“I could never do that." Then I did.
Meet The Founder | Elizabeth Harrington
My Story
As a little girl in Worthington, Ohio, I dreamed of running on the U.S. Olympic track team. I didn't care which event. I just wanted to fly. I was the youngest of five Harding girls, raised by parents who made movement, community and adventure a way of life.
A career built on bringing people together
That love of sport took me to IMG in Los Angeles, producing major sporting events alongside world-class athletes. From there I spent decades in digital media, at GroupM and at startups beginning with iVillage in 1999, building brands, teams and companies from the ground up. Movement stayed my constant. I owned FitCycle, a boutique fitness studio, taught spinning for years, and launched the online FitLife Challenge when the world shut down.
The hike that changed my thinking
Then my sister invited me to hike the Grand Canyon rim to rim to rim for her birthday: 48 miles. My first thought was, that's impossible. So I built a plan: three months of training, longer hikes, added weight and more vertical gain.
The Canyon humbled me. I saw hikers struggling and others needing rescue. You don't wing the Rim. I finished exhausted and elated, with a strength I didn't know I had.
From "impossible" to the finish line
That hike raised a bigger question: if I could train for that, could I run 26.2 miles? At 55, having never run a half marathon, I found a coach who told me, "If you train smart, you can do this." Four months later, I crossed the finish line of the New York City Marathon. I've run six marathons since.
Why VITAL
After the Canyon and the marathons, people kept asking, "How did you do that?" Almost always followed by, "I could never do that." That gap, between being healthy and taking on something bold, is why I started VITAL Ventures at 58. VITAL is the bridge: a real plan, expert coaching and a small crew that believes in you before you fully believe in yourself.
Our Story
Audacious Fitness. Inspiring Places.
VITAL was created to bring together like-minded adventure seekers determined to elevate their mind, body and soul. Small group programs are carefully designed to build endurance, strength and connection. Every participant who joins VITAL Venture programs becomes part of a supportive community connected through adventure, determination and camaraderie.
Engage
Small-group programs built on camaraderie, support and fun.
Elevate
Customized training programs to prepare you for every adventure.
Explore
A journey of self-growth in off-the-beaten-path destinations
