Life and Work with Nicol Hodges

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicol Hodges.

Nicol, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started my own fitness apparel company back in 2008. It gained some traction across the states by word of mouth and with me participating in various running events. Women were forming running groups in Chicago, Indiana, and Los Angeles, all inspired by my running gear!  It was great and I wanted a way to stay connected so I started a running blog. The running blog provided feedback on my latest designs, the ladies shared running stories, and we all posted upcoming events. This was all before Facebook ads and Instagram.

In 2011, I decided to close the business to fully support my daughters in soccer and track. Our schedules became extremely busy and their future in sports started to look very bright. So, when I ended the business, my youngest daughter inspired me to keep the blog. I renamed it SeeNicRun. SeeNicRun’s core focus was running but over the years, it has shifted. My blog now influences others to live a healthier lifestyle. SeeNicRun now shares stories on how to improve you physical, mental, and spiritual health as well. Running is the core of the blog but there is so much more, particularly for active women.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
If there was ever an easy path for anyone, they must already be in heaven! LOL! No, the overall path was not easy but it was necessary. My path had to shift, change and challenge me in order for me to be where I am right now…happy and strong. Just like competitive running, a flat, easy path can get boring real quick. Add a hill, a winding road plus a couple of competitors and that’s when things start to get interesting. You see all these challenges ahead of you and it’s time to figure out how to navigate your way through all of it and when you find your footing, you cannot be stopped.

Walking away from my apparel business, going through a tough divorce and keeping my girls on solid ground are all great examples of not-so-easy paths and it all happened at the same time. It was a tough time in my life but I could not give up. There were futures at stake_mine and my girls.  I had to seek support from others, I found out who my real friends were and I had to do a lot of things alone. Now, when I look back, I would not change one thing because I like who I have become AND I am very proud of myself. To all the young women out there…to all the women out there…keep showing up and pushing through your challenges. I don’t care if you have to scratch, cry, scream or crawl your way to the finish line, keep your head up, do not give up and finish the damn race. Trust me, you will be glad you did!

We’d love to hear more about your work.
I’ve been in Product Design for over 25 years and I love it. I have worked with some incredible companies over the years and met some extremely talented people. I’ve been a competitive runner for 35 years. I was a nationally ranked high school 400-meter runner and an 8-time Big 12 championship runner for the University of Missouri, Columbia. After track ended, I started running in local 5K events with girlfriends and was immediately hooked. My fitness background started back in 2008 and led to fitness classes, fitness blogging, videos and fitness modeling. Fast forward, I am now a nationally ranked duathlete (run-bike-run) headed to Nationals at 49 years old! I love racing and challenging my old bones! It is definitely my fountain of youth.

Do you think there are structural or other barriers impeding the emergence of more female leaders?
In the past three years, I have definitely felt a shift in female leadership. Women are taking issues into our own hands and building their own platforms. I love it and I want to see more of it. There will always be barriers impeding the emergence of female leadership because there is fear. Fear that women will take over. Fear that black women will take over. If we could eliminate fear and understand there is plenty of room for both male and female leadership, amazing things could happen at such magnitude, but we have to eliminate the fear. That’s the challenge. So, ladies, please continue to work together across all sectors and teach by example to help eliminate the fear.