When did you start Running ?

Greetings, 

I hope that you are having a fantastic day. I want to chat about RUNNING !!! On Tuesday my Grandpa, Dad, Sister, Hubs and friends all ran the Zeeland Zoom 5k. For me this is the 8th consecutive year running at this event. The first year that I ran, it had like 200 people and now it draws just over 1000 runners. SO AWESOME !!!! 

Anyways... I got to thinking to about when I started running and why. I ran my first 5k when I was like 9 years old. Every year my Parents and Grand Parents would take us up to Traverse City for Cherry festival weekend and my Grandpa would run the races. Well at 9 I guess I was old enough to join in and that is when it started. I started running the Cherry Festival 5k each year when we would go up for vacation. At that point I had no concept of time or racing ... I just ran. Then in college I ran a 5k out in Saugatuck just for fun (went with Grandpa) I was in pretty good shape still had no concept of time or racing. I ran a 22 something 5k and placed in my age group. I was like WHAAAT !!! All of a sudden I had the running bug bad !!! I started running more and more 5k's and paying attention to my training and times. Then in 2010 I started helping out coaching cross country and Debbie one of the other coaches introduced me to distance. In 2012 I ran my 1st 1/2 Marathon the Park 2 Park 1/2 right here in Holland. I had NO idea about time or paces, I just wanted to finish.  I finished but I didn't get an official time that year b/c it stormed and the race was actually cancelled before I finished. Since then I have run many different distances, 5k, 8k, 10k, 15k, 1/2, 25k, and Full Marathon.  

I LOVE sharing my the LOVE of Running with other people and that is why I started LOVE TO MOVE MI, LLC and my blog. This past year I have worked really hard to share more Events and discount codes for local races find them HERE. 

WHAT IS YOUR RUNNING STORY? WHEN DID YOU GET THE RUNNING BUG ? 

Currently:

 Gazelle Sports Activator(ambassador) 2017

High School Cross Country Coach

Girls on the Run Coach

Working on Finding some sort of Running Coach Certification

A Few Pictures from 2017 Zeeland Zoom

GOTR 5K Celebration

Girls on the Run Celebration 5K 

Ottawa and Allegan County had their Girls on the Run Celebration 5k on June 3&4 this year. I had the privilege of getting both groups warmed up and GROOVING to "The Walker" by Fitz & the Tantrums.  It was so much fun to get people moving and see all the smiles and dancing pre-race. 

Some how every year it seems that the 5k is on the hottest day of the start of summer and this year was no exception. It was toasty warm out !!! The Race this year took place at Coopersville High School and ran around the school campus. I am so PROUD of how my entire did. They ROCKED their 5k, they stayed positive and ran hard.  

Bayshore Recap

A little late but oh well.... Memorial Day weekend was the they Bayshore Marathon, 1/2 Marathon and 10K. This year My Sister, Travis, and Myself all did the 1/2 and my Dad did the 10K. It was a great morning for running the temp was very comfortable maybe a little warm as you were finishing up but GREAT overall.  

I Love this course... well maybe not the Hill at the start of the 1/2 but over all I Love this course if runs along the bay all the way back into town for the finish. It is hard to not stop and take scenery pictures or selfies along the course b/c it is so pretty. 

As far as 1/2 Marathons.. Well I didn't hit my goal of going sub 1:40 but I Felt Great !!! I conserved at the beginning and was able to drop my pace for the last few miles and finish with a 1:42:47 . 

Seaway Run 2017-Check it out !!!

Good Morning, 

Featured Race. This is another NEW one. I have never done this race but I LOVE that is runs along the lake shore. I feel like if you live in West MI in the Summer you might as well take advantage of being so close to the lake and enjoy the views.  Still trying to decide which event I want to sign up for the 15k or the 1/2 Marathon both sound AWESOME !!! 

Seaway Run & Lake MI 1/2 Marathon - 

http://seawayrun.com/

Coupon Code = MoveMI2017

http://www.lovetomovemi.com/p/week-of-fi.html