. Oh, I so know.
Speaker 1:I think that the audience all knows. They're probably screaming it into their own headphones right now, like we know, but, cher, because Stephanie doesn't know and maybe some of your home state-run club folks don't know- Okay, it's no surprise to Christine, but it's Taylor Swift, of course.
Speaker 2:She is a full-on Swiftie. Did she do the concert at the finish line instead of the boom box? Yes, I love that idea. I think we have a few other people who might be into that.
Speaker 1:So, Taylor Swift, you officially have your invitation right here and now for when you're in central Florida joining the home state run club and Monday night, because it sounds like you have a group of people who'll be excited to see you. But Stephanie, who would you love to have join you guys?
Speaker 2:See, it's a different scenario, because if I could go for a drink with any celebrity, that would be a very different celebrity. But that's OK, let's do that too If I could have anyone to come to Run Club. My hero is Des Linden. She's an elite athlete and she is incredible and she drinks whiskey and I love her.
Speaker 1:I was going to say she's the perfect person to have for a drink as well. I mean, I remember during COVID, when she was doing her bourbon like lives on Instagram and it was always so much fun. Okay, but would you have a different celeb that you'd want to go out for a drink with you?
Speaker 2:know it's so funny. I always really wanted to meet Steven Tyler from Aerosmith. They have been my favorite band since I was 16. And I just think the stories he could tell would entertain me no doubt.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, see, he would be great to actually run a marathon with, because he could keep you going with all those stories for at least maybe an ultra Maya. Would you want to have a drink with Taylor Swift too, or do you think there's somebody else that you'd want to maybe have a drink with? I don't know, we'll have to think on it. You'll get back to us. Yeah, all right, my friends, I'm going to ask a couple more questions because, stephanie, I'd like to know if somebody is listening in and they're maybe in, I don't know Ohio, and they're thinking this sounds amazing and it's what I need and they are not going to make it to Florida anytime soon. What would you suggest to an individual who's thinking they're on the fence, they want to start their own run club?
Speaker 2:I would tell them to research in their community, search your Facebook, your Instagram, see if there's any run groups around. I will say I have worked together with a lot of the other run group leaders locally, from Park Pizza to Silver Dog to Ivanhoe. All of us collaborate and work together and we're great friends on the back end. So going to meet those other people in your community and they can kind of let you know what your community is necessarily looking for and then just finding a great place to host it. I mean the teamwork with Home State. Even though I don't work for them, they work with me. They have been an amazing partner in all this. They give me whatever I want, which is pretty cool. They give 15% off your entire tab to all of our athletes and participants. So it's just been a great working relationship and I don't know if I could have such a consistent run club without their partnership.
Speaker 1:I think that's an incredible I mean incredible testament to home state as well, because they are so community focused. So thank you for that great advice. But I am going to ask you guys, what do you have as your favorite post-Monday night brew? I mean, what's your drink afterward? Maya, I know that you definitely stay for the beers now. You may not have the first month, but you do now. What are you drinking?
Speaker 3:It's one of their home brews. It's called oh my Gatos.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's fantastic. Okay, how about you, stephanie? What are you usually ordering, or do you kind of mix it up according to their seasonal offerings?
Speaker 2:Yes, they definitely don't want me advertising this, but I actually am a mixologist of their brews. Right now, my favorite is called the 86. It is the mix of the C-level and the Audacity beers, and they're on tap six and eight, but you have to pour eight first, so that's why 86.
Speaker 1:Oh, so see, my friends, you want to follow along for Home State Brewing Run Club for, if no other reason to find a different drink that maybe wouldn't be on the menu, that's a Stephanie original creation. And, by the way, maya, it cracks me up that you are so adamant that you don't like cats, but the beer that you drink is literally, oh, my cats. So that makes me giggle a little bit. All right, friends. With that said, I want to thank you both so very much. Would you have any parting words for anyone that you'd like to share about joining you guys on a Monday night?
Speaker 3:Just do it.
Speaker 1:Perfect, I mean it works. It's a slogan, for a reason. How?
Speaker 2:about you, Stephanie. Don't be afraid and just please come. Your main priority is fun. At the end of the day, we just want you to have fun.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's perfect. With that said, friends, I'm going to suggest that, if you guys are on the fence and you're a little little cautious, check them out on Instagram Homestate Run Club. You're going to get to see how much fun they actually do bring to every single run. You're going to see those incredible pictures, too, that I think they have to use a drone to take of all the people, and you are sure to meet your next best running friend with them. So join on in and, of course, give them a big shout out and appreciate, stephanie, the community that you're creating. So thank you so much.
Speaker 1:Thank you, thank you, friends, for having this opportunity to sit down with me and tell me all about that wonderful in real life running community. But, friends, if you don't have an incredible running club near you, that is where the stride collective comes into play. We are celebrating our two year anniversary of an incredible virtual community and we would love you to join in. So what are you waiting for? Use the link in episode notes and come on over to find your supportive, inspiring and, of course, your community, who cannot resist talking about all things running. All right, my friend, thank you so much for joining us. I'm Coach Christine, and I want to thank you for being here. I'm going to remind you to keep running, keep shining and keep making every single stride extraordinary.
