My Journey with EPRC
by: Abhishek Tayal
I joined EPRC in May 2023, right after being diagnosed with high cholesterol and told by my doctor to start working out. I came across their 5K program on Instagram and immediately felt drawn to it. Around the same time, I met one of the co-founders, Lahaina, at my local Lululemon store. I randomly asked her about the program, and she encouraged me to join right away. Since it was free, I thought, “Why not? I have nothing to lose.”
The 5K program was well-structured, designed specifically for beginners. The workouts alternated between short runs and jogs, gradually increasing the running intervals. During those runs, our run leader would chat about random things like TV shows, but honestly, all I could think about was how hard running felt! Still, that conversation kept my mind off the struggle, and I pushed through. By the end of the program, I completed my first 5K. I stuck with the club, attending their Wednesday and Sunday runs regularly, and soon I was running 5 to 6 miles consistently.
In November, during one of our evening runs, some fellow runners mentioned they were applying for the Chicago Marathon Lottery. They said it was notoriously difficult to get in, and that many of them had been applying for years without success. On a whim, I decided to apply - never thinking I’d actually get in. To my surprise, I got the confirmation email: I had made the lottery! I was shocked and nervous, but I shared the news on our Discord channel. The excitement and congratulations from everyone made me realize just how big of a deal this was, and soon enough, I was excited too.
Encouraged by the club, I decided to start training for the marathon, but first, I tackled a half marathon in March and a 10-mile race in April. Following their training schedule, I not only completed the half marathon, but exceeded my goal time. This gave me the confidence to take on the 18-week marathon training plan. Though I missed the first two weeks due to vacation, the club reassured me that I’d be okay as long as I stuck to the plan. And for the next 16 weeks, I felt fully supported. The club even checked in on my nutrition and advised me to see a licensed PT whenever I experienced any pain. It was like being taken care of every step of the way.
When race weekend finally arrived, many ERPC members flew to Chicago to cheer us on. They supported us through shakeout runs, hosted a carb-loading dinner the night before, and were there for anything we needed on race day - whether it was handing out fuel or offering encouragement along the course. Their cheers were so loud that by mile 23, I couldn’t have stopped even if I wanted to! In fact, a couple of them literally ran with me during the final miles, pushing me through to the finish line.
In the year-plus that I’ve been with EPRC, running has transformed for me. It went from something I dreaded to something I love. The club pushed me to set goals that once felt impossible - like running a marathon - and helped me achieve them. That’s what makes EPRC special. It’s not just a run club, it’s a community that inspires you to dream big and supports you in making those dreams a reality.