When Grace Myers laces up her running shoes, she's not checking her GPS watch or loading up on the latest sports nutrition—she's tapping into something more fundamental. On this episode of The Hobby Jogger, we meet a runner who qualified for Boston Marathon without using a single calorie of race fuel, who pushed strollers through training runs until the tires literally wore out, and who found her way back to the trails after surviving a terrifying assault.

Grace's running journey spans over two decades, beginning as a 13-year-old running loops in her parents' yard. Her unconventional approach continued when she qualified for Boston Marathon at the challenging Akron course, only to miss the adjusted qualifying time by one second. In a remarkable twist, Sam Adams Beer Company offered her a sponsored entry—though COVID ultimately transformed her Boston experience into a virtual run around her neighborhood.

The conversation takes a powerful turn as Grace courageously shares the story of being assaulted during a run just over a year ago. With remarkable candor, she discusses how this traumatic experience changed her relationship with running without breaking it. "I didn't want that taken from me as well," she explains, describing how important it was to remain the same person her children had always known despite the trauma.

Today, Grace has found renewed joy in trail running, recently tackling the challenging first leg of the Laurel Highlands Trail relay and contemplating her first 50K ultramarathon. Drawing strength from her Polish heritage and the example of her grandfather who ran into his seventies, she embodies a resilient spirit that sees running not as a competitive pursuit but as a lifelong companion through all of life's challenges.

Whether you're a seasoned runner or just beginning your journey, Grace's story reminds us that running offers not just physical benefits but profound emotional resilience. Subscribe now to hear more inspiring stories from everyday athletes finding extraordinary strength through running.