Member Spotlight
Julia Tiller
Julia Tiller is a recent Carrollton transplant, happily settling in the area after living across the United States (Alabama, Texas, New York, Washington, D.C.) and Canada. (She’s a dual citizen.) She is engaged to Toby, her “better half,” who doesn’t run but cheers her on. They have three dogs, one of whom is pictured with her. Julia is a data analyst in education by day, and a visual artist by night, and previously worked with children with autism for over a decade.
Julia’s running journey began when she was 30 years old and she ran her first 5K. But she says she didn’t run consistently until she had a health scare at age 34, and then ran even more during the loss of her Dad months later. Moving also had a big impact on her running. “I shied away from outdoor running until I lived in Washington, D.C., which has a lot of museums to visit while logging miles. Running in a big city was chaotic at times but helped me build confidence. I also first tried group social runs while there and loved the casual group atmosphere.” She has since run two half marathons and a number of 5Ks, and says that consistency is her greatest running accomplishment. “I strive to run almost every day, and I hope to keep running at any age. I’d like to continue cultivating a love for running, and the rest will follow.”
What has been the most interesting race she’s run? “It may be the 12AM race in Kennesaw that occurred during daylight savings so we finished the race around 2AM,” she says. “Another interesting one was a 4K on July 4th that circled a racetrack in North Georgia while families watched fireworks.” Her favorite race, however, is The Race for Hope 5K, an annual fundraiser for the National Brain Tumor Society. It occurs in various cities each year and recently started in Atlanta. Julia explains, “Last year, I’m happy to say, I started a team (Tiller’s Troopers) on behalf of my Dad, who lost his battle with brain cancer. Our team raised over $4,000. I’ve never done something like that before. I’ve joined Race for Hope in D.C. and Atlanta, both as a runner and volunteer. It never fails to move me.”
Her main reasons for running are physical and mental health. “On days when I run, especially early in the day, my head feels clear. I love to experience the outdoors, even in the elements. Something about running in the morning while everything is quiet is special. I love to greet other people walking, cycling, and running. The Carrollton Greenbelt makes me happy. I also like to run on streets around the Carrollton Square.” Her favorite route is going past the Square, up Rome Street to Hobbs Farm, and past the Buffalo Creek/Dairy Farm segment of the Greenbelt. “Just discovering new things along the Greenbelt is rewarding. I feel very fortunate to have access to paths like the Greenbelt; Not every town has this!”
So what’s next for Julia? She would like to try trail running and roller skating! She says that either of these would be fun if she can avoid injury. She also has a goal of stretching daily and adds that yoga has been helpful to supplementing running.
Julia is an active member of WGTC because she wants to continue meeting others with a similar passion for running. “WGTC has been a lot of fun to run with, and I’ve made memories with these kind folks. It’s unpretentious, funny, and fun. I encourage anyone who hasn’t yet to come out and try it!”
Come run with Julia and other members of WGTC at our next group run! Check out our Monthly Calendar for details.