My long-time aspiration has always been to run a marathon but I knew that it would be difficult to do so due to knee pain after long runs. I realized that I needed to get stronger so I researched women’s training options, met with Aspire, and decided to give strength training a try. I tell everyone that it’s the best thing I could have done for myself! As a member of Aspire, I found an incredibly supportive team that has been instrumental in helping me pursue my health and fitness goals. Now I am the strongest I have ever been. This newfound strength has also had positive effects on my long-standing battle with type 2 diabetes, which I’ve been managing for over a decade.
The key to my success is consistently showing up and prioritizing myself. Even when there are many reasons to not show up, I convince myself that it is better to do something than nothing at all. I’ve also learned not to take myself too seriously and just enjoy the moment, which has positively influenced all aspects of my life and made me a better version of myself.
I maintain my motivation by signing myself up for fitness and running events that push me out of my comfort zone. This motivates me to challenge myself and see what I can do and see what needs improvement.
My focus going forward is to keep pushing for even greater strength and leanness! I take pride in being a slow, happy runner/hiker, and the best part is that I no longer experience as much knee pain. This means I can now enjoy hiking and running longer distances!
