Q: When did you first join R4R and how did you learn about us?
A: I met Gina at a Sacramento Running Week event in the fall of 2023. I was training for my first half marathon (solo), and she invited me to come to a R4R event sometime. I told her I would look into it after I finished my fall event. My first event was a Saturday meet-up at University Village on December 30, 2023.
Q: You’re planning to participate in an upcoming Every Woman’s Marathon and have already completed a marathon. What motivates you to take on this challenge?
A: Short version: I want to run-walk around New Orleans with my friends Laura and Brittany.
Long version- I have a chronic health condition that makes it painful and challenging to move sometimes. Running is, first, a practice of gratitude for me. I run because I can. A physician also told me about 20 years ago that if I can walk continuously for about 45 minutes each day, it will help me preserve my ability to walk. So, even when it hurts and feels impossible to move, I try to do so at least 3-4 days/week.
Q: What have you enjoyed most about being part of the Blue Crew?
A: Before joining Runnin for Rhett, one thing I knew to be absolutely true about myself was that I loved running alone. I have ADHD and my brain is always a cacophony of verbal activity. When I run, the activity slows down. Also, I am not cute when I run. I sweat, and my face turns red, as if I might need an ambulance. Plus, I am slow. From my very first Saturday run, I have found that being surrounded by a community of kind people who make space for all paces, ages, and bodies has made me love running with others. I’ve found that running intervals has let me run farther in a way that feels good for my body. I’ve found that other people sweat, too, and nobody cares if my face is beet red. And I just really look forward to seeing the many friends I’ve made these past years and making new ones. This community just fills my heart.
Q: How do you like to spend your free time? Any hobbies of note?
A: I like learning about anything and everything. I’m a researcher by profession. I used to work in academia. Now I work in government. I enjoy reading and listening to podcasts. I’m active in my church. I enjoy going to concerts, movies, and museums. I have a 27-year-old daughter who is the love of my life.
Q: What’s something most people don’t know about you?
A: In 2019, I had a medical event that resulted in me having to relearn how to walk. At the time, I thought I’d never run again. 6 months after the event, I ran for the very first time. For 2 minutes. At a 30-minute/ mile pace. On a treadmill. Holding on. At the time, I was still using a cane to walk. But following the method used to teach people in their 80s how to run that I’d read about in the book Slow Jogging, I found a glimmer of hope.
Q: What has been your proudest moment since being a part of the R4R family?
A: I was really proud to finish CIM. I didn’t finish in the allotted course time, which in a way makes me prouder. I remember knowing at mile 17 that I wouldn’t finish “on time,” and also knowing I was going to finish anyway. I remember thinking that this was an interesting personality test, that something in my brain was determined to finish even if it “wouldn’t count.” And when I got to the finish line, about 20 Blue Crew friends were cheering for me. So, for me it counted. And for my people it counted.
Q: If you were a vegetable, what would you be and why?
A: Potato. No fuss, no muss. Incredibly resilient. Shocking how many ways a potato can be prepared – transformative really! Comforting on a bad day.
Q: How would you describe your Runnin’ for Rhett experience to a child?
A: When I was in elementary school, we used to have a thing called “field day” at school. We would get to go do fun activities with our friends and run races, do obstacle courses, or play games outside. Runnin’ for Rhett is like that. They have an Adult Fitness group where we have mini-field days all year. They call them meet-ups, and we run races, do obstacle courses (called HITT workouts or coached runs), play games (like pickleball), do line-dancing, go on outdoor adventures (hiking, kayaking, snowshoeing, camping), and have celebrations. The Adults also plan two really fun runs for all the kids in the community so that they can run a 5k, and we raise money so that the kids can have new shoes, shirts, and sports bras to run in. And, if you’re lucky, you get to volunteer to give the kids medals or dress up as a gorilla.
