I Began running when I was 12. I fought being a distance runner from the gun!  After 4 years of cross country under Jerry Marshall, and 4 years of track under Bob Dagenhardt both at Marlington High School, I wanted to be a miler!  After 4 years of the mile and steeplechase under Coach Scott Jones at the University of Akron, I began running Under Matt Woods.  Matt is a great exercise Physiologist, and he told me my worst fear...I would never be a miler.  With a lot of struggle Matt convinced me to run a 10k, and a 1/2 marathon.  I found my nitch in the 1/2, and began training for my first marathon (again with a lot of struggle).  I ran too fast, and too hard and ended up hurt 2 weeks prior to the event.   I ran my first marathon in feb 2008.  Running 2:43:43 on the hilly Austin course in perfect conditions, I qualified to my first Olympic Trials. I pushed far too hard going into the trials, and learned first hand that it truely is better to be undertrained, than overtrained! I have been struggling through injuries, but I am looking forward to 2009, and hoping to be able to get fit, and stay healthy! 

spring 2009

Well, after a 3 month set back from January until the end of March the spring turned out to be a good one.

I was able to focus on some shorter distances.  I ran a couple PR's (which i had not done for over a year) and finished up this month (june) running well in the race we decided to have as my key race going into the summer!  I ran a full minute faster over 4 miles on one heck of a hilly course in Hyde Park, and was very happy with the result.  I got to run with a cool team of ladies as well, and we were able to pull off the win going 2nd, 3rd, and 4th!  I finished 2nd in 22:55 (3rd fastest time on the course history).  Now as the summer is getting hotter, and the days are on their way back down in terms of length, it is time to start SLOWLY building my mileage back up for USA Championships in the 20k and Marathon this fall! 

I am excited to get to the longer stuff, and see how much the speed ive put in will help me.  I hope everyone is excited for the upcomming summer and fall races!  I know I am!