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Welcome to authentically Ali Schappert, or as I crafted together authenticali. Wife to an incredibly "handy" and multi-talented dad, Jude. Together we are raising 3 children- our daughter Ayla is 10, our son Jude is 7, and our daughter Jovi is 3! Aside from mom-life I am working as a coach, an early intervention teacher, a home school teacher and entrepreneur.
I have been an early intervention teacher and coached E.L. Meyer's junior high and varsity high school track and field and cross country and cross country as an assistant coach at Misericordia University. I have my own health and wellness business with Arbonne International and work with individual runners to reach their personal goals! I absolutely love having our families surrounding us because I would never be able to do all that I do without them. I love hanging with my family at home- I enjoy cooking, organizing, being outside gardening flowers and produce and watching the kids play together.
I have been an early intervention teacher and coached E.L. Meyer's junior high and varsity high school track and field and cross country and cross country as an assistant coach at Misericordia University. I have my own health and wellness business with Arbonne International and work with individual runners to reach their personal goals! I absolutely love having our families surrounding us because I would never be able to do all that I do without them. I love hanging with my family at home- I enjoy cooking, organizing, being outside gardening flowers and produce and watching the kids play together.
2019 Hall of Inductee at
2019 Hall of Inductee at
Misericordia University
Misericordia University
"running is my thing"
It is no wonder I still find myself running these days, however between work and family there's been many changes, experiences, and growth in my running.
My earliest memories of myself are that I was a fast runner. I believed this with my whole being that I was fast and never got tired. I was so incredibly proud of myself for these attributes.
My mom tells the story about how I have loved running since I was little. She recalls that at just 5 years old, when I watched my oldest brother run the Kistler Elementary Cross Country Half Mile Run, I told her that I was going to win that race when I had the opportunity to do so in 4 years as an eligible fourth grader. My mom thought it was adorable that I had believed this without any doubt. Each year I anxiously watched my two older brothers and I told her about my plans to win the race while she kept her doubts to herself and smiled as I shared. I watched my two brothers compete each year and finally it was my first race as a fourth grader. I remember my dad took me to the course and had me practice running it. Race day came and I bet my mom was a ball of nerves as she watched me start by putting myself in the middle of the pack. I imagine I had some race day jitters but I must have had a good plan because I won.
I wish my belief was that strong as I got older. But once I left elementary school and found myself competing in junior high and high school I lost belief somewhere along the way. Tough competition, failures, distractions, and hard lessons learned like going out to fast led me to believe I was good at running but not the best.
When I went to Misericordia University, I began playing on the volleyball team for a few days, but quickly found myself doubting that too. So I quit. Then, it was Coach Wadas who encouraged me to give cross country a try. However, I had no intentions on running all those crazy miles with those talented xc girls! Running was always in my heart so the opportunity was tempting. Coach gave me a training plan and told me to start training for the next season of track. I had no good reason not to give it a try, and I could probably keep a closer eye on my husband, then boyfriend, if I joined, so I gave it a go, no pressure, just some miles.
Running at the college level was new, it was hard, but I found that I belonged because running is my thing. It causes me all sorts of emotions that I cannot even explain. I still lacked in my own belief. I remember the goals Coach Wadas would give me. He'd say, "You can make nationals, or you can win this race, or you can beat her." I imagine I probably shared with my parents and husband his goals for me. I would say, "Hey, Coach thinks I can make nationals." We trained hard, raced every weekend, and he would even take me along to all sorts of special meets to give me as many chances as I could to qualify for nationals. He even thought I could run the steeplechase but then realized that I could not jump while running. Running in college was one of my favorite experiences.
I am thankful that I had the coach, the teammates, and my parents who had all of the belief me while I had doubts. I can recall many tough races that required Coach's special encouragement to keep going after a bad race. Without having their belief my goals would never be set so high and I wouldn't have achieved so much.
Thank you to my parents for traveling to each and every meet even if it was just to see me run a quick mile! To my mom for always cheering from the sidelines trying to carefully say the right things so I wouldn't yell back at her, and my dad for his passion and loving hugs after a great race or a not so great race. My husband Jude for competing with me and being a model for working hard at the sport. To Misericordia for the school environment that I needed to build confidence in myself. To my teammates who pushed me, got me out there on the dreaded Sunday long runs, and became my friends through it all. And to my coach, who gave me goals and dreams and that belief that I needed.
