Today we’d like to introduce you to Becky Croft

Hi Becky, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.

I originally tried to start running in 2007 when a friend invited me to join her and some other ladies. I really had no idea what I needed to do to prepare to run. I’d heard the phrase “All you need is a pair of shoes” so I laced up the only pair I had and gave it a go. I wasn’t involved in sports at a young age and didn’t wear sneakers all that much so I didn’t have running shoes.

Running was hard! I couldn’t run for long periods, and it felt defeating, especially in the ridiculous Oklahoma Summer heat and humidity. It didn’t help that I ran in cotton. I didn’t stick with it for very long and resigned to the idea that maybe running just wasn’t for me.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

After about a 2 year break from my first attempt, I decided to give running another shot in 2009. This time, I used the Couch to 5K app and did all my runs on the treadmill at the gym. I’d just started working with a personal trainer and attending yoga classes. My husband was deployed at the time so I had a lot of free time on my hands.

I completed the C25K plan and started running local 5K races. This was around the time that my husband and I were going to start trying to get pregnant. I stopped taking birth control in preparation for meeting him in Italy for his R&R, which was also what we considered our honeymoon 6 months into our marriage. I immediately started having health issues and had to spend about a year enduring tests and procedures to figure out what was going on.

When we couldn’t figure it out and I’d had enough, my doctor agreed to do an exploratory surgery. This is when he discovered I had severe Endometriosis, a fibroid tumor within my uterine wall, my appendix was “stuck” to my bladder, and I had a lot of cysts on my ovaries.

This began a 6+ year battle with Endometriosis and resulted in several surgeries, eventually leading to a full hysterectomy at the age of 38. Looking back, I can see how running kept me moving forward in life and through these challenges.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

I’m an Indigenous runner, athlete, and a certified run coach in Oklahoma. I also teach Chi Running, coach and mentor through the Game Changers program, lead a She Runs This Town chapter, and am on the Board of Directors for ReNew Earth Running.

hustle.run.thrive. was born out of the need for younger menopausal athletes to have resources and support in their journeys. I couldn’t find that when I needed it so I became the expert for others so they won’t feel alone like I did.

I work with athletes from around the world to redefine running and improve their running performance. My focus is on Masters + Menopausal athletes, however, I enjoy connecting with runners of all ages and abilities to show them that they can also reach their own goals, regardless of any obstacles they may be facing. I lead by example, my approach is holistic and human-centered. I aim to teach my athletes how to show themselves grace while enjoying the process of running faster, stronger, and injury-free so that they may enjoy the sport for decades to come.

In the time since launching my brand, I’ve grown tremendously not only personally but also professionally. I’ve been able to connect with organizations that lack representation and have similar goals to increase diversity in the running industry.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?

Races and paces are great, but when it comes down to it, running is very personal for so many athletes. As an Indigenous athlete, running is a moving meditation for me. It’s a connection to self, community, and the lands. I love challenging myself to reach new levels of performance but the process means much more to me than a shiny medal or a finish line.

Running translates into everything else in life. It teaches us valuable lessons and how to dig deeper than we realize is possible. Whether we are aiming for a goal or just enjoying time to ourselves, we can learn a lot about ourselves, others, or life in general if we let go of expectations a little bit.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hustle-eat-thrive.myshopify.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coach.croft/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coach.croft