Reader Spotlight — April 2025
Conquering the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon!
Welcome to the very first edition of WokenHeart’s Reader Spotlight, a monthly feature where we celebrate the courageous journeys and inspiring stories of our readers. For our first spotlight, we're thrilled to shine a light on two amazing women, Alyssa Swearingen and Keanna Dickens, who recently laced up their running shoes and absolutely crushed the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon in Washington, D.C., on March 15, 2025.
Alyssa and Keanna shared their experiences with us, and their words truly embody the spirit we aim to cultivate here at WokenHeart. Let's hear their stories!
Alyssa’s Journey to the Finish Line
"I initially signed up for this specific half-marathon because my friend Keanna signed up, and she inspired me to sign up too. She’s such a bad-ass mom, and I’m so happy I got to experience this race with her. It was in Washington, D.C., which is where I live, so I saw it as a sign to try something I’ve had on my ‘to-do’ list for a while."
Alyssa’s initial motivation speaks to the power of community and the impact of inspiring friendships. It’s a beautiful reminder that sometimes, all it takes is the encouragement of a loved one to take that first step towards a long-held dream.
She continued, sharing her journey from someone who wasn't a long-distance runner to a half-marathon finisher:
"I had never been much of a long-distance runner, but I have always appreciated challenging myself. Personally, training and running a half-marathon was about setting a goal and proving to myself that I could accomplish it. Running is very physical, but it’s just as mental. Knowing I was the only one responsible for preparing for this race, I gained a sense of power. I went back to my roots as an athlete and developed a mind-over-matter mentality. I relied heavily on discipline to work out, but I often reminded myself that rest and recovery are just as important. My work is physically demanding, so I tried to balance that with working out and experiencing life. I’m naturally competitive, so I used that to set mini goals during my workouts, and I’d always pass my goal. This proved the same come race day! I finished my run quicker than I originally planned, and that’s an empowering feeling that keeps me motivated."
Alyssa’s journey highlights the importance of setting goals, trusting your inner strength, and celebrating personal achievements. The dedication to training, the focus on mental fortitude, and the understanding of balance between pushing limits and prioritizing recovery are all invaluable lessons. We love how she harnessed her competitive spirit to set achievable milestones and ultimately exceed her own expectations on race day – a truly empowering feeling.
Keanna's Curiosity Turns into a Running Passion
Keanna's journey to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon is a powerful reminder that motherhood doesn't mean putting personal goals on hold. In fact, for Keanna, this challenge was about redefining that balance and achieving something significant purely for herself, independent of her roles as a mother and a professional. Let's hear more about her experience:
"Although I've always enjoyed fitness, I never considered myself a runner. Which, if I’m honest, always slightly bothered me because I viewed running as the quintessential marker of peak fitness and health. So, when I randomly decided to Google half marathons near me, I did so with no intention of actually signing up. But with each Google search, I became more enamored with the idea of what it would feel like to successfully complete a half marathon. The feeling of accomplishment is what drew me in. As a mom, I try to celebrate my small wins regularly. However, I realized most of those small wins were tethered to my motherhood journey or accomplishments at work. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt a huge sense of accomplishment about something I’d done for me — and just me. Without thinking too far ahead into the logistics, I signed up for my first half marathon."
Embarking on the journey of a half marathon as a new runner requires a lot of dedication and a well-thought-out plan. I asked Keanna how she approached both the mental and physical aspects of her preparation, and her insights offer valuable lessons for anyone looking to tackle a similar challenge:
"Immediately after signing up, I told my friends and husband about my spur-of-the-moment decision- not without purpose. I wanted to hold myself accountable. I started thinking less about whether it was possible and more about how it would be possible. I watched countless TikToks about runners who initially struggled — just like me. I noticed a reoccurring theme, and that was the notion of starting slow. Initially, it was a bit confusing because I’d always equated running with speed. Which, for some, is true. However, for me, running slow was my ticket to going the distance. I started running at almost a walking pace to see if I could go more than one mile. Then one mile turned into three. Then three miles turned into 6 (so on and so forth). Once I established that I could run long distance, I wanted to see if I could run faster. So, I ran the first mile at a faster pace, then would slow down for the remaining. I did this until I found a pace I was comfortable withstanding for 13.1 miles."
Keanna's journey demonstrates that with the right mindset and a focus on gradual progress, even those who don't initially identify as runners can achieve remarkable feats.
Celebrating Strength and Inspiration
The accomplishment of both Alyssa and Keanna at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon is the perfect way to kick off our Reader Spotlight series. They remind us that taking on challenges, whether physical or otherwise, can lead to incredible personal growth and empowerment. Their shared experience also highlights the beautiful power of friendship and mutual support.
Do you have a story you'd like to share with the WokenHeart community? We'd love to hear about your challenges, triumphs, and moments of personal growth. Send us your story, and you might be featured in our next Reader Spotlight!