I am so grateful for the amazing opportunities possible for me and now am so excited to share this with my family and children.
My earliest memories of myself are that I was a fast runner. I believed this with my whole being that I was fast and never got tired. I was so incredibly proud of myself for these attributes.
My mom tells the story about how I have loved running since I was little. She recalls that at just 5 years old, when I watched my oldest brother run the Kistler Elementary Cross Country Half Mile Run, I told her that I was going to win that race when I had the opportunity to do so in 4 years as an eligible fourth grader. My mom thought it was adorable that I had believed this without any doubt. Each year I anxiously watched my two older brothers and I told her about my plans to win the race while she kept her doubts to herself and smiled as I shared. I watched my two brothers compete each year and finally it was my first race as a fourth grader. I remember my dad took me to the course and had me practice running it. Race day came and I bet my mom was a ball of nerves as she watched me start by putting myself in the middle of the pack. I imagine I had some race day jitters but I must have had a good plan because I won.
Without any doubt I believed I would win, and I won that year and the two years after while I was in elementary school.
I wish my belief was that strong as I got older. But once I left elementary school and found myself competing in junior high and high school I lost belief somewhere along the way. Tough competition, failures, distractions, and hard lessons learned like going out to fast led me to believe I was good at running but not the best.Without any doubt I believed I would win, and I won that year and the two years after while I was in elementary school.
When I went to Misericordia University, I began playing on the volleyball team for a few days, but quickly found myself doubting that too. So I quit. Then, it was Coach Wadas who encouraged me to give cross country a try. However, I had no intentions on running all those crazy miles with those talented xc girls! Running was always in my heart so the opportunity was tempting. Coach gave me a training plan and told me to start training for the next season of track. I had no good reason not to give it a try, and I could probably keep a closer eye on my husband, then boyfriend, if I joined, so I gave it a go, no pressure, just some miles.
Running at the college level was new, it was hard, but I found that I belonged because running is my thing. It causes me all sorts of emotions that I cannot even explain. I still lacked in my own belief. I remember the goals Coach Wadas would give me. He'd say, "You can make nationals, or you can win this race, or you can beat her." I imagine I probably shared with my parents and husband his goals for me. I would say, "Hey, Coach thinks I can make nationals." We trained hard, raced every weekend, and he would even take me along to all sorts of special meets to give me as many chances as I could to qualify for nationals. He even thought I could run the steeplechase but then realized that I could not jump while running. Running in college was one of my favorite experiences.
I could have never even dreamed of the success that I had during my time as a collegiate athlete because it would've seemed too far stretched to even believe.
I am thankful that I had the coach, the teammates, and my parents who had all of the belief me while I had doubts. I can recall many tough races that required Coach's special encouragement to keep going after a bad race. Without having their belief my goals would never be set so high and I wouldn't have achieved so much.I could have never even dreamed of the success that I had during my time as a collegiate athlete because it would've seemed too far stretched to even believe.
Thank you to my parents for traveling to each and every meet even if it was just to see me run a quick mile! To my mom for always cheering from the sidelines trying to carefully say the right things so I wouldn't yell back at her, and my dad for his passion and loving hugs after a great race or a not so great race. My husband Jude for competing with me and being a model for working hard at the sport. To Misericordia for the school environment that I needed to build confidence in myself. To my teammates who pushed me, got me out there on the dreaded Sunday long runs, and became my friends through it all. And to my coach, who gave me goals and dreams and that belief that I needed.
I am so grateful for the amazing opportunities possible for me and now am so excited to share this with my family and children.
"Ali Schappert has over a decade of experience. She’s run at the high school, collegiate and post-collegiate levels. Including time spent competing on an elite squad, with whom she sharpened her skills.
More recently, Ali was the head cross country coach Meyers High School and formerly assistant coached at Misericordia University. The latter of which will be inducting her into the athletic hall of fame for her achievements as a student-athlete."
-Marina Martino
More recently, Ali was the head cross country coach Meyers High School and formerly assistant coached at Misericordia University. The latter of which will be inducting her into the athletic hall of fame for her achievements as a student-athlete."
-Marina Martino
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