I started running in high school after someone told me that I couldn’t and haven’t stopped since. I have done races in several distances between 800m and 25k. My favorite distance race is a 10k. I have also done several sprint triathlons despite being a terrible swimmer.
I joined Run Muskegon with my husband last year after watching runners take off from Pigeon Hill for a few weeks. After the first run (and social hour), I knew we found our kind of people. Wednesday nights have easily become my favorite night of the week. I love the support and camaraderie that comes with being part of Run Muskegon! |
I did not begin running until my late 20’s after years of negative self-talk around my lack of athletic abilities. I began with running to a driveway, walking to a driveway, and back and forth until I was finally able to run my first 5K without walking when I was 27; a year later I ran my first half marathon!
After a few long breaks to have my babies, I was back in the saddle (or running shoes). In 2017 a friend finally convinced me to run my first Ragnar Michigan, which is how I found Run Muskegon. It took a bit to start making Wednesday night runs a regular occurrence when I didn’t have a buddy since I have a bit of social anxiety, but I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and am so glad I did! With the camaraderie, encouragement, love, and support of my Run MKG family, I have gone from run a driveway-walk a driveway, to countless races, including three marathons and counting. It has also become a safe space and community for my kids and me to embrace our new normal when I became a single mama and still wanted to run with the club even on my nights with kids. I am excited to give back to the club that kind of held me together! |
A week before I started the 5th grade my mom informed me that I would be joining the cross-country team. She dropped me off at practice and I never looked back. After years of 2-mile and 3-mile races I graduated high school and ran my first half marathon at the end of my freshman year at the University of Illinois. I kept running, mostly on my own, but was excited to find a group to run with again when I moved to Muskegon. Since joining Run Muskegon my training has become more serious and I’ve now done a few marathons and an Ironman. I love that there is space for everyone at Run Muskegon and I always look forward to Wednesday night runs!
|
I have been a Member of Run Muskegon 2016, which started my running career. My first impression of Run Muskegon was that it was a group of elite runners. I couldn’t even run a mile. My friend Colin Eden encouraged me to join his group on Wednesday night. In my first few weeks, I would hide at Top shelf, listen to the group getting ready in the hallway, and then take off for their run. After a few weeks and getting busted by Colin for hiding at Top Shelf, I was welcomed by warm smiles into the group. I guess you can say I drank the Kool-Aid.
One of my favorite parts about being a Run Muskegon member is the group's support and encouragement. I can say that Run Muskegon played a huge role in becoming an ultra runner and triathlete. I have served on the Run Muskegon Board for three years as an at-large. |