​Rachel grew up in Watervliet, Michigan a small farming community in the Southwest corner of Michigan, close to the Indiana border.  There she played basketball, volleyball and ran sprints and hurdles in track. After graduating, she attended Kalamazoo Valley Community College where she played basketball, while studying Marine Biology. During those early college years, Rachel was involved with teaching swim lessons to 3rd-graders at Kalamazoo Valley and coaching JV girls basketball at Battle Creek Central High School.  She changed her focus to education when she transferred to Grand Valley. In 1996 Rachel moved to Muskegon and since then has been involved in education and coaching.  She finished her degree in Biology and Education from Grand Valley State University. She taught 1st-grade for three years and then moved into middle school science for over 20 years. The past three years Rachel has been the Project-Based Learning Coach for Muskegon County through the MAISD. She has coached Varsity basketball and track for many years across Muskegon County and the last four seasons She’s been the Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach at Muskegon Community College. I joined Muskegon Run Club almost two years ago and have found a passion for distance running as well as a great community of people to be a part of. 
 
In her personal life Rachel enjoys spending much time with her family. Rachel and her husband have two children and as a family, they try to be as active as possible, taking many bike rides and being outside playing sports often. When they can’t get outside, her family enjoys board/card games. Rachel loves gardening and doing yard work. She grows and cans fruits and vegetables, which has been a long tradition for her family. She and her husband love to travel to tropical areas as they are warm weather, toes in the sand, water loving people. Going on family vacations, they like to experience the culture of the areas they travel to and share those experiences with their children. Some day their dream is to move to the Caribbean and open a dive shop and tiki bar for people to enjoy. 
  

1. How long have you been running?
I have been running since I was little but distance running only for 2 years now.
 
2. Do you race? If so, what is your most memorable race experience?
In the past two years I have done many 5K’s and 10K’s. I have also done Ragnar Road and gearing up for my second Ragnar. My most memorable was probably Ragnar and having all the support of my team and experiencing this race with so many. 
 
3. Ever run in a costume? If so, what?
No costume
 
4. Only running shoes for me are...
I have recently invested in Altra’s for running shoes and won’t go to anything else now.
 
5. What is your worst running-related injury?
 
When I was in high school senior year state track meet I had shin splints that had turned into stress fractures and had 3 races to push through. 
 
6. Hot or cold weather runner?
Hot weather runner, I don’t do cold weather well.
 
7. What is your motivation for running?
My motivation for running are my children. I am an older parent of younger kids and want to be able to stay moving for them but also set an example that age is only a number and you can do anything you set your mind and body to do. 
 
8. If I didn't run I....
If I didn’t run I would be swimming for cardio exercise, which I used to do often.
 
9. I can't run without...
I can’t run without music and I run better when chewing gum.
 
10. What's the farthest you have run at one time?
The farthest I have run at one time is 10 miles
 
11. What brought you to Run Muskegon and why have you stayed?
My good friend Renee Harmsen brought me to Run Muskegon and the reason I have stayed is because of the great people/family/community I get to be around.