Built for This: How Diamond Led Her Family from Ages 5 to 14 Toward One Powerful Goal
A multi-generational fitness story about five kids, a dog, and one inspiring mom leading the charge.
When Diamond Terpstra decided to revisit a race from her childhood, the 8km in Watford where she'd been running since she was young, she didn't just lace up her own shoes. She inspired her five daughters, Lillian (14), Harper (13), Henley (10), Rayna (7), and even five-year-old Demi, to join her on a journey that proves one thing above all: fitness is for everyone.
This May, the Terpstra family has been training every Friday with Jolt Run Club, building strength, resilience, and some seriously unbreakable family bonds along the way.
From Inspiration to Action: How It All Started
Diamond didn't push her kids into this. She simply led by example and they wanted in on the legacy.
"The girls were inspired to take on the 8K by me, Diamond," she shares. "This particular race is in Watford, where I grew up. I've been running this race since I was little."
Diamond was the first every female to run the race when she was just a pre-teen. What started as nostalgia became a family fitness moment. The Terpstra crew already runs together throughout the year: the Hog Jog in Stratford, The Night Thing in Auburn, and their all-time favorite, the Pat Cook Memorial Run with their classmates.
And here's the thing: that external goal—finishing that race—became the spark that ignited something much bigger than a finish line.
The Magic of Running Together: Connection Over Speed
Ask the Terpstra family what makes their training special, and they won't talk about pace or PRs. They'll talk about quality time.
"Our favorite part about running together as a family is the time we spend together and exploring new places," Diamond explains. "We laugh, encourage one another, and make memories while getting stronger side by side."
Even Chloe, their family dog, comes along for the ride.
This is what high-quality living looks like: busy parents and their kids, choosing together to show up, to move, to challenge themselves. No excuses. Just shared sweat, shared laughter, and shared wins.
When It Gets Hard: Sibling Power
Training isn't always easy. Especially when you're managing five different fitness levels across five very different ages. But the Terpstra sisters have something most people spend years trying to build: genuine sibling encouragement.
When the training gets tough, the girls cheer each other on with positive words and reminders. Sure, there's some competitive edge, "Keep up!" and "If you're not first, you're last!, but it's all in good fun. They're not racing against each other. They're racing for each other.
We witnessed each girl complete their laps at Jolt Run Club, patiently and excitedly awaiting their next sister to race in, eyes glued to the trail, with supportive cheers welcoming each sister in with sweaty high fives.
It's not about being the fastest or the strongest. It's about showing up, pushing through, and lifting those next to you. The Terpstra crew lives the Jolt Fam values.
The Message to Every Nervous Beginner
If you're sitting on the sidelines right now, maybe thinking about joining a run club, training for a race, or trying something that scares you, the Terpstra girls have a message for you:
"Don't be afraid to try. Everyone starts somewhere, and you don't have to be the fastest, you just need to try your best."
That's not just motivation. That's truth. From kids who range from five years old to fourteen, proving that a growth mindset doesn't have an age limit.
The Goal That Keeps Giving: Yes, There Are Bananas
Sometimes we need something tangible to chase, whether that be a finish line, a medal, a freezie or a banana…
"Once those medals are around our necks, we plan to celebrate together as a family with lots of smiles, photos, and we're hoping for free bananas and freezies!" Diamond laughs. "We also always make time to visit Grandma and Poppa since they live close by."
The real reward is the strength, family bond, and the memories you've made along the way.
Your Turn: Join Team Jolt at the Forest City Road Race
Ready to race like the Terpstra family? Jolt Run Club is taking everything we've built, the training, the encouragement, an the fun Friday nights, and bringing it to the Forest City Road Race.
This is your chance to run alongside the powerhouses who've inspired us all May long. This is your chance to be part of a community that shows up, builds resilience together, and celebrates every single finish line.
Fitness is for everyone. Age doesn't matter. Speed doesn't matter. What matters is showing up.
Sign up for Team Jolt at the Forest City Road Race.Train with us. Run with us. Celebrate with us.
The Terpstra family trains with Jolt Run Club every Friday in May. Join us, and become part of a community built on resilience.
