Every Monday there will be a new women’s running article. I will talk with other female runners about the different issues and challenges we face, as well as what it takes to succeed in the sport. I hope to inform, entertain and encourage fellow runners. My name is Stephanie Lowe, but a lot of you may know me as txRUNNERgirl from the LetsRun.com message board. I love to run and am a huge fan of Track and Field. Growing up, I failed at any sport I tried. When I got to high school, I was cut from the soccer team after being berated by the coaches telling me how slow and uncoordinated I was. I had a low self-esteem to begin with, but that affected me more than anything. Right then something inside me changed. I was angry at myself, so I started running. I am still uncoordinated, but I definitely got faster. My sister, Cheryl, encouraged me to join my high school cross country team and from then on I was hooked. I ran every chance I got. I improved the most by competing on a summer track team. After I graduated, I walked on at Texas Tech University . I did okay my first year, but unfortunately was injured constantly for the next two. I decided not to run this year, my senior year, due to my propensity for injuries. It was a tough decision, but as I sit here with a fractured foot, I believe it was the right choice. Now it is my mission to learn everything I can about running. Recently, I’ve studied many articles and books on training, nutrition, etc. My favorite book on running is “Lore of Running,” by Tim Noakes, which I read cover to cover this summer and often use for reference. Another good book for training is “Daniels’ Running Formula,” by Jack Daniels. I am learning from my mistakes and hope to share my knowledge and experiences with others. My goal right now is to get healthy so I can continue to run for the rest of my life. Even more than wanting to see myself succeed, I love to see other athletes reach their potential. That is what makes this a great sport. No matter how fast you are, we are all runners. We are all in this crazy sport together, through all the joy and pain. My high school coach, Pete King, always said “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17). I am ecstatic to write for Flotrack. This site is a terrific source for fans, athletes and coaches, and it just keeps getting better! I am so happy to be a part of it, working to promote Track and Field. If you have any ideas for women’s running topics you would like to see covered, feel free to send me a message.