Running Toward a Higher Purpose
by Amy Castillo

                 Amy Castillo is a writer and author from Missouri

I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to Amy Castillo for sharing my coaching journey in her writing today (January 30, 2025). Amy, a talented author from Missouri, reached out unexpectedly and asked to tell my story. It caught me off guard, and I feel humbled that she considered me for this.    

She is posting the story on various media. I had not met Amy until a couple of weeks ago. She writes from the heart and is currently writing her second book. 

Thank you, Amy, for reaching out. It has been great meeting you and getting to know you.

Story by Amy Castillo

I recently connected with coach and runner Larry Weber and was inspired by his story. Thought I would share his inspiration that I believe we all can learn from -- whether we are an athlete or simply aspiring to be better in our lives. Enjoy!

𝗥𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗮 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲

Most athletes chase victory. Larry Weber found something greater when he knew a special person was cheering him on in the stands. 

Weber was already a force in American track and field, collecting medals and coaching others to Olympic trial qualifications. After competing against the nation’s elite 1500-meter runners at the 1983 US Track and Field Championship in Indianapolis and suffering an injury while training to qualify for the 1984 Olympic trials, he decided to make one final statement in the sport he loved.

Facing five brutal races in a single day, he truly understood his God-given purpose when he knew a young woman with Cystic Fibrosis was cheering him on in the crowd at the 1985 Ultimate Runner Competition.

His chosen challenge was almost superhuman: the Original Ultimate Runner Competition demanded athletes complete a 10K, 400 meters, 100 meters, a mile, and a marathon – all in a single day. But Weber wasn’t just running for himself anymore.

“She came specifically to watch me run and was excited to be there that day,” Weber said. “She was very proud of me for whatever reason and wanted to show her support.”

Knowing she was watching – someone who could never experience the thrill of such competition – gave Weber his deeper “why.”

That day, Weber didn’t just win the competition – he found his true calling. This experience shaped his coaching philosophy: success comes from finding your authentic motivation, one that resonates deeply and drives you to impact others positively.

His journey in running began at age 10, sparked by an encouraging elementary school coach. Four decades later, his impact became legendary. His journey in running began at age 10, sparked by an encouraging elementary school coach. His coaching sparkles with high school state championships and nationally ranked small high school cross-country teams, Olympic trial qualifiers, and work with elite Kenyan runners. Most notably, he guided Paralympic athlete Tony Volpentest to two Gold Medals and a world record at the International Sports Organization for the Disabled World Championships in Barcelona.

The discipline and purpose-driven mindset he developed fueled successful careers in executive leadership and education, including service as a superintendent in a Christian private school. Under his guidance, Washington State high school teams claimed 12 Cross-Country Championships – nine for girls and three for boys. His girls’ team particularly dominated, securing four consecutive state titles between 2019 and 2023 (interrupted only by the pandemic in 2020).

“Running helped me have that confidence to try new things and push through hard things,” he said. “My running career helped me in my other careers.”

But more than the accolades, his legacy lives in coaching others that when you discover your genuine “why” and let it guide you, you don’t just transform yourself – you inspire everyone around you to find their own higher purpose.

Amy's Bio

Amy J. Castillo is a freelance writer, and after working in corporate communications and marketing, she spent several years as an English as a Second Language teacher. Despite growing up in a family filled with public school teachers, Amy and her husband Wilberto recently moved their children to private education. In 2024, she self-published her first book, 18 Houses: A Daughter’s Memoir, A Story of War, Hope, Forgiveness & Loss. She and her husband are both business owners and enjoy international travel and going off the beaten path to discover new adventures with their two teens. 

You can connect with Amy on Facebook: @AmyJCastillo.author

You can access Amy’s latest book below.

Amazon.com: 18 Houses: A Story of Love, Hope, War & Forgiveness eBook : Castillo, Amy J: Books

                                                             Back in the day       

You can learn more about the Original Ultimate Runner Competition here: Original Ultimate Runner Competition

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