We were lucky to catch up with Angie Brown recently and have shared our conversation below.

Angie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

It was March of 2020. The world had just shut down 2 weeks earlier, and we had no idea what was going on. At the time, I was working as a per diem physical therapist in an outpatient orthopedic clinic and also seeing patients in their homes. The clinic had shut down 2 weeks earlier, and like the rest of the world, I didn’t know what was going to happen. What I did know is that now my income was also gone, because as a per diem therapist, I was paid hourly. No work, no income.

I began to see a few patients in their homes because people still needed care. I received a request to evaluate a new patient, and when I arrived, I noticed that this patient was very sick and needed to go to the hospital. I called EMS and when they arrived, they started putting on hazmat suits and gas masks to enter the patient’s apartment, as a precaution against possible covid-19 infection. There I was, holding my little N-95 mask, asking myself, “What I am doing here?” At that time, we didn’t know how serious this virus was or any of the implications, and I realized that I was putting myself and my family at risk.

It was in that moment that I decided I wanted to stop practicing as a physical therapist and go all-in with my coaching business that I had started the year before. I had started a side business coaching runners, because as a physical therapist, I had a different approach to training to help them decrease injury and get better results. With the world shut down and a virus looming, I decided that it was the perfect time for me to grow this business into something real and impact more people.

I’ve always been passionate about helping people become more proactive with their health, and this was the perfect opportunity. Since that time, I’ve grown my coaching practice online, and have helped hundreds of runners around the world to train smarter and become healthier through running.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Angie Brown, and I am a mom, wife, runner, and physical therapist. I am the founder of the Real Life Runners Academy and host of the Real Life Runners podcast, that I host with my husband, Kevin. I have been a physical therapist since 2007, and throughout my years of practice, noticed that the healthcare system that we have today is very broken. It is designed to be reactive to problems, rather than proactively help people to improve their health. It’s designed to treat symptoms instead of underlying causes. It leans towards prescribing medications rather than aiding people in lifestyle changes that will actually lead to long term results.

That’s where I wanted to make a change. I am on a mission to help people be more proactive instead of reactive when it comes to their health. Our health is the foundation of everything we are able to do in our lives, and there are so many health issues, both physical and mental, that are plaguing our society today. Improved health can lead to more satisfaction, fulfillment, adventure, and freedom, and it is my goal to help people experience more of that in their lives.

That’s why I love helping people improve their running. I see running as a vehicle to better physical, mental, and spiritual health. It is an avenue for personal growth and development. It can lead us to amazing places and help us nurture our body, mind, and spirit when done correctly. So many people train poorly, leading to injury and inconsistency, so they miss out on all of the amazing things that running can bring to their lives. That’s why it’s so important to me to help people learn how to train sustainably, with a very holistic approach, that improves their strength, nutrition, and lifestyle choices to help with both their performance and overall health.

We teach our clients how to think differently so that they can perform differently, helping them to see the connection between the mind and the body in health and performance. We also help them integrate their training into their real life, busy schedules, and be more present with their families and loved ones as a result. The ripple effect that running can have in our lives is huge, not only for ourselves but for others. I want to help people live healthier lives so that they can be an example to their kids and grandkids and break generational cycles of illness and disability.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Coaching and business friends. Investing in coaching has been one of the most valuable things I have done. My coaches have helped me to open my mind up to new and improved ways of thinking. They help me to see the things that I don’t even know are missing, and the things that I am blind to because of my own emotional attachment to the outcomes or processes that I know. Learning from someone who has been there, gotten through it, and has been successful on the other side is so valuable, as are other friends that are on the same journey with you. Just like a teammate, having good business friends helps me to level up, see things differently, and share in the ups and downs with people that understand what I’m going through, because they’re going through it too. Human connection is so vital to our success.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

That’s a tough one, so I’m going to say yes. Even though I’m no longer practicing as a clinician, my background in physical therapy has put me on the path that I am currently on, that I absolutely love. I love being an entrepreneur, creating new things, having freedom to make my own decisions, and impact the world in a greater way. Every decision I have ever made has led me to where I am now, and that’s a beautiful thing that I would not change.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.realliferunners.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/realliferunners
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realliferunners
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@realliferunners