Q: Tell me a little bit about yourself. (Where you’re from, what you’re doing now…etc)
A: I was born and raised in Brookfield, Wisconsin and I moved to Minnesota when I was 19.
I’ve been married for over 35 years and we have three wonderful sons. My husband is very supportive of my running and I’m really grateful for that.
We own several businesses and I’ve been working at them for over 30 years.
A few years ago my husband and I moved to Rapid City for a change of scenery and we love it here!
Q: How long have you been running and how did you get started?
A: I’ve been running pretty much my whole life. My dad was a big runner and he would run 10 miles every day. I kind of followed in his footsteps at a young age and I’d run along with him and ran my first race with him.
Q: Would you rather run with a group or alone?
A: I really enjoy group runs because the miles go by so fast when you’re talking with other people. Plus, I tend to run faster with the group than I would on my own because everyone keeps me motivated.
Before I moved to Rapid City, I had found the Black Hills Running Club and was so excited to join. There are so many amazing runners and everyone is so welcoming. I also appreciate that I’m allowed to bring my border collie on the group runs. She thinks she’s a human and always tries to be the leader.
Q: Do you prefer roads or trails?
A: I prefer the roads for running because I’m that person that trips over everything on a trail. Of course, I’ve been seen wiping out on the pavement too.
Q: What is your favorite distance or race?
A: I really like the full marathon because I like the challenge. I also have to say that the Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, MN is one of my favorite races. It’s such a beautiful course!
Q: How do you stay motivated when you don’t want to run?
A: My dog really keeps me motivated because she is so active and begs me to go outside. She really loves to run and I can’t say no to that face!
Q: If I didn’t run I’d ………..
A: Probably be crabby!
Q: What do you find to be the most rewarding thing about running?
A: I feel so good after running. It’s so great for your mind and body.
I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say that they wished they hadn’t gone out for a run.
Q: What is your favorite running memory?
A: I’d have to say running my first ultra Ragnar race in 2015 is one of my favorite memories. I had no idea what I was in for and I had so much fun being part of a team of 6 and running over 200 miles together. Plus, our team won for our age division!
Q: What’s the most valuable lesson you have learned from running?
A: Running is such a mental sport. I’ve read that it’s 10% physical and 90% mental and I believe it because if you’re not in a good frame of mind, you can talk yourself out of a great race. So I really try to be mentally prepared.
Q: What are your running goals for the future?
A: My goal is to keep running and doing races as long as I can. I couldn’t imagine running not being part of my life.
Q: Who inspires you most?
A: I’d have to say my dad. He was very disciplined.
Q: What advice do you have for new runners?
A: The biggest question I get asked is which running shoes are best. Just because your friend runs really well in one brand doesn’t mean you will. There is no perfect running shoe that fits everybody’s feet.
Make sure you go to a running store that will help you get a proper fit. They should ask you several questions about what surface you’re running on, gait, mileage, feet problems, etc. Don’t just buy a pair because they look good and you like the color. Also, if you’re running more than four times a week, it’s good to have another pair of shoes to rotate in. There is an overwhelming amount of running shoe options nowadays so do some research. A lot of it is trial and error.