Phoenix resident Heather Gray and her nine-year-old daughter, Britnee Negley, are all about girl power. Continuing a family tradition of three generations of women runners, the mother/daughter pair has been training for the upcoming Iron Girl Tempe 10 mile/5K Run and Walk on November 14.

While going out for a run with mom may not be very popular amongst most nine-year-olds, Gray, 38, says that she encourages her daughter to join her in training, at least a few nights a week. However, between her busy schedule as a production manager for a news station and taking care of two young children, Gray says that weekend morning and 5 a.m. weekday runs are her best friends.

“I have always enjoyed being outside and watching the world go by,” she said “Growing up, It was my mom and my thing. It was our chance to be away and talk. We are conversational runners. It paces us and allows us to figure stuff out. Now, it is my quiet time that I can devote to myself. It is de-stressing.”

In addition to creating her own training schedule, Gray is a leader of a local group known as the Cupcake Runners. In an effort to be as “un-intimidating” as possible, the group ranges from women coming out for their first event, to more experienced athletes.  They meet every Saturday for a run, and then additional “homework” runs are assigned for the upcoming week. While there is a wide range in ability, Gray says all of the women are all there for the same purpose – for fitness and to make life changes.

“Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you aren’t a runner,” Gray said. “When I see people that are training for the first time they always say that. You will amaze yourself with how much you can do. It is mind over matter, even though the matter may hurt a little!”

Last year, along with Gray’s mother, the couple participated in the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot in Phonenix, Ariz. It was Negley’s first event, and while she finished at the top of her age group in sixth place, she is eager to improve her time during upcoming events. For Gray, the most exciting part of Iron Girl Tempe is not to see how much her daughter will improve her time, but how it will make her feel inside.

“I have heard that Iron Girl is a great event,” she said. “It builds you up and is all about girl-power. I am excited for my daughter to feel like a rock star and to feel invincible. To know she is doing something that others can’t.”

—Maggie Schiller