About Me

I met my husband in a non-traditional way in 1995.  We got married in 1998.  We have fun together - most recently trying whitewater rafting together:

I look happy but I was nervous!

We enjoy vacations in the Caribbean with our favorite island right now being St. Maarten!  We'd love to retire there!  We're on our second set of dogs together and I'll say these two are my favorites:

Annie and Riley.  Spoiled?  I think not!

My story is rather simple.  In 2009, I went to the doctor for a sinus infection and got told that I had high blood pressure.  I have always battled my weight after I hit puberty and I was heavy again.  It was enough to scare me as I saw a doctor at an urgent care clinic who said "Find a regular doctor and soon.  This is a high reading."  I found one right away and started thinking about ways to control it and get healthier.  I was getting tired of being fat!

I had a co-worker at the time who I envied:  she was fit and in great shape.  She ran a full marathon that year so I asked her what her advice would be to someone who wanted to train for a half.  She recommended I check out MIT (Marathoners-In-Training) through our local Fleet Feet Store.  I checked them out and I've never looked back.  Shortly after beginning my training for my first half, The Columbus Marathon (they offer a half and a full), my father turned 60 and had a major stroke one week after his birthday.  Life changed that summer but I was passionate about getting healthier.  I had chosen walking at the time because I didn't think I could run.  The more I learned about walking, the more I fell in love.  My first half was awesome!  I raced the entire race with 2 wonderful people who are good friends now:

Me, Katie & Pamela - 2009

From that point on, I was inspired. I enjoyed walking and I went on to do 4 Half Marathons in a year's time. I would lose a few pounds here or there but I always gained it back - even with putting tons of miles in. I didn't change my eating habits and I was stressed because of my father's illness. After my father passed in April of 2010, I changed my mind. I didn't want to be sick like he was and die an early death. It took me until the end of 2010 to set my mind to my goals and I purchased a deal from Living Social to PAI Yoga & Fitness which I knew would supplement my training in 2011 and beyond. I've changed my mind about how I eat, what I do for exercise and how often.


In January of 2011, I weighed in at 181 pounds at the doctor's office with concerning cholesterol levels. Today (September 2011), I weigh 145 and my cholesterol has improved greatly! My ultimate goal is to be 135 which will get me into my healthy BMI range. My dream is to no longer need medication to control my blood pressure but it may not be realistic considering my family history. There is no longer a day where I do nothing to exercise. I am making goals for myself now that I never thought I'd even consider. My plan is a triathalon (or at least a duathalon) in summer of 2012 with a full marathon at Columbus in October of 2012. Watch this space to see how my training goes!