In celebration of International Women’s Day, we’re continuing the momentum from National Women & Girls in Sports Day in February by highlighting an incredible member of our local running community: Nicole Dann-Payne. Nicole is a sports dietitian, runner, and assistant coach for the Marion Center high school girls’ cross country and track teams!
GBM: This International Women’s Day, we want to use women’s stories to encourage other women and girls to either start running or encourage them to set new goals.
So…what made you first start running?
Nicole: I feel like it was a surprise discovery! When I was in 3rd grade, I had severe and painful chest pain that led to many tests and working with cardiologists to determine why I was having chest pain. In the end, the doctors determined that my lungs were too large for my chest cavity at the time. I was also advised that I couldn't participate in sports for about a year or so, until I grew some more. I remember being terribly upset about this. At that time, I played softball and school sport offerings such as gymnastics. It was about 5th grade, when I started running through our middle school track & field days. That's when I discovered I enjoyed running (I loved how I felt running, feeling "free") and having success at it! My parents also saw this and the next year, they helped me find where I could pursue this sport with track & field clubs. I guess you could say the rest is history!
GBM: What role did running play in your life when you were younger?
Nicole: Running became a big part of my life! As I competed in a competitive track and field club, I learned a lot about myself, time management, self discipline, building confidence, and challenging myself. Running became a big part of my identity.
GBM: You had a very competitive running career in college–you were the captain of your track team and graduated holding almost every middle distance record at your university. What was it like to run competitively in college?
Nicole: Those were some of my favorite years of my life! I learned a lot about myself and ended up in places I never imagined! I was very fortunate to have found the right "fit" for me at Mansfield University. I was actually able to be a multi-sport athlete, playing field hockey and competing in the indoor and outdoor track teams, and even did one season of both XC and field hockey. The time management skills I had developed growing up running definitely paid off in college! I had a great coach who enabled amazing opportunities, including getting me to go there in the first place, let alone all the unique racing opportunities such as running at the Penn Relays, The Armory in NYC, and helping me compete at the NCAA Division 2 National Championships. My coach played a big role in fostering my success as he helped me believe in myself. I started realizing my full potential and what could be possible with determination, persistence, and hard work.
GBM: You also had an amazing running career after college–you’re a 3:05 marathoner, placed 8th in the 2013 Pittsburgh Marathon, and ran in the 2014 Boston Marathon. You’ve accomplished a lot! Can you talk about which running achievement you’re the most proud of and why?
Nicole: That's a tough question! The 2013 Pittsburgh Marathon is up there. It was my very first marathon I had ever run. Out of college, I gradually worked my way up, first running 5k's, then 10k's, then half marathons. I put in solid training for that marathon and that Chestnut Street hill up towards Whites Woods really helped me! Running and training for that marathon was an outlet for me as I was having some personal challenges going on. I honestly went into that first marathon with a fun spirit and zero competitive expectations! Although, I did have a humorous bet with Gingerbread Man Running owner, Matt, but that's another story! I remember having fun, feeling relaxed, and even high-fiving many! I also had no idea that prize money could be on the table, let alone a year later when I was informed that 2 of the top 3 women were caught for doping, moving me up a few places. Best part was, Pittsburgh qualified me for Boston the next year!
GBM: Have you faced any obstacles in your running career? How did you overcome them?
Nicole: Yes, there have been many injuries, along with life changes, and placing a lot of pressure on myself to hold up that running identity. One of my last "big" races (2015 Laurel Highland Trail Race) left me with an injury that led me to take a break from running and pursue other activities for fitness. I’ve found enjoyment and health benefits in other physical activities while pulling back from racing. It’s also been a challenge accepting that I’m in a different place both with personal life and physicality especially when running was a big part of my identity. I’ve come to accept that I’m not what I once was and that I can find enjoyment in running for fun and finding other ways to be physically active.
GBM: What role does running play in your life now? Are you training for anything?
