As teenager & before that, I was NEVER the athletic type.  However, when I was in my last year of college, a friend invited me to start running with them on a 400 M track.  I got one time around that first time.  Somehow the running bug hit me (hey it was the 80's) and 1.5 years later, I ran my first and fastest marathon!  And I have run on and off since then - with a move to MI, 3 kids, 3 dogs, innumerable cats & guinea pigs.  I have run 16 marathons but my last one was 7 years ago with my son.  I regularly try to run the Dexter-A2 half marathon because it's a great course - especially without cars.  I may be getting slower each year, but it's the runners at Clague, year after year, wbo keep me moving forward!  

I have coached at Clague for 18+ years and will continue to do so with my great friend and awesome coach, Michelle Machiele - as long as the body is willing.  We have 80+ years of combined running experience!  Can't beat that!!

At a company picnic, I was excited to run into (pun intended) a former Clague runner, now an intern where my husband works...that's how long I've been coaching middle school. It is a joy to keep in touch with our running families over +16 years of coaching. 

My running story began wearing a skort (skirt with shorts) for elementary school field days, and I prefer skorts to this day. I loved my high school track team, though I skinned my knee hurdling and recall going to the track alone in the evenings to get my hurdles courage back. 5K runs with college friends and years later with our children were so fun! We have 4 children, their spouses, and 7 grandchildren who all keep active. I have respect for new runners as I've restarted running more times than I can remember. I'm inspired by our team mantra of "The race is not always to the swift, but to those who keep on running" and was on a 5K podium at +50 years old. While completing my Masters of Arts in Educational Leadership, I received an A on a paper regarding how we improved our coaching to meet the needs of students with a wide range of skill levels. 

By the way, I teach a life changing quick shoe tying/untying technique. Just ask me and I'll show you too!