Where are you from?

Pittsburgh, PA

Current P.R.

3:52 marathon; 1:45 half

Typical pace

9:30ish going out for an easy run

Number of marathons

21 full; 40+ half

Occupation

Human Resources Director

Favorite marathon

Boston

Hobbies

I have a 70 gallon aquarium with fish that constantly fight.  I also love anything about marching bands.

Favorite Running Food

I eat a grapefruit and cottage cheese every day. (Not pre-race)  They are perfect foods. 

What are you reading now?

I am a geek and always have a National Geographic or Wall Street Journal nearby.  I am impatient while waiting in line and have learned that having something to read helps.  So, you will see me waiting in line at the porta-john reading the latest National Geographic.

Who do you train with?

Steel City road runners for the weekend long runs; my Federated-Westin buddies at 5:45 a.m. during the week.  My good friend Jill and I have run everywhere for years.

Personal goals

Happy and healthy life for family and self.  So far, so good.

A quotation you like…

“A river cuts through rock not because of its power, but through its persistence”

Why do you run?

So my husband and I can have a hobby in common.

So I can live as long as I can to care for my autistic son.

To balance my life.

To have the wonderful comradery I have with my running buddies.

Describe your best marathon memory.

2014 Boston Marathon.  My first Boston, finally qualified.  The year after the bombings.  The weather was beautiful, a million spectators, it was emotional at times, but mainly celebratory.  The mood of the crowd was defiant and it was great.  An American won, it couldn’t have been a more perfect response to what happened the previous year.  2015 Boston was pretty cool, too.  My husband and I both qualified and got to share the experience together.

Why do you pace?

I’ve found it’s a whole other level of running experience being able to help someone reach their goals.

Tell us your best pacing experience.

Deadman’s Hollow half 2011.  Someone forgot the signs.  We gathered our teams at the start and had to keep identifying ourselves to any runner we passed or passed us.  Amazingly, the core group of 4-5 we started with made it to the finish.

Why should someone run in your pace group?

Maybe I haven’t seen it all, but I’ve seen and heard a lot of running/marathon stories and experiences.  Some of those experiences might help you for future running events and keep you entertained for this running event.

Any tips for runners about to join your group?

Do an honest assessment of your current shape and ability.  Look back at your training data.  (Of course you keep training data!)  Join the right pace group.  Join a group that you know you can hold the pace easily.  Nothing feels better than running with ease, then leaving your pace group in the last few miles to finish faster than expected.  That is a perfect run.

Anything else you’d like to share?

Running and racing really does parallel life’s challenges and joys.  You will learn so much about yourself through running.  Me and my running buddies have run through it all:  births, marriages, divorces, illnesses, graduations, job changes, aging parents, daily life.  We often joke that on our morning runs we have solved the world’s problems before 7 a.m.

What philanthropic activities do you have?

I contribute to my running buddies who run for charities.