ROJ Running: ROJ Who?

About Me

It's about an active lifestyle, not an elite performance.

I am a runner. I run trails and roads, minutes and miles and hours. I zumba and do yoga, swim, cycle, hike and walk. I eat healthy and I eat terribly. I date and sometimes I don't. I go to work. I sleep in. I use the treadmill. I use snowshoes. I AM A RUNNER.

ROJ stands for Republic of Julie. When I was young my Mom would tell me I live in my own world, and called it "ROJ", which is pronounced as one word, much like a nick name for Roger.

As a child I did not play team sports, nor while in high school and honestly not even in college. Riding a bike was a skill I did not learn until after I was 10 years old. My preferred form of entertainment was climbing a tree to read a book in peace. Although many a summer day was spent on the slip-n-slide, jumping rope, hula hooping, playing driveway basketball or chasing boys around the neighborhood through endless back yards before everyone felt the need to put up fences.

In 2007, I was in grad school for the first time, at Kent State University and the campus company I was working for sponsored a team for Relay for Life. My friends and I decided to go and help out. The tack was set up in quarter mile loops. I began walking and talking with a few people. After three laps I challenged myself to run a lap. It was the toughest thing I had faced in a while. Despite recently losing nearly 50 pounds in a “Biggest Loser” style contest sponsored by the same employer, exercise was still foreign to me. The more I did this 3:1 pattern, looking at the signs and candles, listening to stories of those with loved ones who survived or were lost to cancer, the more I realized if the hardest thing I had to do was run a quarter of a mile each hour, then I had a really lucky life! My pattern continued for 5 hours, at which point I collapsed, slept for 2 hours and nearly puked. Then I woke and walked 3 more hours. From that night on I was in love with running and signed up for my first race the following weekend.

Maggie, Vanessa and myself at Relay for Life 2007

My first race. Eco Run 5 Miler

Over the years I have completed countless 5Ks, over 20 half marathons (my favorite distance, I'm Half Fanatic #1747), a marathon, 2 50Ks and have plans to finish a 50 miler in 2012. My running is conducted on both roads and trails. Outside of running I have also finished several sprint triathlons with plans for a 70.3 in the fall of 2012. When I’m not running I am looking for new ways to stay fit and active, either through cycling, swimming, hiking, kayaking, snowshoeing or my next great discovery.

When I'm not doing something fitness or social media related I make the dollar bills as a Drug and Alcohol counselor with my local county. Each day I work with people to find ways to relive stress, find joy, cope or simply experience life outside of alcohol and other drugs. Most of my clients are court referred and all have abuse or dependency concerns. I work with them one on one or in a group setting. Being a counselor has helped me to see the importance of taking care of our bodies not just in a physical or digestive sense, but also in a mind, emotion and spiritual sense. I am a huge proponent of holistic wellness.

Graduating w/ my MA in Community Counseling, holding Emme by biggest fan

Fitness, counseling, Toastmasters International where working on my leadership and communication skills, as well as my joy of crafting, cooking and baking all go into ROJ. It has been an honor to share my experiences with everyone and to share in theirs as well. I don't know what I will become in the future, but that is what makes life fun. It isn't that I am JUST a runner, I am a ROJ runner. This means even when I am swimming, doing Zumba or yoga...I'm living. Take a chance and live with me too.

Email me: Julie@ROJRunning.com