Laurie Butz never thought of herself as a runner, but that changed at age 38 when she was the only female on an executive team where her male counterparts often liked to chat about their running routines.
“The CEO was a runner, as was every single individual on the team, except for me and one of the men,” recalls Butz,
who today serves as CEO of Capital Credit Union. Those conversations made Butz feel like an outsider. So she struck up a conversation with one of the executives about how he got into running. Before she knew it, Butz could run a four‑mile stretch around her rural home. That felt great for the goal‑oriented Butz, who didn’t expect that running would be a great way to relax and not focus on anything at all.
“I’ve had high‑stress jobs for a good 25 years, and sometimes it’s hard to unplug,” Butz says. “What you do in your downtime helps you in your busy time.”
Butz, now 59, ran her first half‑marathon in 2012 as part of the Community First Fox Cities Marathon. It could’ve been her last: At about mile eight, Butz remembers thinking, “’I will never do this again,’” she says. “And that instantly changed when I crossed the finish line.”
That experience has led to 44 half‑marathons and counting, mainly in warm locales. Her farthest official race was in Hawaii, where she recently ran a half‑marathon supporting those affected by the fire in Lahaina. Her husband and daughter often accompany her at races, and Butz’s first international half‑marathon will be in New Zealand in 2027.
As she turns 60 this year, the competitive Butz is looking forward to moving into the next age bracket “so there will be fewer people and I’ll be the youngest … I like to finish in the top three or top five if it’s a really big, big race with a lot of people.”
Butz also runs for fun on vacation in places like Washington D.C., North Carolina, Mexico, Rome and Florence, designing her routes so she can view key sights. Running is a sport she can take with her anywhere, and while she’s tried other activities like strength training, Zumba and yoga, “none of those things fed my soul, if you will. Running just speaks to me.”
Butz also says there’s a direct correlation to physical and financial well‑being, and Capital Credit Union supports that wellness connection through its partnership with the YMCA, as well as by being a presenting sponsor for the Bellin Women’s Half Marathon and the Houdini 10K. In 2027, the company is planning a group of Capital Credit Union employees — Butz included — to be charity runners for the EPIC Half Marathon in Green Bay.
Aside from an occasional spill — including one in February that left her with a broken finger — running has been a stress reliever. “It’s all really good for your mental health,” Butz says.
Race days offer an added special component when people are cheering you on, she adds.
“Everybody’s facing their own challenges … and if we can celebrate life together, that’s what I’ve taken from running.”
