A quick introduction

St. Louis Track Club Executive Director Deirdre Nunan with her favorite run buddy, Crowley.

It’s funny how quickly running can consume one’s life. Seven years ago my daughter joined the Girls on the Run team at her elementary school in Washington, MO. We had recently moved to town, and she had befriended the daughter of the local run club leader, who also helped coach the GOTR team. 

At this point I had run a couple of 5Ks when we lived in Alabama, but was not running regularly by any means. But I joined that run club – DRC (the Daily Run Club) – and met some really inspiring runners. I set a goal to run a half marathon distance by the end of 2018 and I did it – under trained, under hydrated and under fueled on the Katy Trail – on New Year’s Eve. I felt horrible the next day, and could barely move. And then I had that feeling you have all had too – I wanted to do it again. So I did. 

In 2021 I did my first ultra marathon (also on the Katy Trail), and in spring of 2022 I took over as the Girls on the Run coach at my daughter’s school. It was her final season and the first one for the school post-COVID, and I’ve been coaching there since. In the summer of 2023 I participated in the Girls on the Run 14er Challenge, and fundraised a few thousand dollars for our STL chapter. 

During this time I also became involved with the non-profit St. Louis Ultrarunners Group (SLUGs), and helped them with social media, communication and website updates. In early 2024 I became president of SLUGs, a role I still currently fill (as well as co-RD for the Berryman Marathon and 50 Mile Race). Because of my role with SLUGs, and my natural tendencies to yap non-stop about running, I started joining (and creating) other group runs and volunteering at races and meeting so many runners. It turns out that supporting athletes of all ages and abilities is something that fills me with joy, and becoming the Executive Director of the Track Club is seriously a dream come true. 

Now all that said, I’m not a serious runner. I’m definitely not fast enough or good enough to take myself seriously. And when I take something seriously, it stops being fun, and exercising should, for the most part, be a fun and joyful experience. Of course I’ve had not-great races and runs, but I’ve also pushed myself harder than I thought possible and had some really cool experiences because of it. I’ve DNSed and dropped from races because I was under trained. Life outside of running happens, and I try to give myself grace for that. 

But I do take my job as ED seriously (well, I mean, pretty seriously) and I’m here to help you, our members, and our run community. The goal of the track club is to be a source of aid for you to grow as athletes. I want to know the best ways the club can serve you and our community, so please reach out to me with your thoughts and ideas. Or better yet, come to one of our group runs and let’s talk in person... you'll find me toward the back of the pack.

I look forward to meeting you! 

– Deirdre Nunan