143 LAYNE PACE In summer 2020, junior marketing major Layne Pace created a business called Start-Her Running Company to encourage women to push themselves beyond their physical limits. After an early return from Harding University in Latin America in spring 2020, Pace decided to share her passion for running with others. “Back in January 2019, I listened to an entrepreneur speak here at Harding, and I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur of some sort, but I didn’t really know what direction I wanted to go,” Pace said. “I heard her talk, and she said she started an online digital program, and I decided that was something I wanted to do. I wanted it to be something I’m passionate about, and for me, running is that.” Start-Her Running Company was tailored for various running levels to help anyone who sought advice. Junior Katelyn Fehr joined the program despite her dislike for running. “Since starting the running plan, I wouldn’t say I like running, but I will say after we go for a run, I’m always glad we did it,” Fehr said. “It definitely helps me feel less anxious and like I accomplished something.” Senior Alli Morris, another client of the company and a friend of Pace’s, watched her fall in love with running. “Running was always a punishment in the sports that I’ve played, and so I watched Layne run when I was growing up, and when she launched the program, I thought it would be such a good way to try to enjoy running to see what she sees in running,” Morris said. “Layne is really good about meeting you where you’re at. I was only able to, really, run about one mile by myself, but she pushed me to where I was able to run three miles by the end of it, which was a huge accomplishment for me because I had never ran that far or ever really enjoyed it.” Although Start-Her Running Company was created with the intent to help women achieve their running goals, the plans also included weekly objectives for her clients’ spiritual and mental health. “A lot of the goals included in the weekly plan involve prayer,” Pace said. “They include reaching out to other people as well as other things like that, just to really center yourself and center your physical body with your humanity in general.” story by Maryn McAfee Pace YOURSELF Junior Layne Pace creates a running company for women.
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