Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsey McGee.
Hi Lindsey, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I moved to Charlotte in March 2022 after living in Colorado for the past 20 years. I had moved from the Midwest to attend Colorado State University, and I was growing tired of the cold weather in the last few years. I thrive in sunshine and being outdoors, so winters led to pretty rough seasonal affect disorder. I came out to tour North Carolina in fall 2021 and absolutely loved it!
I’ve worked in event productions on and off since 2011. I have volunteered, staffed, participated, or cheered in well over 1,000 events since then! In Colorado, I had and still have the privilege to work with Without Limits Productions (different than the Without Limits out on the NC coast), putting on triathlons and bike races in Colorado. My absolute best days were producing events and cheering people to achieve their goals!
My first summer in Charlotte, I trained mostly indoors in AC because I wasn’t used to the heat and humidity. Around the Crown 10K was my first foray into running in the heat of the south, and the humidity definitely smacked me in the face!
In fall 2022, a stranger-turned-friend was hosting Run Club Bingo in Charlotte. As someone who is competitive, I wanted as many bingo stickers as I could get. I even showed up to run clubs after spraining my ankle and a hairline fracture because I wanted to win “swag” at the run club bingo celebration. That gave me my first small glimpse into the many personalities of the over 50 different run clubs in Charlotte. Fun fact: I even met a Physical Therapist that I now contract for at that end-of-season party.
When NHCM Ambassador applications opened, Deanna encouraged me to apply because of my “runergy”. She had seen me volunteer at races and cheer athletes on, regardless of speed, ability, or belief in themselves. I believed they could do anything!
As an ambassador in 2023, I attended all six of the RunCharlotte Six Pack series, volunteered at the Marathon expo, and hauled myself up and down the hills of the half marathon course in November. I posted events, discount codes, price increases, and such on social media outlets. I chatted up strangers at racers and to anyone who would listen.
After the Run Charlotte “season,” a few ambassadors met up to discuss how we could make next season better. As someone who has been in the event production world for over 10 years, I shared some ideas, and I think that’s where my passion for athletes REALLY shined. The prior Ambassador lead was stepping down from his role, and I was asked a few weeks later to lead the 2024 ambassadors. We all agreed that we could grow the program significantly this year. In 2024, we have almost 50 ambassadors that will share the word of the Run Charlotte events and the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon taking place November 16th. Our rockstars span from Lake Norman to Charleston, range in age and running experience, and share the common goal of inspiring others to live a healthy lifestyle. I am thrilled to see what we can achieve this season and am excited for each step along the way!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I am open about the struggles that got me to where I am in the hope that I can help break the stigma that comes along with mental health challenges.
My entire journey TO North Carolina started because I needed a fresh start. In September 2021, two days before my birthday, I attempted my first ultra-marathon. I didn’t get a good night’s sleep as I was camping in a tent during a very cold and windy night in the mountains of Colorado. I was cold, hungry, and tired as I started the race, and it only went downhill from there. I only knew one person that would be at the halfway aid station, and I cried when I saw her because I was behind my scheduled pace, and I was sad that no one had come out to support me during my first ultramarathon. After years of supporting others by sending them encouraging notes both virtually and through handwritten cards, it was finally my turn to take on a huge race, and I felt so alone. I did end up finishing the race, only to be disappointed again that the Race Director who had promised me a birthday treat had completely forgotten. I spent the next 2 days in bed, sad, disappointed, and sore (31 miles and 6,000 ft of elevation will do that to a body).
I knew that I needed a restart. I bought a camper van, and within 2 weeks, I rented out my Colorado townhome and hit the road with my adventure dog Paxi. We spent the next 5 weeks and 10,000+ miles visiting the Northeast and looking at every city and town as a potential new home. It was during this road trip that I decided I would test out North Carolina as a place to live. Over the next year, we sold our CO home, bought a home in Charlotte and have become thoroughly embedded into the Charlotte community!
This is one small chapter of a mental health journey. I’m able to overcome obstacles and challenges because I have put in a lot of work to determine the best set of medications for my anxiety and depression, utilize therapy when needed, journal my gratitudes as well as my challenges to realize how I can maneuver through life in a way that honors my mental health.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Someone once called my LinkedIn profile a Wikipedia page. Little did they know that not every job I’ve had is on LinkedIn. I have a variety of passions, and the common thread is community. I am absolutely at my best when I’m helping others.
I’ve been part of a team producing triathlons in Colorado since 2017. Find me at a running or triathlon race, and you’ll hear me cheering on athletes before you see me. In November 2021, I was honored to be awarded with the Bethany Rutledge Memorial Award, given to a triathlete who believed helping people in small ways created potential for much bigger change.
In my journey to North Carolina, I started Paws Social Club. We are a social club for dogs and the humans who love them. We offer a casual atmosphere for dog lovers to meet other dog parents and dog lovers through events in the area. We host smaller groups at events such as Charlotte Knights Bark in the Park, Checkers Hockey, Whitewater Center, dog-friendly mural tours, run clubs, and more.
I also contract with a few businesses around town, working in different areas of business development. I lead the Summit Coffee Eastover Run Club on Tuesday mornings in Charlotte. Each of these opportunities has come about due to my enthusiasm for being a part of the Charlotte community!
What do you think about happiness?
Wow! What a question! Feeling like I’m part of a community! My dog Paxi!
Feeling like I’m part of a community because I know what it feels like to feel utterly alone. Seeing a friendly face at a run club or out in the community can brighten my whole day.
My dog Paxi, who is named after the Cotopaxi Volcano in Ecuador. I had a super adventurous day in Cotopaxi, and when I fostered her, she was my super adventurous sidekick, so I renamed her accordingly.
Sitting down for afternoon tea with a friend! Magical!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.runcharlotte.com, www.pawssocialclub.com
- Instagram: @teaaddict.nc / @runcharlotte / @charlottemarathon / @pawssocialclubNC
