Meet Ericka

Ericka is the muse for Inspired 2 Race Sports Management.  Ericka’s heartening story of an excellent high school running career, that turned into a disappointing college career, and how she overcame that to reveal a very inspirational post-collegiate future ahead!

Ericka is a middle-distance runner, specializing in the 800m.  She graduated from the College of Health and Human Performance at East Carolina University in 2011 with a BS in Sports Studies (minor in Communication Studies). 

Unfortunately, things did not work out well for Ericka in college as she grew more and more discouraged with each performance. For four years, Ericka confesses, “I came in determined, but left the season feeling humiliated and upset with myself”.

At ECU is where she fell in love with biomechanics and the physiology of exercise; everything about the body’s movement and the different muscle groups. To keep her six-pack shredded, believe it or not, she does 1000 crunches a night (religiously).

Photo courtesy J. Cutt Photography

In 2016, Ericka switched coaches and began training with well-renowned Coach George “Pup” Williams and joined his team of Elites and the G.W. Express Track Club in Raleigh, NC. This change provided Ericka the opportunity to train with some of the best world-class track and field athletes

Ericka is the niece of former NC State basketball standout, the late-Lorenzo Charles (2011).  Lorenzo is well-remembered for his quick thinking, split-second decision that granted NC State the win over Houston in the 1983 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship (1983: NC State’s last-second win over Houston, 2013).

Ericka recently became very public about what it is like to live with adult autism.  Autism is a spectrum disorder.  Autism is not singular but is comprised of many different things.  Autism refers to a broad range of cognitive conditions categorized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication (What is Autism, 2019).  Autism is different in each individual and is either undiagnosed, under-diagnosed, or non-disclosed.  This admission alone makes Ericka incredibly courageous.

Fun Facts about Ericka:

  • Loves peanut butter, but not peanuts
  • Loves to play with numbers and calculate splits in her head
  • Signature running/racing look, Oakley sunglasses are prescription
  • Loves dogs, especially dachshunds
  • Favorite food to eat in the off-season: Pepperoni Pizza

Ericka currently has her sights set on competing in the 2022 Indoor & Outdoor National Championships

Personal Bests

400m Indoor57.46JDL DMR Invitational
400m Outdoor56.10Jim Law Invitational
500m1:15Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational
600m1:31USATF Indoor Nationals
800m Indoor2:08Liberty Elite Invitational
800m Outdoor2:06Music City Distance Carnival
1000m2:47Liberty Elite Invitational
Mile4:58DC Road Runners Track Championships
Road Mile4:46Raleigh Rundown

Follow :

Twitter: @RunErickaRun       Instagram:  @RunErickaRun

1983: NC State’s last-second win over Houston. (2013). NCAA Championships. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubCybJk-IAY

Katz, A. (2011). ’83 legend Lorenzo Charles dies in crash. ESPN. Retrieved from https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=6710669

What is Autism? (2019). Autism Speaks. Retrieved from https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism