I’m originally from Harmony, Pennsylvania (East coast,USA) but have lived across the US as well as in Spain and Germany. Currently, I’m based in Utah.

Growing up, I spent a lot of time outside hiking, climbing, and biking with my family. However, as a young dancer training to go Pro, most of my running was done on an elliptical or treadmill as a form of cross training. Back in those days, it was thought that running could ruin your dance muscles and I was discouraged from participating in any sports that could hurt my career, so I resorted to cranking out miles in the “safety” of my basement or local gym. 

After secretly training for and completing my first marathon, however, it became obvious that running was actually improving my balance, jumping, and stamina. With that, I took to the trails, backed by the conviction that it was making me a better athlete. After hours in a studio striving for perfection, the trails became my escape, a quiet place where I was free to just run til my lungs ached. The honesty and raw human-ness of trail running hooked me immediately; nobody cares if you’re covered in mud, crying, or puking…in that moment, it’s just about you existing in nature and doing the most innately human thing- moving forward.

It’s not very exciting, but a Pedialyte popsicle first, for sure. (It’s an electrolyte drink made to rehydrate sick babies, but so good after a hard effort!) Either a vanilla milkshake or Athletic Brewing’s non-alcoholic beer and a burger after my stomach has settled, but sometimes a “kitchen sink” salad really hits the spot.

Start where you are with what you have and just keep moving forward. So often we can get stuck in the “when I have more time…”, “when the kids are grown…”, “when I lose 5lbs…”, “when xyz…”, then I’ll do the thing. We’re waiting for this perfect moment to chase a dream, but the reality is, that perfect moment doesn’t exist. If you wait for it, you’ll be waiting your entire life. 

My dad always said, “most people spend too much time going ‘aiiiiim’, just take a shot”. There will always be a reason you can’t do something, it’s human nature to avoid work and discomfort. However, if you truly want something, there will also always be a way. 

As a coach, it’s my job to meet you where you are right now and help you find that way. Maybe you want to run a marathon but can barely run around the block, great, let’s run around the block! Then, we’ll run around the block and a mailbox…then the block and two mailboxes…then the block and three mailboxes… Maybe you have three kids, work two jobs, and don’t have a gym membership, okay, let’s do a plank while the pasta cooks…let’s do some push-ups while the tub fills up… 

Often, we’re only limited by what we don’t know or think we can’t do, which is where having a coach makes all the difference. There are going to be obstacles in the pursuit of any goal, so a huge part of my role is creative problem solving. 

If you have a goal, we can find a way to make it happen, and that starts by just showing up. Everyone is starting at a different place, but if you consistently show up and give what you have today, over time, the sum of all those little efforts is what’s going to help you succeed. Just keep moving forward.