Meet Ciara Iglehart | RUNNER/MENTOR/BUSINESS OWNER/ENTREPRENUER

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ciara Iglehart and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ciara, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Work life balance is all about understanding time. You make time for what you want. My happiness is important to me so I make time for that and make sure I surround myself with love and support.

Life is too short to be buried alive with work. I have learned the importance of alignment. Aligning your happiness is apart of this work life balance. If we are passionate and happy about what we are doing for a living then that’s half the battle. The other half is figuring out where to plug in time for you and what fills your cup.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

Your Pace Matters launched in December of 2020. During the year of 2020 when the pandemic hit, I started to run on a consistent basis. I was not in good place mentally and emotionally and running was the thing that kept me sane. It kept me grounded. I joined a running group ( Black Girls Run) in 2019 and started to be more consistent in attending run events. I started to sign up for many virtual races and one in particular I had to do on my own. It was the Hot Chocolate 15K San Diego Virtual Race ( 9.3 miles) in which was the longest race I ever ran at the time. During this run is when I was thinking to myself
” my pace matters”. I kept repeating this because it was hard and this was a lot of miles to be completed alone especially for a beginner. After the run that phrase stuck with me and I started to BELIEVE it. Then I decided to get create a logo and contacted a logo creator. It took me awhile to come up with the right logo that I wanted and most importantly that represented me and the VISION. After I seen everything coming together, I made the decision to create a positive clothing brand that encourages others to move. Since I am a runner, running gear was a must because I know what runners want and love.

” Your Pace Matters”. This analogy of running or moving also applies to our daily lives. We sometimes are so focused on someone else’s path instead of focusing on our own. Our path is different. We have different backgrounds, friends, families, resources and experiences ( just to name a few) that sets us apart from each other so why compare. We start to compare and then we ultimately forget about the steps we need to take in our own lives. We also forget that GOD is our foundation and we like to take things into our own hands instead of leaning on him. With that being said not only did I create the ” Your Pace Matters” logo, I also created some other faith based logos which include ” I Run with GOD” and ” I Walk by Faith” just to name a few.

This is what sets me apart from others. I believe that you should tie everything that you do into your purpose. Me personally, as I am still figuring out my purpose in life, I understand that everything that I put energy into must ALIGN with my purpose or its a waste of time. I know see things clearly. Running and Praying has allowed me to do so. Covid has allowed me to STOP and get to know a better me. So when I created this business a better me was blossoming and I followed. Ever since then its been an amazing ride.

Is it easy? NO however since I am passionate about my brand and the people I may can touch or inspire, it doesn’t seem to be challenging either. I have been learning a lot and figuring out ways to continuously build my brand.

I want people to know that if you want to own your own business, you can do it. Nothing is standing in your way but YOU. You just have to decide whether you WILL do it or not.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend was visiting the beautiful city of San Diego, I would take them to the beach first. My favorite beach is Coronado Beach because its clean you , get great views of downtown, and lots of activities you can do there. Kayaking, biking, or Jet Skiing just to name a few activities or chill out in front of Hotel Del Coronado and having a margarita is my favorite. Its a great staycation!

For Lunch or Dinner Mexican Food would be a must!
Humberto’s Taco shop located on 25th and Broadway is one of my favorites and not too far from Coronado.

Downtown San Diego would be the best place to go in the evening and again not too far from Coronado. Lots of fun action down there. Don’t really have a specific place I would go but anything on a rooftop. The views are amazing! Lots of new places that I am not familiar with but hear great things. Another great place for food is La Puerta and Las Hadas located downtown and Juan tequila has the best margaritas! Can you tell I love margaritas?!

However most places downtown for food and entertainment is good!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Shout out to the amazing ladies of Black Girls Run San Diego. You are my heart and and I love you all to the fullest. Shout out to the run community in San Diego and LA for creating positive spaces for not just runners but also for people of color (POP).

Big Shout out to the Marathon crew (Just to name a few): Carolyne Ouya, Priscilla Rojas, Courtney Pagone, Akia Marche Isom, Maria Ortiz-Malte, Michelle and Monica. You ladies have changed my life in ways that I cannot describe or put into words. We shared such a special moment training together and crossing that finish line. From the bottom of my heart, I LOVE YOU and happy to have you all as friends.

Special Shout out to Santa Mujeres Run Club founded by Priscilla Rojas and Virginia Lucia Camacho for all the love and support they have given me. The founders are like sisters to me and appreciate and love them so much!

Women Specifically:
My beautiful mother who is my inspiration. ( Teacher/ Doctor/ Author/ Singer/ Mentor/Motivator and the list goes on) Her name is Debbie Gooden and you can find her on Facebook.

Women who I admire and my Dearest Friends:

Jessica Walton: Wife/Mother/Hooper/Runner/Sister/Run Coach/Mentor/Great Friend (will be completing her first marathon in Chicago in October and was the reason why I started my running journey)

Jennifer Bailes: Mother/Hooper/ Runner/Fire-Fighter/Great Friend/ Completed her first Ironman Triathlon and killed it as the only Black Woman to compete in it in 2021

Nicol Hodges: Mother/Runner/Influencer/Blogger/Author of “Time to R.I.S.E” (Amazon) and Co-host of Rise and Run Podcast (Spotify) / Great Friend/ Inspiration to the run community/ Ran everyday for 400 days in honor of Breonna Taylor

Yvette Williams: Lawyer/ Runner/Great Friend and Realist/ On track to the the first black female Judge in her military branch

Sami Lauf: Mother/Teacher/Runner/Hooper/Great Friend/ Environmentalist/Graduating with her Masters Soon

Iman Wilkerson- Dog Mom/Runner/Influencer/Blogger/Founder of @therundown (Instagram)/ True Inspiration/Magnetic force of Sunshine/She’s highly admired especially by me

Marbely Montas- My best friend/ retired hooper/Head Coach of Union County College in which lead her team to 5 championships/ a true inspiration

Le’ sheala Dawson: My favorite Cousin/ Head of Athlete Relations at Overtime/Co-host and founder of Tipping the Scales Podcast/ retired hooper

Men Specifically:

Jay El Rey Field: Husband/ Father/ Hooper/Sports Agent/Financial Advisor/ Investor/ Great Friend/ Coach/ Happy to call him my brother, Owner of Sportslync

Dominic Freeman- Coach/Hooper/Motivator/Mentor/All About the Community/Best Coach I have ever worked with

Jerome Tillman- Professional Basketball Player/ Close College Friend and brother/ Business owner of clothing line Unkmnclothing.

This is just to name a few individuals who have highly impacted my life for the greater good.

Website: www.yourpacematters.com

Instagram: runccyourpacematters and ceerunssocal

Facebook: Ciara Iglehart