Hi, I’m Brooke Grider.
Welcome to Pace Your Mind. I’m an RRCA-certified run coach and 20-year runner who has seen firsthand that the body thrives not under constant pressure, but under thoughtful progression. Slowing down isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom in motion.
A little about me
I didn’t start as a runner. I started as a survivor.
In 1998, at 18 years old, I was diagnosed with epilepsy on a college campus. I was a former competitive gymnast and D1 collegiate cheerleader, an athlete my whole life, and suddenly, I didn’t know what my body was capable of anymore.
I spent years in survival mode. Anxiety. Autoimmune issues. Chronic gut problems. Cigarettes to cope. At one point, I couldn’t run a quarter mile without gasping for breath.
But something inside me knew I was meant for more.
So I laced up my shoes and walked before I ran.
Turning Points
- The Day I quit smoking: at 26, I made one of the hardest and most defining decisions of my life. Quitting wasn’t easy, cravings lasted over two years, BUT I proved to myself that I could do hard things.
- When running became my teacher: running didn’t just transform my body, it taught me how to endure emotionally, to show up when things felt impossible, and to trust the process even when I couldn’t see the finish line.
- Stepping into my power: shifting from bedside nursing to clinical informatics was more than a career change, it was a reclaiming of my intellectual gifts and my desire to make a greater impact on health and healing systems.
- Embracing the spiritual side of healing: I stopped hiding the mystical parts of myself and began exploring energy healing, somatic practices, and the deeper wisdom held within the body and heart field.
Pace Your Mind is where running meets the nervous system.
Articles, resources, and real talk for runners who want to train smarter, recover better, and understand the body they’re running in.
Fun Facts About Me
- I’m a proud mom to two incredible boys who continue to be my greatest teachers in patience, presence, and unconditional love.
- I’m a former competitive gymnast, D1 collegiate cheerleader, and current competitive tennis player.
- Video games with my boys? That’s still one of my guilty pleasures.
- I believe quitting smoking was harder than running a marathon, and I’ve done both.
Certifications & Trainings
- Awakening Workshop by Diana Rankin 2012 & 2018
- Reiki I, II, and Master level
- Pranic Healing I, II, and Pranic Crystal Healing
- RRCA Certified Run Coach
- 200 Registered Yoga Teacher (2016)
- Certified Urban Zen Integrative Therapist
- Sacred Path Workshop 2018
- Registered Nurse (ADN 2018, BSN 2020)
- Master of Health Informatics
