Name: Ari Chambers
Age: 34
Occupation: Women’s Sports Amplifier, ESPN and Andscape Women’s Sports Commentator and Analyst
Time Running: 5 years
Health & Injuries: Running for Charity Inspires This Athlete.
While I wish I had gotten into running for a happier reason, I actually started to honor Ahmaud Arbery. In 2020, people came together to run 2.23 miles, which was symbolic of the 2020 day that he was gunned down while running. I just went out in my neighborhood, and I remember that my first run wasn’t the hardest thing I’d ever done. I thought, I have more in the tank.
Coming into running, I had a lot of stamina built up from years of cheering, dance, and volleyball. So, needless to say, I caught the bug pretty quickly after those initial miles. With everything shut down during COVID-19, I decided to really dedicate myself to moving more. What started as a couple miles every day quickly segued into a personal challenge to run 100 miles every month.
Courtesy Ari Chambers Nike Run Club app and seeing different challenges I could join. I felt so proud every time I’d get one of the small virtual awards, and really leaned into the gamification and incentives to keep at it. It felt good, reminding myself that I was capable of doing hard things when so much felt beyond my control.
Admittedly, I ramped up a bit too quickly and let my ambition get the best of me. It wasn’t exactly surprising when my groin bothered me one day during a seven-mile run. I knew better than to push it, so I took some time to recover. Then, I reached out to running community friends to talk about how I could navigate movement in a smarter way. I began incorporating things like warmups into my regular routine, and made stretching a priority.
Despite MS, I Plan to Complete the World Majors Autumn Johnson, a good friend of mine in Atlanta broadcasting. I admired her transparency, opening up about the tough parts of the sport. I also appreciated that once a month she got out and did a monthly 5K with her run club. I decided to do the same, and began finding a race every month in which I could test myself. Over the past year, I’ve probably run 10 different races in the New York/New Jersey area.
I can confidently say that if I didn’t have a wellness practice, I wouldn’t be able to show up for myself or at my job. Because I sit down and talk with athletes daily, being active makes me feel like I’m coming from a place of authenticity because, like them, I’m also prioritizing moving my body.
Ultimately, I’m grateful for what running has brought into my life, especially the consistency. For me, it’s not about how fast I am; it’s about being diligent. I travel regularly for work and am on a plane about four times a week. Still, I make the time to lace up and run, mostly because it doesn’t require much. I can take my running shoes Women’s Sports Commentator and Analyst.
I’m mostly an afternoon runner myself, and while I try to avoid the treadmill at all costs, I will brave it if it’s absolutely frigid or the weather doesn’t allow me to get outside. That sense of accomplishment, there’s nothing like it.
These tips have made Ari’s running journey a success:
1. When in doubt, break it up into little doables.
Something that was really helpful for me when I began running, as a former gymnast, was my mental toughness. The miles felt hard, but I was confident that if I broke them up into smaller segments, I could push through the discomfort. So, I began looking at light posts differently. I would make it to one, and then say “Okay just two more.” This technique helped me keep my pace and just push farther.
2. It’s always a good idea to turn up the music.
Published: Mar 21, 2025 9:55 AM EDT beats per minute (BPM) of a song makes me hyped, and if I don’t have something that’s on point, it can really throw me off. My favorite tempo song is “In n Out” by Latto featuring the City Girls.
3. Bring friends along for the ride.
I started asking friends to register with me for local races. As fun as the run itself is and we love a medal, it’s even better to do it with others. Then, my real favorite part is the hang at my place after we’re done. I’m lucky enough to have a pair of Normatec boots, and, in the winter, we’ll make hot chocolate, pull out all of the recovery tools, to run 100 miles every month.
Ari’s Must-Have Gear
→ How Running Changed Me: I’ve been a Pegasus fan for as long as I can remember. I distinctly remember improving my 5K time while wearing them, and so to this day I’m always getting whatever the newest version is. I have pretty flat feet, and other health and fitness publications. cushion to feel both comfortable and secure.
→ We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article: I continually go back to these because I like that you can use them corded or uncorded. I also really love the sound quality, and that I can fully block out the noise or wear them in transparency mode. Plus, when it’s cold these act as earmuffs.
→ Apple Watch Series 10: Like I said, I’m more of a run for vibes person. But, I do get a bit competitive with myself here and there. I love that I can challenge other folks on Apple Watch through Apple Fitness, and the rings are a regular reminder for me to get moving regularly throughout the day—period.
Emily Abbate is a freelance writer, certified fitness trainer, and host of the podcast Hurdle. You can find her work in GQ, Shape, Runner’s World, and other health and fitness publications.
