“The Joy in the Journey“
Rebecca Wang used to say she’d never run.
In fact, in high school, she was always the last to finish the mile. “I swore I’d only ever speed walk,” she recalls. “I said I would NEVER run.”
But in April of 2014, everything changed.
She was teaching Kindergarten at a small Christian school when they announced a 5K fundraiser. Rebecca signed up, determined to support her students, even if she had to walk the whole thing. Her entire class, her mom (in her 60s at the time), and several parents joined in. They all crossed that finish line together.
But that day left a mark—especially when Rebecca discovered her students had beaten her time. Kindergarteners. That didn’t sit well. What started as a one-time event lit a fire. A parent saw her enthusiasm and invited her to a new running group starting at their church. She joined. And by the end of the year, Rebecca—the former anti-runner—had completed her first 10K, half marathon, and marathon.
Overnight transformation? Hardly.
It’s been ten years of grit, stops and restarts, setbacks and comebacks. But that’s exactly where the joy has been—in the journey.
Running with Purpose
One race in particular stands out: the Honor Run Half Marathon.
Ten years earlier, she had watched others run that same race carrying the American flag. “I was amazed and humbled by those who gave their lives for us,” she says. She made a quiet promise that day: one day, she’d return to run it—flag in hand—in honor of her godparents’ son serving in the Navy.
A decade later, she kept that promise.
She trained with intention—running intervals while carrying the flag, gradually increasing distance, getting comfortable in race environments. She joined Team RWB and carried Old Glory during their relay from Toledo to Detroit. With every mile, every salute from a child, every “thank you” from a stranger—she remembered why she ran.
Race day brought pouring rain, high winds, and hills. A fellow RWB runner opted not to carry the flag due to safety concerns. He wasn’t wrong—but Rebecca knew she couldn’t let the moment pass. “There were several places I had to hold the flag with both hands,” she wrote. “The wind was blowing it everywhere. But I kept going. Because soldiers face worse. These challenges are temporary.”
She finished soaked, exhausted, and 30 minutes slower than her personal best—but it was a PR with Old Glory. And more importantly, it was a finish line filled with purpose.
Finding Her Way Back
After several years away from running (2017–2021), life caught up with Rebecca. She had plenty of reasons not to run: work stress, health challenges, feeling like she couldn’t keep up with faster runners. But deep down, she knew something was missing.
A life coach challenged her to go back to what made her feel whole. She remembered how accessible and encouraging the Upward Running plans were. So in 2021, she started again—slowly, steadily. She worked her way back up to a 10K… and then life threw another curveball: a surgery and new health struggles. Once again, she paused.
Then came July 2023. Determined to try again, she signed up for what was then Run for God—now known as Upward Running—joined the app, and set a bold goal: complete the Glass City Half Marathon in April 2024. She started at the beginning—with the 5K. She posted in the community. She followed the plan. She kept going.
She ran a 5K in September. A 10K in January. And then, in April—she ran the entire half marathon without walking.
But it wasn’t just a personal victory. It was a family one. Her husband, inspired by the community and camaraderie he witnessed, came out of “running retirement” to sign up for races too. Now, they run together—and their race calendar is filling up fast.
From Restart to Revival
Rebecca didn’t just stop with her own success. When she heard Upward Running was launching its church-based model, she jumped in to help start a group in Toledo. One year later at the Glass City races, they showed up big: six ran the 5K, one ran the half, and three ran the full marathon. The group continues to grow, train, and race together—including plans for a 10K and beyond.
But for Rebecca, running has never been just about finish lines.
It’s about seeing her mom find her own joy in the sport—walking 5Ks, traveling for races, and placing in her age group. It’s about carrying on the legacy of her grandmother, who walked Race for the Cure year after year as a breast cancer survivor. It’s about the mental battles she wins on the run—reminding herself of truth, quoting Scripture, and letting go of the lies that creep in.
She runs to clear her mind, to manage stress, and to draw closer to God. “My training isn’t just for my legs—it’s for my mind,” she says. “Running teaches me to choose peace, to focus on what’s true, and to push through hard things with grace.”
Joy, Even in the Struggle
Rebecca didn’t just stop with her own success. When she heard Upward Running was relaunching its church-based model, she jumped in to help start a group in Toledo. One year later at the Glass City races, they showed up big: six ran the 5K, one ran the half, and three ran the full marathon. The group continues to grow, train, and race together—including plans for a 10K and beyond.
But for Rebecca, running has never been just about finish lines.
It’s about seeing her mom find her own joy in the sport—walking 5Ks, traveling for races, and placing in her age group. It’s about carrying on the legacy of her grandmother, who walked Race for the Cure year after year as a breast cancer survivor. It’s about the mental battles she wins on the run—reminding herself of truth, quoting Scripture, and letting go of the lies that creep in.
She runs to clear her mind, to manage stress, and to draw closer to God. “My training isn’t just for my legs—it’s for my mind,” she says. “Running teaches me to choose peace, to focus on what’s true, and to push through hard things with grace.”
Where She’s Headed Now
Rebecca’s as motivated as ever. She recently hit a sub-30 5K (29:53) and a 10K PR (1:06:33). She’s working toward getting back to her fastest half marathon time from 2014 (2:26:42), and she’s aiming to complete the Detroit Free Press Marathon this fall. She’d also love to one day run a half marathon carrying Old Glory, without walking.
But underneath it all, her true goal is simple: stay consistent.
She leads a local run group, varies her routes to keep it fresh, and sees her training runs as appointments she doesn’t miss. “Running gives me fuel for the rest of my life,” she says. “When I run, I’m more focused. More joyful. I can face anything.”
And she wants others to know: you can too.
“Start with 30 seconds,” she says. “Then go for a minute. You don’t have to be fast. You just have to begin. When you miss a run, don’t start over—just keep going.”
Rebecca’s story is full of milestones, finish lines, and personal bests—but the real beauty is in what can’t be measured: the friendships, the faith, the quiet victories on days no one else sees.
For her, running isn’t about the numbers.
It’s about the joy that comes—mile after mile—in the journey.
