Custer, Walton hope the WC Run Club does more than preparing sixth graders to run 3.1 miles
Stephanie Custer (WC ’90) didn’t discover the joy of running until she was 41. Now she’s making sure Worthington Christian students don’t have to wait that long.
Custer, a STEM teacher, and Nicki Walton, a sixth-grade math and Bible teacher, serve as coaches of the Worthington Christian Running Club. The program, started by Custer and alumni parent Christie Woodfin in 2017, trains sixth graders to run 3.1 miles and teaches them Christian fundamentals along the way.
“Christie and I wanted to share our love of running with our daughters and sixth graders,” said Custer, an experienced marathon runner. “We started the program when my daughters Jamie (WC ‘24) and Natalie Woodfin (WC ’24) were young.
“The great thing about running is that all you need is a good pair of running shoes. Running with your friends is just amazing and fun. This gives kids a chance to see if they like running, so when they move into middle school, they have a great idea of what it would be like to run cross country and track.”
Like Custer, Walton was late to the starting block when it came to running. She picked up the sport when a friend of hers began training for a marathon.
“She wanted someone to do it with her,” Walton said, adding with a laugh. “We did a bunch of 5Ks, a couple of 10Ks, and then we did a half-marathon… and decided that was enough.”
“When I heard about the Worthington Christian Running Club, I thought what Stephanie was doing with the girls was cool. I’ve had a blast with it, and it’s been a great experience learning how to coach.”
For Custer, being part of the Worthington Christian Run Club has helped her rediscover the joy of running. On Nov. 10, 2023, five days after she completed the grueling 26.2-mile New York City marathon, Custer couldn’t move her legs or arms after suffering a transient ischemic attack (TIA). TIA symptoms mimic those of a stroke, but they soon disappear.
Two weeks later, Custer had the same symptoms, but the numbness and reduced mobility persisted. After an MRI revealed she had suffered a stroke, she was determined to return to her sport.
“The will to start running again kept me going,” said Custer, who competed in the Cap City Quarter Marathon on April 25. “Being involved (in the running club) and running with my friends is getting me back into it.”
Custer began with short distances and gradually built her endurance back up. Similarly, sixth graders start with manageable runs before working up to 3.1 miles. This season, that progression led them to compete in the Let Me Run Columbus SpringFest 5K on May 3 at the Westerville Sports Complex. Almost 40 runners from Worthington Christian competed in the event. Rosie Zhu was the overall female winner, finishing in 22 minutes, 41 seconds. Noah Fleming was the top WC finisher, completing the race in 22:23.
The club reaches students spiritually through Bible studies, discussions, and fellowship. Last year, the group began using the Friendzy program, which promotes character development within a faith-based framework.
“My favorite part about Run Club is that I am not alone,” sixth grader Kara Mobley said. “I get to run with friends who encourage me the whole way, no matter what place I am in.”
One of the club’s aims is to help students realize how important they are in God’s eyes. The team meetings cover a broad spectrum of social topics – dealing with friendships, loving people at all times, and putting others first. After their runs, the boys and girls clubs return to a classroom and have an activity that incorporates the theme of the day, and then prayer.
In one recent study, students gathered around a tub of water and tossed objects of various sizes into it. Each item created its own ripple effect.
The same could be said of the running club. It started with just six girls in 2018, but it created waves of interest. Currently, Custer estimates there are close to 40 boys and girls running with the club.
“That’s pretty amazing considering there are 82 kids in the sixth-grade class this year,” she added. “Seeing these kids go from zero miles of training to running 3.1 miles in seven weeks is pretty amazing.”