Heart & Sole: Coping with Loss through Running

Jen LaughlinCommunity

Here at Aravaipa Running, our community means everything. At events, at group runs, and virtually on social media. The passion, kindness and heart of our trail running community continuously motivates and inspires us because there’s usually a reason far beyond fitness for why folks do what they do, and subsequently, a story to tell.

West Valley resident Andee Arrom is an example of one of those community members who has a story to tell. Continue below to read more about Andee, her “why” for running, and how she’s successfully blended her career with her passion for exercise and how running and community was imperative to helping her cope with two devastating losses.

My name is Andee. I am 32. I played competitive soccer from the time I was 9 years old until I was 18. That involved quite a bit of running! However, my running truly started in high school. I did 4 years of cross country and track. Being an athlete really shaped my career choice. I knew I loved exercise and wanted to understand how the body worked. I went to ASU and received my degree in Exercise Science.

I am now an exercise physiologist, and I work in cardiac services at Banner University Medical Center. As an exercise physiologist, my job is to see patients with a cardiac condition and provide them with education as well as lifestyle modification. I also perform cardiopulmonary exercise tests (VO2 testing). Most of my patient population is chronically ill, but I have had the chance to run a few tests on myself and other co-workers who are incredibly talented athletes!

When my husband and I bought our first house, I found myself down the street from the trails in Buckeye. I started running at Skyline Regional Park to train for obstacle course races such as Spartan and Tough Mudder. About 5 years ago, I met Jen Laughlin out on those trails, and she convinced me to turn to the dark side: ultra-running. Since then, I have participated in multiple Aravaipa races with distances ranging from half-marathon to 100k.

3 years ago, Jen and I ran the Hotfoot Hamster in memory of my grandpa who passed away from COVID. As a healthcare worker who had just spent extensive amount of time in the COVID ICU, it was very personal. Running helped give me something to look forward to. It motivated me and gave me a goal when I was going through a hard time. Unfortunately, in June of 2022 my mom passed away unexpectedly months after turning the big 5-0. I once again turned to running to cope with this such a difficult situation. I realized it was time for me to take the advice that I give my patients. Exercise is not just great for cardiovascular health, but for emotional health and overall quality of life. I signed up for the Mogollon 42k last minute as a way to move forward when I felt like I was falling into a deep depression after my mom’s death. I think I cried for more than half that race, but in the end, I realized I was strong enough to keep going.

As for heart health advice, I could truly talk about this for days! Exercise and diet are key, but so are your genetics! It is important to understand your family history and risk factors. It is also important to understand that heart disease does not care about age. Here are some facts provided by the CDC:

Heart Disease in the United States
• Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States.1
• One person dies every 34 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular disease.1
• About 697,000 people in the United States died from heart disease in 2020—that’s 1 in every 5 deaths.1,2
• Heart disease cost the United States about $229 billion each year from 2017 to 2018.3 This includes the cost of health care services, medicines, and lost productivity due to death.

If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms, it is better to seek medical attention. Additionally, it is important for us as runners to promote a healthy lifestyle to those we love.

What is next for me? Running something in the 50k or 50 mi range to celebrate my mom’s life this summer 😊 OH and participating in the Heart Walk in Downtown, Phoenix in March.

To learn more about the 2023 Phoenix Heart Walk on March 25th, click here.