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I was always a treadmill runner, on and off, and had convinced myself that I couldn’t do races and pace myself. Running was just 30 minutes of obligatory cardio. One day as I was scrolling through old Facebook goals, I noticed that they included running. It was a sign from the running gods when I received an email from my work’s Wellness Committee saying that they would pay the registration for the local YMCA Spring Fun Run 10k. I contacted a friend that ran and on a very wet Thursday night in March 2018, my running journey began. I was 44. I quickly joined a local 5k club and trained up for that 10k. I crossed my first finish line in May and signed up for a half marathon in September. I was in, this was my thing. 2019 was 800 miles logged: 14 Half marathons, four 15ks, two 12ks, seven 10ks, two 8ks and nine 5ks. More than that the miles was friendships made, the running with local running clubs, volunteering at local races, seeing beautiful parts of Washington State, goals set and crushed, laughing and carpooling to races, tears and self-doubt, and running skirts. I will always be the woman in the running skirt, probably twinning with another glorious runner because #twinningiswinning. The Australian accent should give me away, so be sure to give me a shout out if you see me on the course. 2020 has me training for my first marathon with four amazing friends, setting a 1000 mile goal and just enjoying life as I continue with online schooling, working full time and spending countless hours with the incredible people I have met through the running community. If you don’t already know how great SRC is, I travel from Olympia to run their races; join us!

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