I wasn’t the athletic kid growing up—far from it. No one was exactly cheering me onto the field or track. But something about running always tugged at my curiosity. Fast forward to age 20: I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, and surprisingly, the one thing that brought me relief wasn’t rest—it was movement. So, I laced up and cautiously stepped onto a treadmill. One mile turned into a goal. That goal turned into a 5K. And somewhere along the way, I fell head-over-heels in love with running. I became a runner for life.
One of my earliest races required fundraising, and that’s when I discovered Girls on the Run. I was instantly drawn to their mission—and proud to raise money for such a powerful cause. Years later, life came full circle: my daughter joined GOTR and thrived in the program for several seasons. Watching her grow in confidence and joy lit a fire in me again—and I became a coach.
GOTR isn’t just about running. It’s about building strength from the inside out—teaching young girls self-worth, teamwork, resilience, and the power of believing in themselves. As a woman, and as a runner, I believe every girl—regardless of background—deserves access to that kind of magic.
That’s why I’m thrilled (and a little teary-eyed!) to be running with the SoleMates team on November 2nd in the New York City Marathon. For every girl who’s ever been told she can’t—this run is for you.
