I have been a member of the Fitness Edge for several years and one day instead of walking on the treadmill I started to run. I remember running around my neighborhood and thinking "wow, I can run 3 miles!!! That was the Spring of 2007. I ran the Center Harbor 2 mile race and then the Canterbury 5k, then the Moultonboro 5k..you can see where I am going with this. I topped my first year of running off with The White Mountain Miler Half Marathon in North Conway. Then I signed up for the inaugural run of the Half at the Hampton's race, it turned out to be the second worst race weather wise. By the time the race was over, someone had died at mile 8 and the weather quickly turned into a blizzard. Along the way I ran into Kim and Peter and heard all this chatter about triathlons. I was dead set against it; I stuck to my running and ran several more half marathons, getting my PR of 1:55:46 at Big Lake in 2008. The thoughts of a marathon came to mind and I started training for the Baystate Marathon. After suffering injury after injury and I limped my way through my first marathon, which happened to fall on the worst weather days ever!!! Snow, sleet, wind.it wasn't fun but I some how willed my way through. Throughout my marathon training, the idea of completing a triathlon snuck into my mind, like many, I had no idea how to swim. This surprises many since I grew up with an inground pool and summering by the Lake. I got a wetsuit for Christmas and in January started learning how to swim. The early morning swims are becoming a bit easier and the idea of crossing the finish line at King Pine seems like it just might happen.

Through all this, I have been supported not only by my early morning friends at the Fitness Edge and GSTC but by my very supportive husband Dave and my two great kids, Anna and Will, who are very excited to see their Mom "swim, bike and run" They are best cheerleaders anyone could ask for.

In my "spare" time, I have been very active in the upgrade of Child's Park in Meredith Center and through that work I am member of the Friends of Meredith Parks and Recreation. I also enjoy baking and would be happy to be the GSTC Baker when needed.

There are a few quotes I like to read every now and then to remind myself of what can be done, both are from Nike:

"All your life you are told the things you cannot do. All your life they will say you're not good enough or strong enough or talented enough. They will say you're the wrong height or the wrong weight or the wrong type to play this or be this or achieve this. They will tell you No, a thousand times no, until all the no's become meaningless. All your life they will tell you no, quite firmly and very quickly. And you will tell them Yes"

You pretended the snooze button didn't exist. You dragged your butt out of bed while others slept. While others ate their pancakes. You had a feast of protein, glucose and electrolytes. You doubled-knotted. You left the porch light on and locked the door behind you. You ran. 5Ks, 10Ks, 13.1 miles, 26.2 miles. Some days more, some days less. You rewarded a long run with a short run. And a short run with a long run. Rain tried to slow you. Sun tried to microwave you. Snow made you feel like a warrior. You cramped. You bonked. You paid no mind to comfort. On weekends. On holidays. You made excuses to keep going. You questioned yourself. Played mind games. Put your heart before your knees. Listened to your breathing. Sweat sunscreen into your eyes. You hit the wall. You ran through it. You decided to be a woman about it. Finished what you started. Proved what you were made of. Just kept putting mile after miles on your internal odometer. You are a runner. You do it because you can. You will do it for as long as you can.