I started running when I was 10 years old after my dad entered me in the 1500m and 800m track events at the Keystone State Games.  I remember going out after school and training with my dad.  My true love at the time was soccer and I remember the disappointment I felt when my family moved to a small town in Upstate NY with no girls’ soccer team.  I decided to try out for the high school XC team and this started my love of running.    I also started doing some cycling races during my summers.  After high school I went on to run at Bucknell University and while I really wanted to continue cycling the XC team was under strict orders from the coach to not do any sports other the run.  I spent my years at Bucknell as a middle distance runner trying my best to avoid any races over than 1500m (other than during XC season).

After college, I sort of took a break, stopped training, and just basically got lazy.  After starting physical therapy school, I began to realize how much I missed running and I needed a stress reliever.  So, I began training again.  I missed the competition and, I don’t know how (I think maybe my dad suggested it), I stumbled across a triathlon and decided to enter it.  It looked like fun.  I knew how to bike and I had years of experience running but swimming.  Yikes!  I really could barely swim and even after months of trying to learn. I still could barely make it through a few laps without needing a break.  I did survive my first race and despite the totally embarrassing swim, I really enjoyed myself.  I’ve come a long way!