Where are you from?

Florham Park, New Jersey

Current P.R.

4:03

Typical pace

12:30

Number of marathons

50+

Occupation

Medical transcriptionist/Crossing Guard/dog walker

Favorite marathon

Two Rivers Marathon/ Marine Corps. Marathon

Hobbies

Painting, hiking, ultras, photography

Favorite Running Food

I eat almost anything lol

What are you reading now?

nothing

Who do you train with?

Whoever wants to run

Personal goals

Complete a 100 mile race in under 24 hours.

A quotation you like…

“Be somebody who makes everybody feel like a somebody”

Why do you run?

To help others

Describe your best marathon memory.

My best marathon memory is hard to pick because there are so many good marathon memories but I would have to say when my kids came to the Air Force Marathon and my son made a video of me running. He is not an emotional child by any means and I was running with the pictures of 97 service men and women on my back who had been killed.  They ran out to meet me before the finish and they never usually come to my races and if they do they don’t come to the course and he created the most beautiful video with the photos and themed it to a song. I will never forget that.

Why do you pace?

I pace because I love to help others reach their goals.

Tell us your best pacing experience.

Pacing a man who was on his first race back after quadruple bypass. He was originally a really fast runner (7 to 7:30 min. mile) I was pacing a very slow 3 hour half marathon pace time. He stayed with me the entire time and shared his story. He said he used to feel like people who ran the pace we were running should not be allowed to race. He could never understand why anyone would go so slow.  I told him about others I had met and how many people who run the slower times have health issues, recently lost a lot of weight, are new runners and exercises or have other personal issues going on and that is why I could never judge another runner because you don’t know what is going on and that is why I loved pacing the slower times.  He said running with me he realized now how wrong he had been all those years, criticizing the slower runners when he himself was now a slower runner. I reminded him that the important thing was that he realized now how everyone has their own personal reasons and stories for running and the fact that they are trying and are out there is what mattered. At the end of the race we both broke out into tears. It was just a truly amazing experience.

Why should someone run in your pace group?

I would encourage people to run with me because their goals are very important to me.  I have found I really have so much more satisfaction helping others achieve their goals than I do achieving my own goals. I definitely take an interest in those who run with me and try to remain friends with them even after just pacing them in a race to encourage them on. By doing so I have meet so truly amazing and inspiring individuals

Any tips for runners about to join your group?

I tell runners to focus on their goals and be forgiving of themselves. Everyone has bad days or days when they are not at their best. It is important to keep trying and not give up. I tell them to be proud that they are out here. Many of the runners I pace are slower and they get discouraged about that but I remind them that they are at least out there and that is what matters!

What philanthropic activities do you have?

I am a team captain for Fisher House and last year raised over 18000 to benefit military families. I also organized a household good and clothing collection for 23 apt. fire victims in my neighboring town after they lost all their possessions to a devastating fire. I do a tower climb every year in honor of a dad, killed on 9/11 for the Stephen Siller Foundation, I donate my medal to them in his honor. I run a race for autism 2x and send my medals to two children each year with autism. I would rather run to help others than run for my own personal gains. .  .