About Me:

I grew up with a deep-seated passion for running. It all began when I ran my very first 5k with my family back in third grade. From there, I ventured into the world of hurdles, relay teams, and cross-country during my middle and high school years. My journey continued when I ran Division I Cross Country and Track & Field, representing both Lamar University in Texas for the first two years and the University of Minnesota for the subsequent two. During my collegiate years, I specialized in the 3000m steeplechase and excelled in the challenging world of hilly cross country races.

 

Moving multiple times from high school to college, running became my constant companion. It brought me a sense of community and provided an exciting way to explore new places.

While in college, I embarked on the journey of creating Strong Runner Chicks, an online community dedicated to female distance runners. My aim was to educate, empower, and connect women and girls through a blog and various social media platforms. This initiative eventually evolved into a podcast and expanded to include events such as running retreats, meetup runs, and, most recently, a mentorship program. Through these experiences and my personal training, I developed a deep passion for coaching and began helping clients pursue a wide range of goals, from completing their first 5k to incorporating strength training into their existing programs.

 

Upon completing my Division I career, I relocated to Utah to pursue my MPH degree. There, I discovered a newfound love for trail running, obstacle courses, and spending long days in the mountains. I even competed in Spartan Elite Women’s heats, earned a spot in the 2019 Boston Marathon, and achieved notable placements in both local and national/worldwide XTERRA Trail Races. While I relish the intensity of speedwork and the excitement of road races, there's something truly special about immersing myself in nature, conquering big mountains, and sharing these adventures with fellow trail runners and obstacle course racers.

 

After graduating, I made the move to the Pacific Northwest and then to the stunning mountains of Colorado. Today, I continue to compete in races while also guiding and coaching athletes in pursuit of their goals. Drawing from my studies in nutrition, psychology, and exercise science, coupled with my experience training clients who balance busy lives with their athletic ambitions, I deeply appreciate the significance of aspects like strength training, recovery, fueling, and the mental side of training.