From “Just a Run” to a Global Journey

By: Lisa Warner, Charm City Run Timonium Marathon Coach

My running journey started simply, during college, it felt like the easiest way to get in a workout. All I needed was a pair of shoes. I signed up for a few 5Ks for fun and quickly realized I loved it.

Everything changed when I moved to Dubai, UAE. I joined the Dubai Creek Striders, a group that met at sunrise (or earlier!) to beat the heat, running 20–35 km. It felt extreme at the time, but it sparked something big. Running became more than exercise; it became community, travel, and connection.

In Vienna, Austria, that continued. I spent eight years there, met my husband through a running club, built lifelong friendships, and even helped start a triathlon group. Somewhere along the way, I said yes to my first Ironman, without really knowing what I was getting into, and that opened the door to endurance racing across Europe, including multiple Ironman and 70.3 races and qualifying for the Boston Marathon.

From Salt Lake City to Baltimore, Bangkok, and Geneva, one thing has stayed constant: wherever I go, I find a running community. It’s always where I feel most at home.

Running, for me, is about pushing my own limits and doing hard things, but also about helping others discover what they’re capable of. That’s what led me to coaching.

Now, as a women’s endurance coach and marathon distance coach with Charm City Run, I’m passionate about building a supportive, inclusive community where every runner belongs, whether it’s their first mile or their next big goal.

And I still love a challenge. This November, for my 50th birthday, I’ll be taking on the Great World Race: 7 marathons, 7 days, 7 continents.

Because running has taken me all over the world; and I’m not done yet.