Garry Gribble’s Running Sports
Featured Runner

Ellen Young has met many running milestones head on over the years. It all began in 1994 with the realization that she needed to get her weight under control. She started walking which continued for a couple of years and then she began to turn. Like most beginning runners, she ran about 10 yards and walked a block to recover. This went on for a while in the pursuit of this activity called running. In 1997, she joined Red Dog’s Dog Days in Lawrence to help increase her fitness level. Fifteen years later, she is still participating in their year-round events. After dedicated training, Ellen and a friend entered their first 5K in the spring of 1998. The goal was to finish and she did, just under 30 minutes. Bewitched by the sport, Ellen and her good friend frequently entered 5K’s quickly moving from her last place age group standing to winning 1st or 2nd in her age group.

Ellen started to conquer other distances. In 2000, was the first attempt at a 10K and in 2006 was her first half marathon in San Francisco. The half marathon instantly became her favorite distance and she has completed many:

• Lincoln Half Marathon
• Lewis and Clark Half Marathon
• Route 66 Half Marathon- PR
• Mother Road Half Marathon
• Waddell and Reed Half Marathon

She very recently completed the 39.3 Heartland Series and is going to participate in the Hospital Hill Half Marathon. And if you thought that wasn’t tough enough, she will be found at the Garden of the Gods 10 miler a week after Hospital Hill. Thwarting the half marathon distance, she finished the Dallas White Rock Marathon twice, once in 2009 and the other with her daughter, Kristina in 2010.

Ellen’s affection for running extends far beyond racing. The Red Dog Run 5K/10K for the Boys and Girls Club in Lawrence has depended on her race directing skills for the past seven years. There about 500 runners each year, despite the grueling Midwestern temperatures in early August. In 2008, she was a natural choice for employment at Garry Gribble’s Running Sports when the store opened in Lawrence. Recently, with some helpful guidance, she started the “Running for the HILL of It Runners” group for beginning women runners in 2011. Several members completed their first half marathon at the Kansas Half this year and others participated in the 5K. Within her “social” hobby, she is a great inspiration to all and in return she is continuously inspired by her daughter and running friends. Next up, Ellen and Kristina are planning on running the Waddell and Reed Marathon this fall in Kansas City. We wish you all the best, Ellen!