Daily Inspiration: Meet Lilly Schmidt

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lilly Schmidt.

Hi Lilly, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am originally from Newport Beach/Orange County but moved to LA for college and never left. I have been a competitive runner for about 15 years. I ran in middle school, high school (Corona Del Mar), college (UCLA), and grad school (LMU). Now, I work full time in the running marketing industry for New Balance and am a part time varsity cross country and track coach.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has been paved by a mix of hard work and luck. During my senior year of high school, I decided I wanted to run in college. After touring a few schools, I committed to one in San Diego. But fate had other plans.

In the last race of my senior track season, I ended up running the standard the UCLA coach had asked for months earlier. As luck would have it, he still had one roster spot left and told me I could have it if I wanted it — which was wild, considering it was late May and school started in August. Choosing UCLA was the best decision I’ve ever made. I had the time of my life and met some of my closest friends there.

When the pandemic hit during my senior year of college, I figured there was no better time to get a master’s degree and run for another two years. Just like my senior year of high school, it was already late May, and I did not think I would get in anywhere in time. Luck stepped in again and I got into Loyola Marymount University. I had another incredible experience and am grateful for my time there.

After grad school, I bounced around a few different jobs — from private equity to education — trying to find where I felt most like myself, often leaving after just six months. I always knew I wanted a career that blended athletics and fashion, but I wasn’t sure how to get there.

Then one day, I saw a job posting on LinkedIn for a role at New Balance. I applied immediately. I had no connections and just applied on linked in like everybody else. When I read the description, it felt like the perfect fit — and luckily, they thought so too.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I usually describe my job as working in community engagement — specifically within running and specifically in LA. In the past, my role would’ve been called a “tech rep,” but it has evolved a lot in recent years. While I still handle the traditional tech‑rep responsibilities, like visiting run specialty stores and educating sales associates on New Balance running products, my work now extends far beyond that. I partner with the running community and local run clubs, focusing on events, group runs, and brand activations. I also travel for big brand moments and fly to my coworkers if they need help with an event.

Even though I’m extremely proud of what I’ve accomplished at New Balance, my proudest professional moments actually come from coaching. There’s nothing better than watching an athlete’s hard work pay off. I can’t run the race for them, I can’t force them to show up to practice, and I can’t want it on their behalf — they have to want it themselves. And when an athlete commits day in and day out and finally sees their effort turn into a breakthrough, there’s no better feeling than being the face they look for the moment they cross the finish line with a new PR.

I think what sets me apart from others is my genuine love for the sport of running and my ability to talk to runners at any level. First time runner, no problem. Elite level runner, no problem. I am able to connect authentically with them at their level.

What are your plans for the future?
My plan for the future is to keep doing what I’ve been doing, working hard, staying open to opportunity, and trusting that a little bit of luck will meet me along the way. I love where I am in my life right now, and I’m really trying to take it all in. I’m especially excited for the Olympics coming to LA; being part of the running community here during such a historic moment feels incredibly special and I can’t wait.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @lillyschmidt (personal) @lilly_runs__ (work)