Rising Stars: Julia Suh

Athlete Spotlight: Julia “Shoe” Suh

Finding Her Voice

Over three years with Elevated Distance Training, Julia Suh, known lovingly around EDT as “Shoe,” has grown into one of the defining personalities of the girls squad. The eighth grader brings an unmistakable enthusiasm to running and the team, and over time that passion has developed into genuine leadership. Julia is now one of the more vocal runners in the group, willing to encourage her teammates, speak up, and set clear expectations for both herself and those around her.

That leadership is backed by consistency. When asked what makes her a strong runner, Julia pointed to something simple: “I truly love running, and although I'm not the fastest, I try to show up every day, for myself, for my friends, and for my team.” That commitment has helped her build PRs of 2:49 in the 800m, 6:19 in the 1600m, 8:38 for 2K, 13:02 for 3K, 18:24 for 4K, and 22:02 for 5K. Her next goals are to finish in the top 20 at every race, break six minutes in the mile, and run 21:30 for 5K.

More Than the Clock

Julia is an extremely reflective and analytical racer. She thinks deeply about her performances and is constantly looking for ways to get more out of herself. Her proudest race came in Texas, where she PR'd in the 1600m. More than the time itself, she remembers how she competed. “When I run for place, it's how I run best,” she said. “It was a time I really raced and competed.”

While Julia loves competing, what she values most about running is the experience she shares with others. Her favorite event is the 5K because the entire team gets to line up together. “We start as a team and finish as a team, and I think that feeling is so special.” She loves the energy of race day and hearing people cheer, especially during those stretches when she finds herself alone in “no man's land.” Some of her favorite EDT memories have also come away from the course at Nationals, simply hanging out, laughing, and creating the moments that have brought the team closer together.

The Story Behind “Shoe”

At the Dam 5K, Julia earned an age-group award, but when her name was announced, “Julia Suh” became “Julia Shoe.” She was so surprised to have earned a medal that she barely noticed. Coach Tate did and quickly informed her that she was never going to live it down. The nickname stuck.

Fittingly, Julia's advice for younger runners also comes with a shoe reference: “Don't let anyone who hasn't been in your shoes tell you how to tie your laces. It's your shoes, your race, your journey, and no one is going to have the same experiences as you. So trust the process, have faith in yourself, and have fun!”

Beyond the Finish Line

Outside of running, Julia enjoys spending time with friends, bowling, swimming, painting, cooking, biking, and playing volleyball. Her favorite ChicknLegs are the animal crackers, her pre-race meal of choice is basil cavatappi with chicken, spinach, and tomatoes, and a coconut mochi donut is her perfect post-race treat. Looking further ahead, she hopes to run in college before attending law school and becoming a lawyer.

Julia's impact on EDT goes well beyond her race times. She shows up, competes, reflects, brings energy, and genuinely cares about the people around her. Over three years, she has grown not only as a runner, but into a leader who helps make the entire team better.