In partnership with our friends at HOKA, we’re sharing stories and inspiration from the Strides running and fitness community members.
This week, we introduce you to our friend and longtime Strides supporter, Anh Dang. If you’ve ever met Anh, you know the conversations always include big smiles and laughs during your time with him.
Anh is known in the Philly running community for his dedication to the sport and for coaching runners of all levels. Fun Fact: He didn’t start running until his 30s and has qualified for the Boston Marathon, amongst other achievements.
These days, he’s a Certified Running Coach with the T3Philly community and helps members achieve their personal best (while having fun in the process).
If you are looking for a little inspiration to start your running journey or ready to take your running to new levels, check out our Q&A with Anh and connect with his run crew on social media at @t3philly. Here's a sneak peek:
Kiera: Tell us about yourself.
Anh: I’m a gay Vietnamese American living in the Italian Market neighborhood of Philadelphia with my partner Dan and our yellow lab Bailey. I work as a supply chain professional.
Kiera: When did you get into running? How did you get started?
Anh: When I was approaching 30 years old, my office co-workers recruited me to join their team to run a local 5k race. I WAS IN when I found out that tacos and margaritas were involved after crossing the finish line! Although I finished the 5k among the last finishers and my whole body was in pain, I was very proud of myself. I promptly signed up for a marathon next!
Kiera: What do you say to someone over 30 who may believe it’s “too late” to start running?
Anh: Well, if you are training for the Olympics, it’s probably too late if you start 30 years or older. However, if your goal is to be a better version of yourself, it’s never too late. Many of us, myself included, didn’t think running was an opportunity available to us when we were younger. Now is the time to claim your space and see what you can do!
