It makes perfect sense that Sorita E. Averill-Fitzgerald is literally a woman on the move. In addition to being the owner-founder of West Reading’s professional athletic retailer A Running Start, she is an accomplished marathon runner as well as a coach, teacher and active community member. Averill-Fitzgerald opened her shop in 2004 after a years-long career in human resource training and management in the pharmaceutical industry. Originally from Atlanta, she lived in Virginia Beach and the greater Philadelphia area before moving to Wyomissing for love; her husband Michael is an engineering teacher for Wilson School District.
Q: I’m guessing you have always been an athlete and a runner yourself?
I am. I’m doing a full Ironman triathlon next month in North Carolina. But I haven’t always been a runner. Growing up I wasn’t allowed to run because of asthma, but I loved being active and biked a lot as a kid.
Q: What is a triathlon?
It’s a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile run. I didn’t learn to swim until about 9 years ago, if you can believe that. My husband teased me about not being a swimmer, so I took lessons and did my first half-triathlon about 8 years ago.
Q: Amazing! You are a take-action person. Has that always been your way?
Definitely. For example, I moved to Berks County to be with my husband but worked in the Wayne area, which is where I shopped for running gear, but I wished for a store closer to home. Over dinner one evening at Bistro 614 [in West Reading],
I looked across Penn Avenue and saw a business for rent. I said I wanted to open a running shop and we talked about it over the meal. I opened there three months later.
Q: You’ve moved down the street since then. What else has evolved?
I really enjoy being part of the community, with events like the Arts Fest and Fall Festival or Small Business Saturday in November. We organize other events, like timed scavenger hunt races with all the other businesses, for fun and to get people moving. And there’s Run Santa Run, which averages more than 200 runners each year. I’m the race director and dress like Mrs. Claus to lead the kids’ portion of the race; it’s a lot of fun.
Q: So no one should feel uneasy about being an inexperienced runner when they come into A Running Start, right?
No. Everyone is welcome – runners, walkers, pros and beginners. I teach classes for beginning runners, and being able to walk comfortably for 30 minutes is the only requirement. Starting slow is the best way – that’s how I started and had to start again in 2002 when I had a hip fracture. I didn’t run for 12 weeks as I recovered, and, once my doctor cleared me to run, I started by walking for five minutes, running for one, and walking for another five. It’s how I discovered how to teach beginners.
Q: I know you’re always busy working or training, but what do you do when you have downtime?
I don’t really do downtime [laughs]. I take a break from racing in November and eat stuff I don’t eat during training. I love bacon and will have a bacon cheeseburger without a bun [laughs]. I really enjoy time with friends, and, when I’m alone, I read or color mandalas to unwind.
by Michelle E. Biggerstaff | photo by John A. Secoges, Secoges Photographics
