Today we’d like to introduce you to Julainne Mills
Hi Julainne, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My running story started in 2001. My husband was based at Columbus AFB in Mississippi, and I was looking for something to fill my time while he was working long hours. I started running with the Golden Triangle Running and Cycling Club and competed in my first marathon in Huntsville, AL, in December of that year. We moved quite a bit after that with assignments in Spokane, Alabama, Virginia and eventually Del Rio, TX. I found opportunities to run races and events in each of those locations but really took to the sport in Del Rio. Being back in Texas gave me a chance to spend more time with my father who was splitting time between Rockport and El Campo. We would get together for race weekends and have some quality father-daughter time. Our main events were the Houston Chevron Half-Marathon, The San Antonio Rock and Roll Half-Marathon, the Alamo 13.1, the Austin 10/20, the Austin Half-Marathon, the La Porte Half-Marathon, and the Galveston Marathon. As time went by, he dropped from the Half-Marathons but continued to join me on the weekends and run the 5k events. As my children got older, I started to seek ways with my free time to give back to the sport that had meant so much to me. I found Running Alliance Sport after winning a raffle race entry for the Toughest 10k. I reached out to the organization about volunteering and was offered a chance to help at packet pickup. There, I met Robby Sabban, and we talked about an ambassador program for the non-profit. That discussion morphed and grew into the current robust group of ambassadors from the greater Houston area. I’ve supported RAS and multiple other running clubs from Katy to Sugar Land with social media presence and volunteer efforts and am energized by the amazing people I get to meet every day.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been easy, and I’ve made mistakes with my training and race day experiences, but I’ve learned from all of them. Several examples come to mind. I ran the California International Marathon (CIM) in 2017 with the hope of qualifying for Boston. With 6 miles to go, I completely ran out of steam and missed the qualifying time by 3 seconds. My personal review forced me to admit I hadn’t properly fueled for the race and my body just couldn’t keep the required pace. In 2023, I qualified in my age group for the USTA Nationals in Wisconsin for Olympic Distance Triathlon. I felt great going into the race but had a panic attack once I entered the water. My swim ended any hope of competing for the podium and I had to fight for every mile just to complete the event. It didn’t deter me, and I still compete in triathlon events with the hope of finishing my first full Ironman in 2026. Finally, my father passed away unexpectedly last June, and I ran my first event without him on July 4th just three weeks later. The Texas Bud Heatwave 5 miler was an RAS sponsored event, and all my friends showed incredible support for me throughout. They helped fill the void left by my father and made the race very special. Without their smiles and warmth, I’m not sure I would have finished.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a volunteer with RAS, I try to bring the same joy I have with running to others across the area. From seasoned “pros” to the newest athlete starting their journey, I enjoy sharing my story and encouraging them to find their own peace with running. I try to be supportive, genuine and caring. Many of the people I interact with at race events are rookies who came to the sport for a myriad of reasons. I’ve met runners who are getting past illnesses, runners who are committed to fitness goals, runners who are socially participating with friends and runners who are determined to podium as much as possible. Regardless of the motivation, we all find solace in hitting the pavement to get in some miles. As I engage with these people, I try to share what motivates me and open their eyes to the experiences I’ve had running and competing. While I’m not the most creative social media pro, I do make efforts to incorporate the highlights of our events into posts that don’t intimidate the newest of our fold and still give credit to the incredible athletes among us. At the end of the day, most people will probably tell you that I’m know for my smile, my bubbly personality and my friendly demeanor. Those are all pretty great things in my book.
What matters most to you? Why?
I think what matters most to me on this journey is that I get to meet so many amazing people and give back to the communities that we live in. In 2024, I served as a support runner for a para-athlete competing in her 8th Boston and 45th overall marathon. It was one of the most rewarding races I’ve participated in, and I cherished the opportunity to experience that with her. I really do love the sport, and I want to share it with as many people as possible.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.runningalliancesport.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julainnemills/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julainne.mills
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/RunningAllianceSport
