The Founder Anjel Williams

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About the Founder

I've loved running for as long as I can remember. My passion started around the age of two, when I would dash off just for fun, keeping my mom on her toes as she chased me around. In school, recess became my favorite "subject," filled with games of tag, "it," and anything that involved running and fitness. Those early years planted the seed for what would become a lifelong love for movement and adventure.

At 19, a coworker introduced me to the world of long-distance running, and my curiosity quickly grew into an obsession. Year after year, I devoted more of myself to running, eventually attending personal training school to deepen my understanding of fitness. It was there that I learned what it meant to be disciplined, committed, and to believe in myself—qualities that would carry me through some of my greatest challenges.

Fueled by this passion, I set a bold goal: to complete my first Chicago Marathon. Those six hours were tough, especially the last six miles, but I pushed through, refusing to give up. That marathon taught me invaluable lessons: to never give up on myself, that anything is achievable with the right mindset, and the power of self-belief. I also realized the importance of my support system—family and friends who stood by me through every step.

From this experience, the idea of “breaking it forward” was born. This philosophy became essential to me, shaping not only my approach to fitness but also how I navigated my life and career. Applying these five principles—perseverance, goal-setting, self-belief, inner strength, and community—led me to run four more marathons, compete in countless races, earn career promotions, and build a family of my own.

I began my coaching career at the YMCA in Chicago, where I had the privilege of working with seniors, helping them regain their strength, flexibility, and improve their overall health. I also coached clients aiming to lose weight, some of whom shed 10 pounds or more and gained transformative breakthroughs in their mental and emotional health. My mission as a coach is to continue creating roadmaps for my clients, helping them uncover their potential and build the skills to live a healthy, fulfilling life. 

Through running, coaching, and the "break it forward" mindset, I aim to inspire women to keep pushing forward, one step at a time, in pursuit of a better life.