Sideline Stories: Kristen Gingrich – From Depression to Determination: Finding Healing in the Miles

From Depression to Determination: Finding Healing in the Miles

The thing about running is—it didn’t start out as a love story for me. It’s only really been part of my life for the last year. I was the kid in high school trying to figure out ways to get out of running the mile or the dreaded beep test. I remember one morning when it was so foggy that a few of us cut across the football field, and the gym teacher didn’t even notice. That was my kind of running.

Fast forward 16 years and a lot of lifestyle changes later,  I’m willingly about to run my first full marathon right here in Maine in just a few weeks.

Why Running Matters to Me

I spent much of my adult life living in a deep depression, struggling to even get out of bed. In 2023, I received a treatment that put my depression into remission and gave me my life back. During that time, I made a lot of lifestyle changes with one of them being intentional about moving my body.

At first, running was just about stress relief and carving out a little space for myself in the middle of work, parenting, and everything else life throws at me. I joined a local group fitness gym, where I started out running very slowly, taking plenty of walking breaks. But somewhere along the way, it became more.

I still remember the first time I ran a full mile without stopping. I remember my first race which was Beach to Beacon last summer. Running turned into a lifeline for me: an escape, a reminder that I can do hard things even on the hard days. And to be honest… a medal and a little external validation? That does something good for the soul, too.

Finding My People

One of the best parts of running in Maine has been the people. I’ve connected with so many new faces and formed genuine friendships over the past year. Running can feel isolating at times, but there’s something about showing up to a random local race and recognizing familiar faces, or running a 5 a.m. loop on Back Cove and exchanging that knowing runner’s wave.

I’ve been lucky to train alongside a close friend for the Maine Marathon and reconnect with a high school friend who became my running coach. They’ve been there for the 4 a.m. wake-ups, the mile-15 bonks, and the “what the heck am I doing?!” moments and to be able to share this moment with them will be a core memory!

That’s why the Maine Marathon is so special to me. It’s not just about running. It’s about community, connection, and a whole lot of hard work.

Balancing It All

Training for a marathon while also being a therapist, a parent, and just a human hasn’t been easy. My long runs sometimes start before the sun comes up, and there are plenty of mornings where I’d rather stay in bed, hitting the snooze button four times. I’ve skipped late nights out because I had an early run waiting for me. Sometimes I’ve had to come home from a long run to immediately jump into parent mode.

But running has taught me patience, consistency, and determination. Most importantly, it’s taught me how to truly show up for myself.

Why the Maine Marathon?

This year, I got the honor of being a Maine Marathon ambassador and honestly, it still feels surreal. Last year, I ran the Maine Half Marathon as my very first half. To be here just one year later, preparing for my first full, feels like a full-circle moment.

I’m not the fastest runner. I believe in walking breaks and I’ve definitely had races and runs where I wondered what on earth I was doing. But being an ambassador isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing up, being part of the community, and reminding people that they belong here, too.

What I’d Tell Anyone Thinking About Starting

If you’ve ever thought, “I’m not a runner” like I did for years, I want to stop you right there. If you put on shoes and get out the door, you’re a runner. Period. You don’t need to look a certain way, run a certain pace, or log a certain number of miles. You already belong here, simply because you’re showing up.

The finish line doesn’t make you a runner. The pace you run doesn’t make you a runner.  The decision to keep showing up does. And who knows? That decision might just change your whole life like it did mine.