Tell us a little about yourself (kids, married, job)?
I married my college sweetheart, who happened to be the boy next door, 10 years ago. We have two daughters and three dogs. I work as a yoga instructor. We volunteer with middle and high school students at our church and enjoy being outside as much as possible.
When and why did you start running?
I ran on and off starting in middle school. I’ve always been pretty competitive and a little crazy with athletic events. I wanted to run a half marathon so signed up for one in 2014. I didn’t do great training and it wasn’t the best experience. I started running again in late 2019, as I took over a yoga class at my gym that was all runners. They encouraged me to try again. We started a running club together. With the gym shutting down for a few months in 2020, we ended up running a ton of miles together that spring and summer. I’ve been addicted ever since!
What keeps you motivated to train?
Hitting longer distances, proving to my doubt monster that I can do it! Plus I want to see just how much my body can do.
What are your hobbies outside of running?
I love crocheting, baking, and hiking, and of course driving my kids around 🙂
What is your favorite race?
I love all trail races. The athletes are tough as nails but some of the nicest people I’ve met. I recently completed my big bucket list run, which was the AthHalf in Athens, GA (go dawgs!). It was fun but still pales in comparison to trail races.
What is your bucket list event?
Right now it’s doing a 50k. There are so many cool races out there it’s hard to narrow it down! I’m just happy to run and see what’s special about each event.
What is the funniest thing to happen to you during a race?
1. I dragged my night owl husband out of bed at 5:30am to drive me an hour for a race on the wrong day. Luckily we only got a couple of miles down the road before I realized my mistake.
What is your proudest race moment?
PR at the AthHalf 2021
What is the one thing you wish you knew when you first started running?
It’s going to get so much better!
What is your best piece of advice for new runners?
Don’t compare yourself to people who have been running for a long time. Let them inspire you. Your speed and endurance will improve over time. It’s ok to stink at running when you first start.