This week we’re super excited to introduce to you another member of our 2021 Still I Run ambassador team! Everyone, meet Blaire Harter!!! If you’d like to keep up with her adventures on Instagram, you can catch her at @run_harter.
In a few sentences, tell us about yourself
I am a mother to two boys and have been married to my husband for 13 years. In my career, I am a pediatric speech-language pathologist, specializing in feeding and swallowing disorders. I have always been active, as my Mom was a physical education teacher and supported my brother and I in exploring all different types of sports! I played volleyball competitively in high school and got into running as my main form of exercise after having my first son. Running grounds me. It allows me to enjoy time with family and have time for myself. It makes me feel strong and resilient.
Why are you passionate about running for mental health?
I am passionate about running for mental health because it continues to be a topic that is not often discussed openly. It impacts both adults and children. I hope that, as a community, Still I Run can encourage exercise as a means to regulate our emotional and mental state, while supporting one another to share our struggles with our own mental health journey. Mental health challenges have impacted me as a parent and as an adult. My boys have both been diagnosed with ADHD, each with a different type of presentation. We have struggled to find appropriate support and treatment for them because ADHD is primarily viewed as a “behavior” when it is truly a neurodevelopmental disorder, affecting children socially, emotionally, and academically. We encourage the boys to remain active because we find it supports the regulation of their attention and hyperactivity. I truly believe movement is one of the best strategies for each of us to incorporate regularly and hope to share education and awareness of the need for more open conversations about mental health and services for adolescents and adults.
Do you have a running mantra?
You are enough
Where is your favorite place to run?
I grew up on the west coast of Florida and running on the beach is my favorite.
What are you most proud of (running or non running related)?
I am most proud of being a mother to our boys. My husband and I are very blessed to be able to parent them and learn from them.
Favorite running moment you’d love to re-live?
I loved the Indianapolis half marathon I ran in 2018. I really enjoyed meeting many of the runners I have connected with on social media and seeing a new city.
What’s your favorite way to recover after a run?
A nap and a cold smoothie!
What’s one fun fact most people don’t know about you?
This one is hard! I feel like I am an open book! I really love comfy clothing, as in I own three robes!
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
French fries.
Is a hot dog a sandwich?
No.
