In life, there are moments when we are called to do things we never planned for — or even wanted to do. But fate often inserts the right people at the right time to shift our paths. This adage rings true for Wisconsin dairy farmer Katy Schultz, and her fellow dairy runners Peggy Coffeen, Julie Veldhuis and Kelly Davis. United by faith, determination and the dairy industry, these women set out on a quest beyond their expectations by running the Every Woman’s Marathon sponsored by Team MILK in Savannah, Ga., last fall.
The Birth of a Running Community
The foursome embarked on their training to finish 26.2 miles together, where they shared not just the physical challenges of running but also each other’s personal triumphs and struggles. According to Schultz, running became her “thing,” but she encourages there is indeed something for everyone.
“Find something to stretch you in all aspects — physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually — and go after it with passion,” she says. “You can do hard things you’ve never imagined you could do.”
Meanwhile, Coffeen, host of the “UpLevel Dairy Podcast”, rediscovered a sense of community. A runner by nature, Coffeen realized running alongside others filled voids she didn’t know existed.
“What I found with these ladies was a missing piece after 20 plus years: community. A community built on commonality with dairy and faith,” she says.
This journey, inspired by connection, transformed each woman’s perspective and brought about an unexpected camaraderie.
Embracing Life’s “Hard Things” Together
During the marathon in the Georgia heat, Coffeen noted the incredible superpowers that emerged from each woman in moments of exhaustion and pain. This bond extended beyond race day, fostering growth in every facet of their lives.
Veldhuis, returning to running after personal setbacks, credited this marathon for breaking down walls she’d unknowingly built up. After enduring life’s hardships — including intense training disruptions — she bravely committed herself to the race, embodying the belief that life’s challenges are best faced with friends by your side.
“I became fiercely independent telling myself that if I wanted anything done, I’d need to do it myself,” she says. “I was surviving, sure. But I wasn’t letting anyone in. And then came the months of marathon training, full of encouragement, shared struggles and honest moments with women who saw me — really saw me. Looking back, it’s clear: God knew exactly what I needed. He always does.”
For Davis, who works for STgenetics, training and running this marathon was one of the most amazing and emotional experiences she says she has had in her life.
“It truly was the experience that showed me I can do hard things,” she says, noting the other women were the best cheerleaders and overall support team.
The Race Beyond Expectations
What started as a means to personal achievement evolved into something infinitely more significant: a shared adventure of healing, laughter and friendship.
As Veldhuis reflects, “It was everything I didn’t know I needed — and more.”
Running taught her, and ultimately all of them, that you can do hard things — both on track and in life.
As these four dairy women raced together, they grew beyond the confines of their planned paths and accepted the unplanned beauty life offered. Schultz, Coffeen, Veldhuis and Davis demonstrated sometimes the race isn’t about the physical miles — but the emotional and spiritual journey.
Veldhuis sums it up best: “What started as a race turned into something so much bigger: healing, connection, and a gentle, yet powerful reminder. Even when we think we’re doing just fine on our own, we’re often one ‘yes’ away from something extraordinary.”
The dairy marathoners remind us to embrace life’s unexpected journeys, cherish the communities we build and trust that sometimes the best experiences come from taking unplanned paths — that’s where extraordinary happens.
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