Where are you from?

Maryville, Tennessee

Current P.R.

4:00:09 marathon. A Very Very Long Time Ago.

Birthday

May 22

Number of marathons

I don’t count them, more than a dozen, less than 50.

Typical pace

Wherever the fun people are, I settle pretty naturally into 9 minute miles on my own

Favorite marathon

Every marathon is awesome because you can’t be out there for hours and not have something amazing happen.

Occupation

Fitness Consultant, Race Coordinator for a local Triathlon and timing company, mom to two busy kids ages 10 and 6.

Favorite Running Food

Sport Beans. I just discovered Stinger Waffles, awesome!!! Afterward, I love Cheez-its and Dr. Pepper.

Hobbies

Reading, sewing, gardening, triathlons, making hand-built pottery.  I like enjoying good food and drink with good friends.

Who do you train with?

Anyone who will run with me. Usually my two Border Collies (Mary Francis is 11, Stuart is 9 months).

Favorite book, what are you reading now?

Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, by John Ratey.

A quotation you like…

Anything you could give today, you did, anything you didn’t give, is lost forever.

Personal goals

I want to learn how to Knit. As far as running, I want to be running still when I’m 80 and 90 and…well, I may have to be buried with a treadmill.

Why do you run?

I’ve been running competitively off and on since I was 10 years old.  I go out to sort out my problems and relieve stress. It’s my quiet time. It’s funny though, if there’s another human in sight, I can’t keep my mouth shut. Everyone who knows me knows to take me with them to talk and entertain them on long runs.

Describe your best marathon memory.

I ran my second marathon ten years and two children after my first marathon. I’d made some good running friends and they influenced me to get back into marathons.  It was nice to know that I could still do it. I was barely slower than before and recovered a million times better.

Why do you pace?

Because I think everyone has something to gain by running marathons, and people who are out there the longest need the most encouragement.

Tell us your best pacing experience.

I paced a guy once and he wrote the most beautiful letter to a friend about how he never would have finished without help. To this day he does not know I’ve seen that letter.

Recently, I was doing interval work with a friend on treadmills in a cardio theater. There was a movie that took place in Pittsburgh. I started recognizing roads and telling her what was going on in that part of the race when I ran that marathon. We both had chills.

Why should someone run in your pace group?

Because even if I talk for hours and don’t say anything interesting at all, you’ll be amused by my southern accent.

Any tips for runners about to join your group?

I talk A LOT.  I’ve done a lot of races. There are a million stories.  If you’ve done a race I haven’t, I’m going to want to hear about it. If you really get down and discouraged, we’re going to talk about our families and all they’ve given up so we could train to do this.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I ride my bike to and from work most days. I’m always game for a road trip or a new adventure, don’t invite me ANYWHERE unless you’re serious.

What philanthropic activities do you have?

I love to work with teenagers at my church.  With the triathlon company, we help raise money for a wide variety of charitable organizations. It’s nice to be able to use my passion for sports to help worthy causes.