Hi, I’m Teresa!  

Wife & Momma. Runner-Yogi. Photographer. Teacher. Coffee Addict.

Depending on the day, the hat changes and the roles are rearranged.

Growing up, I was a soccer player & running was our job. Post college, I ran my first half marathon in 2006, the same year I started coaching track and field. I fell in love with long runs and have been distance running ever since!

I am a middle of the packer who loves road races. Some are run with friends for fun, some as a “coach” or pacer to help others finish and some on my own to actually RACE! I took time off from distance running in 2012-13 and 2015-16 for our babies, although I did try to run through the end of my second trimester with both! 🙂

Marathons:  Three total starting in 2008 including…

1. Rock & Run Cleveland Marathon ~ first one, new PR 4:13:40 ~ 9:41/mile pace (2008)
2. Detroit Marathon – **PR** ~ 4:05:02 ~ 9:21/mile pace (2008)
3. Pittsburgh Marathon ~ 4:20 ~ 9:55/mile pace (2009)

Half Marathons:  Nineteen so far…

1. Columbus Half Marathon, Fall 2006 // 2:04:29, 9:31 pace
2. Columbus [Dublin] 2007 // 1:54:52, 8:46 pace
3. Cap City Half, Spring 2008 // 1:59:18
4. Spirit of Columbus, Summer 2008 // 2:00:15, 9:10 pace
5. Columbus Half, Fall 2008
6. Myrtle Beach Half, Valentine’s weekend, 2009
7. Madison, WI Half, Spring 2009
8. Akron Half – **PR**  1:53:20 // 8:39/mile pace, 29th in age group (2009)
9. San Francisco Half (my favorite so far, ran over the Golden Gate Bridge!)
10. Columbus Half, Fall 2010 // 1:58:31, 9:03 pace
11. Flying Pig Half (My husband’s first!), Spring 2011
12. Mini Marathon 500, Indianapolis Half, Spring 2011
13. Columbus Half, Fall 2011 // 1:59:00, 9:06 pace
14. Run Raleigh Half, Spring 2012
15. Cap City Half Marathon, May 2014
16. Run the Bluegrass, April 2017
17. Emerald City Half, August 2017
18. Cap City Half Marathon, April 2018 (ambassador, course PR!)
19. Cap City Half Marathon, April 2019 (ambassador, ran with a friend for her first sub 2!)

Overall PRs & other FIT accomplishments… 

• Marathon PR – 4:05:02 (9:21 pace)
• Half Marathon PR – 1:53:20 (8:39 pace)
• Quarter Marathon PR – 55:30 (8:29 pace)
• 10K PR – 53:22 (8:37/pace chip time… but my Apple Watch said 8:27!)
• 4 miler PR ~ 33:21 (8:21 pace)
• 5K PR – 25:06 (8:06 pace & 2nd place in age group; LifeTime Reindeer Run, 2009)
• Winner of Whitney Carlson’s 21 Day Jump Start Fitness Challenge, 2014

Some of my favorite “fit” memories… 

 

Fitness Bucket List:

1.  Racing & Running

• Participate in one race or run “event” per month for a year (April 2017-March 2018)
• Participate in 50 races
• Run a race in the mountains
• Run a trail race or adventure race
• Run in a costume-themed race
• Run a half marathon in half the states… so far I’ve conquered (1) Ohio, (2) Kentucky, (3) Indiana, (4) Michigan, (5) Wisconsin, (6) North Carolina, (7) South Carolina, (8) Pennsylvania, (9) California – what should state #10 be?!
• Run in all 50 states

2. Continue growing as a running coach/leader  

• Living Fit [Columbus] Run Crew Leader; working with runners in various distances from 5Ks to Half Marathons (2013-present)
• Pacer, Dublin Irish Festival 5K, 2017, 2018
• Pacer, HOKA One One Columbus 10K, 2015
• #ptownrunclub coordinator, lululemon athletica polaris, Summer 2014 – 2016
• Hilliard Grand Run Club Founder; worked with Olympic Gold Medalist Butch Reynolds (2012)
• Certified Assistant Endurance Lead & Run Club Coordinator/Coach, Lifetime Fitness; coached runners in various distances from 5Ks to Marathons (2008-2010)
• Track & Field Coach, mid-distance, North Union (2005-2007)

Credentials 

• Advanced Runner’s Clinic, Central Ohio Spine & Joint (2017)
• Yoga for Runner’s Workshop with Sage Rountree, GoYoga (2015)
• Run Coach certification through LifeTime Fitness,  LifeTime Run (2009)
• Running and coaching clinics through USATF (2005-2007)
• Enjoy Books About Running, both for education & inspiration

Ambassador/Partnerships 

• Capital City Half Marathon “Voice of Columbus” Ambassador (2018, 2019)
• Columbus Commons Ambassador (2016-present)
• Fit Approach/Sweat Pink Ambassador (2015-present)
• Esprit de She Brand Ambassador // Race series by LifeTime Fitness & Gildan (2016)
• Vitafusion Brand Ambassador (2016)

Coaching beliefs 

• I believe that anyone can run.  It is 90% mental and you can be a runner if you want. You are capable of more than you can imagine.
• I believe in a holistic approach to being FIT.  I supplement running with cross-training [yoga, barre & strength training], a balanced-ish diet, rest days, sleep and lots of water. It is about being healthy & strong. It is about finding balance and what works for you, your mental health and your family. I want to help others improve their self confidence and love themselves & their bodies for their abilities & accomplishments (over appearance).
• I believe in community. Running with a group of FIT-minded people is good for your soul. And your social life.  🙂
• I believe in youth.  I have a passion for working with children and teens to make fitness FUN and become a life-long habit. I’m also a proud momma of two and hope they find the love of fitness that I have!

3.  Perform yoga in 10 or more states.

1. Ohio
2. Wisconsin (SUP yoga)
3. South Carolina (Beach yoga)
4. Florida (Beach yoga)
5. Tennessee

 

4.  Become a better, stronger runner-yogi.  

• Allow yoga to help me be more focused in the moment, more confident in my self and athletic abilities, more at peace with life in general (reduce stress).
• Utilize its many benefits for runners, continue to work on hip flexibility.
• Perform a 30 day yoga challenge. DONE!
• Master certain poses…
  • Better chaturangas ~ I have to cheat towards the end of an hour session!
  • Crow ~ DONE! Summer 2014
  • Side Crow ~ DONE!  January 2015
  • Warrior III on a paddle board
  • Headstand~ DONE!  February 2015
    
  • Flying pigeon
  • Journey to Handstand!
  • Perform dual poses with my minis  [inspired by Laura Sykora]

 

 

5.  Continue #inspiringfitness.

• Continue to empower all humans (but especially women & children!) to live a healthy, fit lifestyle.  Volunteer at events.  Get involved in the community.
• Continue to maintain the Living Fit blog & inspire our run & yoga crew – specifically by partnering with community-based like-minded businesses
• Be a good example to my students, kids, family, & friends on living a healthy [balanced] life
• Run & yoga for now and walk & yoga as I age {gracefully}
• Eat healthy & clean {most of the time}
• Continue to grow in my yoga practice
• Do what I can to stay fit, healthy & happy!

 

This blog began as a communication tool for our runners & as a fitness journey to get FIT again after having my first baby… with the hopes of inspiring a few others along the way.

Hope to see you on the trail, on the mat or elsewhere!  

Thanks for visiting… you deserve a shiny post-race medal if you made it this far!