Nicole: I run for "fun and fitness" now, no races, no pressure, just on my watch, when I feel like it to truly enjoy it. Maybe I’ll get back into racing again down the road. However, running is still a big part of my life as a coach.
GBM: Speaking of coaching, I’d like to transition to your experience as a coach–you’ve been the assistant coach for both girl’s track and cross country at Marion Center High School for 16 years, that’s amazing! How did you get started coaching, and what has that experience been like for you?
Nicole: When I was done with collegiate athletics and entered graduate school, I noticed a feeling of emptiness. I missed being a part of a team. I had participated in athletics my entire life and had always been a part of a team. It was now my turn to give back to a sport that gave so much to me!
As a part of my graduate program, I was completing my foodservice rotation at Marion Center School District. When I shared how I was feeling, the foodservice director encouraged me to see if I could help out with the track & field team. This prompted me to contact the head coach to see if they could use any help and I began as a volunteer coach.
Coaching has been an incredibly rewarding experience! It's truly an amazing experience to have the opportunity to help youth discover their potential.
GBM: What is the most challenging part of being a coach? What’s your favorite part?
Nicole: In addition to coaching, I juggle two other part-time jobs, so the biggest challenge has often been finding time for myself and ensuring I'm practicing self-care. I've learned how important that is, especially when holding positions that involve helping and serving others to become their best self.
Coaching the athletes at Marion Center is always the highlight of my day! Their energy and spirit is contagious, it rubs off on you! Yet, XC and track are incredibly tough sports both physically and mentally, let alone culturally. To have these athletes come out, give their best efforts, all the while also having some laughs and fun, and helping them discover their strengths and potential is my favorite part!
GBM: Do you have a particular experience from coaching that stands out to you that you’d like to share?
Nicole: I don't know that I can necessarily pinpoint one experience. However, I feel that I've been in a unique position as both a running/track coach and a sports dietitian. Being a sports dietitian has placed me in a position to identify, help, and support runners with their fueling. Fueling is a significant factor for success when working with growing and developing teen athletes. Because of this, I feel that I've been able to provide runners I've coached and our teams a serious competitive edge, while also changing athletes' lives.
GBM: You’ve probably coached a ton of new runners–what is your advice for new runners or people thinking about starting?
Nicole: Patience! The key is starting small and gradually progressing. Taking on too much, too soon can lead to injuries. Start where you are. If you're currently not running, start with walking and gradually add in increments of relaxed running, such as walk-run-walk-run. We have to crawl before we can walk, and walk before we can run. Same aspect applies when thinking about racing, start with shorter races before taking on longer races.
GBM: How do you think we can encourage more women and girls to try out running?
Nicole: I think the more we can make running programs accessible, fun, and where all can feel included, the better. Along with positive early exposure since our sport is often used as punishment in other sports. Showcasing a greater variety of role models in the sport would also help, as runners can take all shapes, sizes, and abilities. I feel that programs like "Girls on the Run" embody what's needed to encourage more girls to pursue running.
GBM: Now we’ll do a few rapid-fire questions to wrap things up!
-Favorite running shoe right now? Mizuno Wave Rider
-Favorite piece of running gear? Fleece lined tights
-Favorite post-run food? Kefir
-Solo run or group run? Solo, but group is good for accountability and social fun!
-Trail run or road run? Trail
GBM: Thanks for sharing your story with us! We’d love to have you back to talk about your experience as a sports dietitian and your tips for using nutrition to help runners meet their goals. Can someone hire you for personalized help to get their running nutrition dialed in?
Nicole: Yes, I am able to provide sports nutrition services through my role as an outpatient dietitian at IRMC's Institute for Healthy Living, (724)-357-8088.
Are YOU interested in sharing your story in an interview or blog post? Or is there someone you’d like us to interview? Let us know! Email gsiffri.gbm@gmail.com–we’d love to hear from you!
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