#208: Fresh starts with Janice Davidson of the North Mitten

Michigan Runner Girl

Life during a pandemic can lead us down paths we may not have gone down otherwise — some not so good, of course, but also some that ultimately change our lives in positive ways.

For Janice Davidson, these past several months have been a time of big life changes, one of which was leaving her job at a northern Michigan ski resort after 20 years. Janice, who oversaw recreation programming at Crystal Mountain Resort in Thompsonville, Mich. and helped start its North Mitten Half Marathon, 10K & 5K, determined the time was right to start a new chapter of her life. “I wanted to refocus my passion and give back and spend more time at home with my children,” says Janice, 45, and mom to a 14-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son.

Janice is a runner, mother, passionate environmentalist, and new small business owner — she’s behind the company North Mitten, which is focused on “people and planet health.” Leaving Crystal was bittersweet — she loved her time there and the people with whom she worked — but she’ll stay connected with the popular up north destination. She bought the rights to the North Mitten races and plans to continue the Memorial Day weekend race tradition, at Crystal Mountain, with her own personal touches on the event.

Janice talks about plans for a hopefully in-person spring race, as well as ideas and dreams for other events and adventures as part of her new business. She also shares a race discount code for listeners — be sure to sign up if you’re looking for a great spring race in northern Michigan!

FIND NORTH MITTEN:

Check out the North Mitten Facebook page here.

Learn more about Crystal Mountain and register for the race here.

FIND MRG and HEATHER:

@michiganrunnergirlshow on Instagram

@michiganrunnergirl on Instagram

@michigan-runner-girl on Facebook

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