“What I hold closest to my heart are the places my two feet take me,” said Laura Green, a runner and social media influencer, when she visited Concord Academy on October 23. CA’s cross-country teams were eager to hear her story and advice on going the distance.
Green joined them and CA cross-country coaches Jon Waldron, J. Mike Remy, Justin Bull P’25, Peter Jennings P’20, ’21, ’25, and Hayley Gambone for a run in the idyllic autumn weather. Afterward, she shared how her passion for running began, in her native upstate New York.
Inspired by her older brother who ran, Green decided to try cross-country in 8th grade and built up speed through persistence and determination. In high school, she went on to win the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) championship. However, she said her biggest victory was the lifelong friendships she built with coaches and teammates. “Cross-country is a unit unlike any other team sport,” she said.
Following a strong high school career, Green attended college in Boston, where she continued to run cross-country while studying physical therapy. After graduating, she worked domestically as a traveling physical therapist.
In between contracts, she traveled to cities around the world, including Greece, Turkey, Nepal, and Japan. Everywhere she went, running the local trails was her outlet. “Your running journey doesn’t start and end here,” Green shared. “You know you can put on a pair of shoes and head out the door anywhere and what it can accomplish—not only in terms of fitness and physical activity but also clarity and stress-reduction.”
Green also channeled her passion for staying active into co-founding a nonprofit, November Project, a judgment-free public workout program offered to the community at no cost. The movement has expanded to 54 cities worldwide.
During the pandemic, Green began contemplating a career pivot. She picked up a camera and started creating legacy videos for people’s families, but craved more creativity. A friend recommended that she try creating short, funny videos for Instagram and TikTok. Green’s comedy content instantly took off, and she began partnering with brands to promote their athletics gear. One month later, she transitioned to working as a full-time influencer.
Most recently, Green’s job has led her to the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest. She made content over 10 days, for 12 hours a day, interviewing star runners including Faith Kipyegon, Noah Lyles, Emma Coburn, and Fred Kerly. In sports reporting, where intense media is predominant, Green’s lighthearted and humorous videos are a refreshing presence.
Green encouraged CA student-athletes new to cross-country to think about the long term. “Consistency is so much more important than volume and speed,” Green said. “If you’re showing up and putting in a little bit of work every day, it will pay off in dividends later.”
As CA’s cross-country student-athletes prepare for the Eastern Independent League (EIL) and New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) championships, Green shared a few final words of encouragement: “Think about all the miles you put in before [a competition] to get to the starting line. Everything should be left out there on the course.”
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