The Citizen Way: Leslie Gonzalez
61 classes. One half marathon. A new relationship with movement.
When Leslie Gonzalez first walked into our Spring Branch studio in February 2025, she wasn’t chasing a finish line. She was just beginning to explore what movement could look like for her.
Before Citizen, her workouts happened mostly at home. Walks. Short routines. A lot of uncertainty. Like many people, the traditional gym environment didn’t feel welcoming, and Pilates felt like something she admired from afar, not something she “fit.”
What brought her in was simple. Location.
What made her stay was everything else.
“The studio is a welcoming place for EVERYONE! Every person I have interacted with made me feel like I belong.”
From “I Can’t” to “Why Not Me?”
In March of 2025, Leslie casually said something out loud that surprised even her: “I want to run a marathon. Well… maybe a half.”
At the time, she couldn’t run a tenth of a mile without getting out of breath. But instead of shutting the thought down, she let it sit. She watched a friend share her runs online and had a simple realization: if she could do it, why can’t I?
So Leslie started running slow, building endurance one step at a time until she could complete a mile without stopping. Then she signed up for her first 5K. Then another. And eventually, she registered for the Houston Half Marathon.
When she registered, the only goal was to finish within the allotted four hours. As training went on, that goal evolved. She wanted to finish under three.
On race day, she crossed the finish line at 3:18. At first, she felt disappointed. Then she remembered the version of herself who signed up, unsure if finishing was even possible.
“I had to think back to the day I registered and tell myself that I did an amazing job, that I could do HARD things and come out the other side stronger for it!”
How Pilates Supported the Training
Leslie didn’t come to Pilates to become a runner. But Pilates became a key part of how she supported her body while training. Running can be tough on the joints, and she learned quickly that recovery and strength work are not optional.
“Before I start training I did not know that we had hip flexors and how important they are for running!”
Pilates became her low-impact way to build strength, improve stability, and stay connected to her body. Cross-training helped her reduce injury risk and recover more intentionally, even as mileage increased.
Showing Up When It’s Easier Not To
Leslie is the first to admit it is easy to skip a workout, especially during the holidays. What kept her going wasn’t perfect motivation. It was perspective and accountability.
“What motivated me was remembering how far I have come and none of it came easy! I also have a community around me that helps me stay accountable and we are checking in with each other.”
Stronger in Every Sense
Today, Leslie is stronger physically, and she’s just as proud of what changed mentally. Pilates, running, and strength training taught her how to move through the “I can’t” moments.
“Pilates, running, weight training is all about overcoming the mental hump of ‘I can’t’ because you can always do something for 10 Pilates seconds and reset!”
When asked what she wishes she would have heard earlier, her answer is the kind of reminder we all need more often:
“This is my race at my pace. I am not in competition with anyone and I do not have to be better at this than the person next to me! Showing up for myself everyday already makes me better than I was the day before!”
Leslie joined Citizen Pilates in February 2025 and has taken 61 classes at our Spring Branch studio. She completed her first half marathon, and she’s already signed up for the next one. This is The Citizen Way in action: showing up, building confidence, and proving to yourself that you can do hard things.
