Book details

  • Genre:biography & autobiography
  • Sub-genre:Sports
  • Language:English
  • Pages:96
  • Paperback ISBN:9798317840600

Running with Joy

By Bill Shelton

Overview

The Joy of Running is a story about more than track and field… it's about how movement becomes meaning… and how joy becomes a way of living. Through the life of Joy Upshaw—a world champion athlete, coach, and teacher—the book shows how speed, kindness, family, and community can all live in the same lane… and how confidence grows when children and adults feel seen, supported, and inspired. It's not about winning races… it's about discovering that joy can be practiced… shared… and carried forward for life.
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Description

The Joy of Running is a deeply human story about legacy, movement, and the power of joy to shape lives… across generations. At its center is Joy Upshaw… a 25-time World Champion, lifelong coach, and founder of Joy's Jackrabbits—a youth track program built not on pressure, but on positivity, belonging, and growth. But this is not just a story of athletic achievement… …it's a story of how a life rooted in family, kindness, and curiosity can evolve into something much bigger… a movement. From her childhood in Berkeley—where music, movement, and imagination flowed freely… to her years as an elite athlete and coach… to her groundbreaking work with children and families… Joy's journey reveals a simple but powerful truth: movement is not just physical… it is emotional… relational… and transformational. The book explores how Joy built a philosophy—"The Joy of Movement"—where: * fun comes before form * kindness strengthens competition * growth matters more than outcome * and confidence is built through encouragement, not pressure It also shows how this philosophy became The Jackrabbit Way—a system that has impacted thousands of children by helping them feel safe, capable, and proud… simply by showing up and trying.  Along the way, The Joy of Running weaves together: * a multi-generational family legacy rooted in integrity and artistry * a rare example of sustained excellence across decades of competition * a coaching model that blends science, rhythm, and emotional intelligence * and a vision for bringing more joy into the world—one child, one coach, one family at a time But more than anything… …it's an invitation. An invitation to slow down… to notice what really matters… to rediscover the feeling of movement without fear… and to believe that joy is not something we wait for at the finish line… …it's something we practice every single day. Run with joy… and the world runs with you.
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About The Author

About the Author Bill Shelton is an entrepreneur, former Wall Street executive, and lifelong track athlete whose work is grounded in a simple belief: businesses can succeed at the highest level while making the world meaningfully better. His career sits at the intersection of performance, purpose, and human potential—bringing together elite sport, innovative business models, and a commitment to creating positive impact. A graduate of Texas A&M University (B.S., Petroleum Engineering) and the University of Virginia Darden School of Business (MBA), Bill began his career as an engineer before transitioning into global finance, where he became a Managing Director at both Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank. He later served as Chief Marketing Officer of Group 1001, helping scale its platforms its three annuity businesses, including leading the largest direct-to-consumer annuity in the United States. Beyond finance, Bill has focused his energy on building organizations that expand opportunity and protect others. He is a co-founder of Parity, which works to increase visibility and economic opportunity for professional women athletes, and a co-founder of the Legislative Drafting Institute for Child Protection, dedicated to advancing policies that better safeguard children. On the track, Bill was a high school All-American and two-time Maryland state champion in the 400 meters, later competing at Texas A&M. As a masters athlete, he has continued to perform at a high level, including setting American records and winning events at iconic meets such as the Millrose Games and the Penn Relays. Bill's work with The Joy of Running reflects his broader mission: to build a new model of bringing more joy into the world—one that intentionally serves its key stakeholders: kids, their parents, and the coaches who inspire them. Through his role in building Joy's Jackrabbits alongside his wife Joy, he is helping redefine youth sports by making "joy" not just a feeling, but a measurable and intentional outcome—creating experiences that elevate kids, support families, empower coaches, and demonstrate that doing good and doing well can, and should, go hand in hand.
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