How It All Began

I wasn’t always into fitness.  In fact, in high school I hated gym class.  I was the girl who had every excuse not to change my clothes and I always selected the easiest classes.  I didn’t play sports and I wasn’t active- AT ALL.  I was overweight, I smoked cigarettes and was mostly sedentary.  I didn’t eat healthy, I didn’t even know what healthy eating was.  The women in my life would binge and fast in order to control their weight and I thought that was how it was done.  Except, I just couldn’t do it.  Fasting made me sick and I just didn’t have the willpower.  I ended up with an unhealthy view of my body, with feelings of guilt, shame and hatred.

When I was in my mid twenties I quit smoking for good.  I had tried many times before to quit and would succeed for short periods of time, but would ultimately go back to that unhealthy habit. Quitting was really hard and I was so proud of myself for taking that step towards better health.  

In my late twenties, I took my health journey to the next level and decided I was going to start exercising.  I had always hated exercise, it’s hard! And group classes or the gym made me feel like the insecure, awkward teen that I had been in high school-so, I decided running would be my best choice.

What was I thinking?! As an ex- long term smoker with exercise induced asthma since childhood, the struggle was real! I started out trying to run a two mile loop from my home.  It took me over 8 weeks to be able to run (ok- let’s be honest; jog) the entire distance without walking.  Everytime I would return from a run my husband would ask, “How’d it go?”

It was horrible.  Awful.  Miserable. I wanted to cry and give up.  I felt like such a failure. BUT, I didn’t stop.  I can’t really explain why I didn’t just give up, except that I felt like I should be able to do it and I wasn’t going to accept that I couldn’t.  

I set a goal that I would run the annual road race in my home town at the end of the summer which was the kickoff to our town’s Old Home Day. From spring through the summer I struggled, alone, through one miserable run after another.  But, slowly, I noticed that the runs got a little less miserable. In fact, that first 2 mile loop was becoming, dare I say, easy? I also noticed that I felt good.  I mean, really good, after my runs.  Even if they were challenging or downright miserable, I felt this overall feeling of happiness and accomplishment.  I also noticed that my body was changing; I felt stronger and I had more muscular legs and core.  I had actually even started to look forward to “run” days.  Who was I?

The morning of the race was hot.  Really hot, about eighty degrees at 8am.  I slipped out of bed and dressed quietly as my husband and six year old son slept.  I gently woke my husband and said, “I don’t think I can do this race.  I’m not good enough. What if I’m last? I think I’ll stay home.”

He encouraged me, reminding me how hard I had worked to prepare for this and that I would be great.  He told me that he and my son would be cheering for me at the finish line.

I made my way to the race location, parked my car, took a deep breath and proceeded to the registration table.  As I took in the other participants, my stomach dropped.  My home town is a small town, and this race was small…much smaller than I anticipated.  Maybe thirty people.  And, to make things worse, they were all runners!!  You know the kind, runners that have all the fancy, expensive running attire, sneakers and hats.  The kind of runners that look like runners.  The kind of runners that run a mile or two to warm-up!!!  Here I was, chubby, new to running, unsure if I could even finish a five mile race, in my mismatched leggings and tank top, knock off sneakers and with an IPOD, for god’s sake!. I definitely couldn’t run this race, what had I been thinking?  How embarrassing!

I immediately turned around and headed straight for my car.

“Hey, Heidi!!” Stopped me in my tracks.  Oh, no…someone saw me.  

An acquaintance of mine, who happened to be an accomplished marathon runner, jogged up to me.  I told her that I was leaving, that I definitely wasn’t ready to start running these types of races with “real” runners.  She put her hand on my shoulder and told me to stay.  “Everyone starts somewhere.  You’ll do great! It’s about finishing for yourself, and not for anyone else.  It’s you against you.”  She then explained how she hadn’t even started running until she was in her forties, after her children had gone off to college.  And here she was, a woman in her early fifties running these types of races and making qualifying times for the Boston Marathon and others.

With a stomach full of nerves, and not completely convinced, I lined up at the starting line with this small group of elite runners.

Unbeknownst to me, this race was notorious for being one of the most challenging short races in the area.  This was a time before 5k’s were popular as a fundraiser, and before any “couch to 5k” training programs.  Non runners rarely raced in these small, challenging races.  

The race was five miles total, the first mile was all downhill, the second mile was all uphill-I mean, a full mile, gradual to start with a steep incline just over halfway. The third and fourth miles were rolling hills.  At the end of the fourth mile you pass by the finish line in the town common, but still have a one mile loop to go.  Spectators and supporters would line the common and clap and cheer, giving you that last push of energy to get you through that last mile which was mostly flat, but finishing with a steep, short hill that would take you across the finish line.

I can honestly say that I did my best in that first race.  I walked a good portion of that steep, second mile hill.  I watched runner after runner pass me.  Before long I was no longer running with the pack, and soon I was running alone.  It was really hot, and I got a stitch in my side on the mile four hill.  I recovered as the town common came into view.  

I was completely unprepared for the rowdy, encouraging reception as I jogged, exhausted and sweaty through the common.  Front and center, cheering the loudest were my son and husband.

There were so many people!  At least 3x as many spectators than racers. I saw a group of friends cheering for me that I didn't expect to be there and the many familiar faces of the townspeople I had known all my life!

I really struggled through that last mile, but I refused to give up and I refused to walk.  I kept telling myself I could do this, I could do hard things, I’d come this far.  When I rounded the last corner of “the old maid’s mile” and started that last steep incline, I really doubted I could do it and I really wanted to give up.  Just when I was about to start walking, my son ran down the hill and started running by my side.  He was smiling and chatting and full of energy.  As the finish line approached, my son looked behind us and shouted, “Mom!! You’re not last!! There’s one person behind you!!”

I burst out laughing and ran across the finish line with my son laughing beside me.  

I actually ended up getting a medal for second place in my age group!  I was one of the youngest participants!

That experience is what really started the fitness journey that led me to becoming a personal trainer, group instructor and nutrition coach.  After that first race I ran countless 5k’s, 10k’s, obstacle races, six half marathons and three mini-triathlons.  I made countless running friends of all shapes, sizes and fitness levels.  My husband and son even joined in.

After years of mostly running, with the occasional group fitness class, I started to experience some lower back and overuse injuries.  After some research, I realized I needed to start incorporating strength training and cross training to my routine.  I started strength training and researching ways to alleviate my injuries.  I became just as passionate about other forms of fitness as I had become about running.  I loved trying new things and I even became the go-to person for my friends when they needed some inspiration or encouragement.

In my mid forties I decided to take the plunge and completely change my career toward fitness.  I am passionate about sharing my knowledge and enjoyment of fitness with my clients.   I know first hand how challenging it is to start and continue a fitness journey and just how rewarding and transformational it is. I love learning new aspects of fitness and nutrition and I’m always looking for new ways to improve my knowledge and help my clients. 

Fitness has changed my life.  I have a healthy body, healthy self-esteem and a healthy mind. 

I want to help others find not only the joy of fitness, but the amazing benefits that accompany it.

I want to help you see your potential and improve your life.  

I want you to love yourself, and be amazed by what you can do.

You can do hard things!

And you can have fun doing it!

The same Old Home Day race a couple of years later