Finding My Stride: How a 5K at Cox Fueled My Personal Growth
I’ve never considered myself the athletic type. In fact, my friends would probably name me as the least sporty person they know.
Yet there I was, lacing up for the annual Cox 5K. And that’s the thing about working at Cox: the people here have a way of inspiring you to reach goals you never thought possible.
My journey into running first started when my 9-year-old daughter joined a girls’ running group. Her passion for sports and movement nudged me to challenge myself to be more active and keep up with her. So I signed up to walk a 5K alongside her in support. Shortly after, she got into cheerleading, and I figured my brief stint with running was behind me. Then I heard about the Cox 5K, and everything changed.
Cox 5K inception
The Cox 5K race began much like my own journey into running: small and simple.
Back in 2011, Suzanne Ross, a wellness consultant at Cox, started a running group among employees. Once they got the green light to run through local neighborhoods, the group decided to host its own 5K. The word spread fast, and soon they hit their participation cap at 60 runners, with a waitlist forming every year.
In 2016, Cox opened the 5K to an unlimited number of participants, routing runners through Dunwoody and Sandy Springs, GA, while raising funds for the Cox Employee Relief Fund, a nonprofit that supports employees in times of need. The race has grown every year, drawing as many as 4,000 virtual and in-person participants. It attracted sponsors, built a stronger community spirit and created a dedicated group of runners who show up, rain or shine.
Suzanne said that feedback is consistently positive, and the 5K has become the can’t-miss annual event for employees, families and friends.
“This is the vision I always had years ago,” she said. “I wanted to use my love for running and community to create an environment for others to have fun being active together in a meaningful way — for their own well-being and for others. It’s also a unique opportunity employees have each year to bring their family and friends to work to experience the culture they know and love about Cox.”
Who said you can’t become a track star later in life?
The first year I participated in the Cox 5K, I walked the entire course and finished last. But I was thrilled just to be part of it, and that experience sparked something in me. I started attending different workout classes at Cox’s on-site fitness center and joining virtual sessions: dance, Pilates, stretching — you name it! The team there made fitness feel approachable and fun, and before long, I set a new goal: I wanted to run — not walk — the Cox 5K the following year.
With the support of a personal trainer and a running program tailored to help me improve my speed, endurance and breathing, I began to build momentum. I even joined a running club outside of work, something I never thought I’d do. By the time the next Cox 5K rolled around, I was running five days a week.
Then came the plot twist: on race day, I had to travel for my daughter’s cheerleading event and missed participating in the official run.
But my trainer came up with a thoughtful solution: why not run my own 5K? So the following weekend, I did just that along my favorite route: the Eastside Beltline Trail.
Although I was running on my own along a trail I’d done many times before, it wasn’t just any other run; it was a moment of triumph and empowerment. I reached my goal, and I kept going. Running became part of my routine, something I did for myself. That’s why I’m a firm believer that the Cox 5K is more than just a race: it’s a reflection of how Cox empowers employees to grow, connect and challenge themselves in meaningful ways. It’s a reminder that we’re supported to achieve not just professional goals, but personal ones, too.
Looking back, I never imagined I’d become someone who runs five days a week. But with encouragement from my daughter, support of my coworkers and resources available at Cox, I discovered a new side of myself. That’s what makes this place so special: it’s where unexpected journeys begin and where employees are given the space to thrive.
Ready for your next starting line? Discover where a career at Cox could take you and join our Talent Community today!
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