Finding Yourself on the Run: Kat Polack’s Story with Team Still I Run

Some people light up a room the moment they show up. Kat Polack is one of those people. Even through a virtual interview, her big smile, warmth, and genuine excitement for running came through immediately. It was obvious we’d connect over a shared love of movement and what it can do for your mental health. Kat’s story is layered, honest, and deeply relatable, especially for anyone who has used running as a way to come back to themselves.

As she gets ready to toe the start line at the Chicago Marathon with Team Still I Run, Kat is carrying far more than miles in her legs. She’s carrying resilience, healing, and a whole lot of heart.

Life, Work, and Wearing a Lot of Hats

Kat has spent nearly a decade working in human resources, where mental health isn’t just a talking point. It’s something she actively advocates for, especially when it comes to employee well-being and workplace culture. That commitment doesn’t end when the workday does.

Outside of work, Kat is a twin mom to two-and-a-half-year-old girls, which means her days are full, loud, and busy in the best way. She loves mom life, but she’s also very honest about how important it is for her to still have running as her own thing. She’s been with her husband for ten years, and running has become something that grounds her as a partner, a parent, and a person.

An Early Love of Sports, Then a Sudden Stop

She grew up immersed in the world of competitive sports, starting as early as first grade. While she played a variety of sports, basketball quickly became her passion; the grind, the growth, and the reward fueled her drive. By senior year, she was determined to push her limits and try something completely new to elevate her game. Despite never having run long distances before, she boldly joined the cross-country team, embracing the challenge head-on.

That decision changed everything.

Kat was diagnosed with compartment syndrome in both legs and needed immediate surgery. Almost overnight, her future plans were taken away. Doctors told her she wouldn’t play sports again, wouldn’t run, and her chances to continue on to play college basketball quickly vanished. At just 17 years old, her entire identity felt like it came to a halt.

She spent months in a wheelchair and on crunches and had to completely relearn how to walk.. Her parents and closest friends and family had to help her with everything. It was humbling, life-altering, and devastating all at once. Therapy followed, but the message stayed the same. No sports. No running. Take it slow.

Kat went on to attend college at UW–Oshkosh, trying to find her path while quietly grieving the life she thought she’d have. Her mental health struggled during that time. School felt hard. Decisions felt messy. She kept lifting weights, but running stayed off-limits, or at least it felt that way in her mind.

Coming Back to Running During COVID

Fast forward to 2020. Like so many people, Kat found herself in a tough mental space. She was already in therapy but felt like she needed something more. She didn’t want to start medication, and at the same time, her boyfriend at the time (who is her now husband) was getting into running.

So she decided to try.

She started small, with short runs and 5Ks, just to get outside and move. Eventually, she signed up for a half marathon. It was the hardest thing she’d ever done, and she immediately said she’d never do it again. Of course, that didn’t last. She’s now completed 13 half marathons, each one quietly rewriting the story she’d been told as a teenager.

Pregnancy, Postpartum, and Starting Over Again

After getting married, Kat became pregnant with twins, and her running journey slowed down once more. Her pregnancy was incredibly difficult. She dealt with severe hyperemesis gravidarum and spent much of her pregnancy in and out of the hospital, receiving IVs multiple times a week.

After her daughters were born, Kat experienced severe postpartum depression. It was one of the hardest periods of her life. She knew, from experience, that running helped regulate her mental health and had even allowed her to come off antidepressants in the past. But starting again felt daunting.

Still, she made a promise to herself. When her daughters were born, she set a goal to return to running. That first post-baby run was soul-filling and emotional, but also brutally hard. She wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to run a mile again.

Kat is goal-oriented by nature, and she knows that about herself. She needs something to work toward, something that keeps her showing up when things get hard. So she set a clear goal: run a half marathon before her daughters turned one.

Physically, everything felt different. Mentally, everything felt better.

Running became her quiet time. No noise. No demands. Just space to breathe and be herself again. It was exactly what she needed.

“Running has been my savior. It keeps me calm and helps me be the best version of myself for my husband and my family. I’m taking care of me so I can take care of them.”

Finding Community and Advocating for Moms

As Kat rebuilt her running routine, she found herself naturally stepping into advocacy, especially for other moms. She watched friends struggle to find time for themselves, to hold onto an identity outside of parenthood. Running became something she could share, not as pressure, but as an invitation.

She started encouraging other moms to lace up, even if it was just for a short run. She talked openly about the mental health benefits and the importance of having a passion that’s just yours. That time away doesn’t take anything from your kids. It gives you more to bring back.

From Half Marathons to the Marathon Start Line

Eventually, the goals kept growing. After enough half marathons, Kat knew she wanted to try a full marathon. She signed up, trained hard, crossed the finish line, and swore she’d never do it again.

And now, she’s doing it again.

Training has brought out a lighter, happier version of herself. She loves setting big, ambitious goals and talking about what’s next. The running community has become a huge part of her life, from her husband, who is an ultrarunner, to the people she’s met along the way who just get it.

Why Team Still I Run Was the Right Fit

As Kat looked ahead to 2026, she knew she wanted to run another marathon, but this time she wanted it to feel fun and meaningful. A World Marathon Major felt like the right challenge. When her cousin, who had run Boston with a charity, shared her experience, something clicked.

Running for a cause made the miles matter more.

Kat didn’t want to choose just any charity. She wanted something that truly aligned with her life experiences and values. Knowing Kat’s story, her cousin suggested she look into Still I Run.

The connection was immediate.

She explored the mission, read the stories, and saw herself reflected in the community. Mental health. Running as support. Showing up exactly as you are. It all fit.

Since joining Team Still I Run, Kat has found a group of people who feel like family. Other runners. Other moms. People who understand the highs and lows and still choose to keep moving forward together. That support has completely changed her experience, and she’s counting down the days until Chicago, excited to meet even more people who share similar paths.

“Running has literally made me feel so alive. I love what it has taught me and brought me these past few years so much.”

Still I Run, Together

Kat’s story is a reminder that running doesn’t have to look perfect to be powerful. It can be slow. It can be messy. It can come and go through different seasons of life. What matters is what it gives back to you.

As Kat trains for the Chicago Marathon with Team Still I Run, she’s carrying every chapter of her story with her. The setbacks. The comebacks. The joy. The healing. And a whole community running right alongside her.