In Our Shoes extends a warm welcome to working mom Debra Farber, a six time marathoner, breast cancer survivor and founder of Fit-2-Run, a growing fitness training and running company she kicked off just two years ago in her hometown of Short Hills, NJ. A few minutes into my interview, I soon learned that Debra delivers far more than just fitness regimens to her women clientele. As they follow her lead, Debra breathes life into her clients’ lives by motivating real change. Read on for her inspirational story.
You have been an avid athlete since college, yet only recently have you begun a fitness career.
Why now?
True, however after college I’ve always held jobs within the health care industry. Before I started Fit-2-Run I was on a successful career track in pharmaceutical sales working in New York City. Then in May 2008, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. At that time I reached what I would best describe as an abyss. I realized life was too short. I was unhappy in my career and letting too much quality time slip away from family. So I picked up and left Corporate America a few months later to pursue a dream I’ve always had on the backburner: to run my own fitness business. Like most moms beginning to grow a family, I needed to do something which offered me flexibility so I can be with my two children; spending more time with them, then 4 and 5 years old, was always at the forefront for me.
How are you feeling now, two years after your diagnosis?
I consider myself blessed. The cancer was caught early on. I had surgery followed by the necessary radiation and am now undergoing heavy screening. Fortunately, my condition was not in the advanced stage. My diagnosis has made a huge impact on my life. It’s been quite a journey.
Financially speaking, what would you say to someone who can’t afford to walk away from the day job they have outgrown?
I do consider myself fortunate, as I was able to walk away from my career in 2009 without financial regret. However, I believe life is a frame of mind. When I was working in the pharmaceutical industry I was putting in too much travel. When I made a clean break, I didn’t care about the money. I knew I was never cut out to be a stay at home mom and so if I was going to work it needed to be something that spoke to me – a passion. I can’t describe the satisfaction I get when I’m able to pick up my kids from school and continue to juggle a business I love.
How much did exercise contribute to your healing?
It weighed in tremendously. Right after my radiation treatment and after a six year hiatus from running a race, I took on the New York City marathon – 26.2 miles! It was the therapy I so needed. With two kids, running a business, keeping the cancer at bay, I don’t have time to be tired. If one day I am feeling tired, it is what it is. You become a salmon swimming upstream. You just do it, that’s it.
Tell us about your business Fit-2-Run.
I started Fit-2-Run to train and coach those who have a fitness goal in mind and you’ll find that this is unique in everyone. Mine is a very grass roots kind of business. I’m contacted by women who have never run before and others who want to train for a marathon. Some of my clients are busy working moms who need their running fix right before heading into the office. Others are new moms who crave their former bodies back. Some are even veteran runners who literally just need to get back on the track again.
How do you manage so many different client objectives?
I keep to a structured schedule based on individual goals.
For Post Natal fitness, I’ll host group workouts focusing on core conditioning, increasing strength and flexibility utilizing weights, bands and balls.
For the marathoners we’ll usually go out together where I’ll do individual training for all race distances depending on their comfort level.
Twice a week, I’ll hold running groups with different runs consisting of speed work, hill repeats, long runs and tempo runs.
For the working women, I developed a 30 minute express workout beginning at dawn, which works well right before their needing to jumpstart their morning commute.
Where do you normally hold your fitness training?
One of the things I love about my business is that I’m able to take my clients anywhere that works for them. I like to sit down and meet my clients for a cup of coffee where I can learn what it is that they’re trying to accomplish. If they like to be outdoors for example, I’ll take them on a hike or to the track. Some prefer a one-on-one workout where they’ll set up a space in their home. It all depends on what works best for the individual. I love the variety and my clients appreciate the flexibility, so it’s a win-win.
For my classes I’ll rent space in a dance studio. This morning I just did a group run and I’m still reeling from the rush where I can kick back on a bench and share what I have created for myself, especially now in the budding Spring season.
Do you also train men, or is your business exclusively geared towards women?
When starting out I didn’t set out to target only women, but so far they are the clients I’ve most attracted. It’s empowering to see networks building among these women from my classes. In my sessions, I try to match up similar runners to train together thereby motivating one another. Running becomes a springboard for achievement in your life and is a huge outlet for all of us. I have always run for my own enjoyment, but with my business it’s been far more rewarding and therapeutic than I could imagine.
When first starting out, how did you attract clients?
I started out very bare bones. I first posted flyers around town. I did have business cards made initially, but I have to say the local word spread quicker than the newer methods: business cards, web sites, marketing. Today, I do have those things in place to keep my business growing but I guess you never know what will cause that initial spark until you try different avenues.
It was thrilling to learn that there was a market out there where people were looking for someone like me to get them on the right track towards their fitness goals.
Where do you see your business in the future?
The next step for me is branching out into kids’ fitness, teaching them the importance of exercise and introducing them to sports specific training. I’ve had much interest from moms who have children already involved in sports. For some, they’re on the track team looking for focused training. There are the high school teens who want to train to run cross country. And then there are those kids on the opposite spectrum who may not be into sports but their parents want them to give it a try.
What challenges do you face regularly?
The most challenging aspect of my busy routine is managing my kids schedule alongside my business. I try to schedule my training early mornings, mid afternoons and weekend mornings. I generally try to steer clear from booking any evening sessions because it doesn’t lend itself to my children’s schedule.
I’ve also been struggling with the question of how quickly do I want to expand? The opportunities are there, I need to decide how I want to take them on.
How do you manage meals for your family?
I’m a mother like anyone else. I manage to have simple nutritious meals ready. I’ll sometimes pick up healthy food options from Trader Joe’s or sneak in good protein dishes with brown rice, chicken and pasta.
What advice would you give to someone who wishes to step into her dream shoes?
One of the best gifts I was given was a journal from two close running friends. They said “this is where you’re going to start writing down your dreams” and it was. I carried it around with me everywhere and wrote down everything I wanted out of my life. It’s a gift I’ll never forget. I would encourage every woman to crystallize their goals by first putting pen to paper!
