I started running years ago as a way to stay in shape and keep the weight off. Back then, I’d just run 5Ks, like Pierto’s Run Fasta Eat Pasta or the Irish Jig. As the number of short races became more frequent, I started wondering, “What’s next?” What’s next came from the inspiration of people close to me.  

Twenty-two years ago, my brother and sister-in-law said, “Let’s go for an 11-mile run.” Then, they inspired me to commit to running the Riverbank 25K. On that snowy yet sunny day, my running journey really took off. When people talk about a runner’s high, it’s totally real! The Riverbank is now part of my regular spring schedule, and it keeps me motivated through the dreary winter to train for this great hometown race.  

What does it take to train for a marathon? I found out in 2011 when my friend Dan convinced my best friend Steve and I to do just that – train for the Grand Rapids Marathon. We trained as part of a bigger group all summer and then stuck together for most of the race that fall. We continued this tradition year after year, switching back and forth from the full to the half. I’ve now run sixteen marathons and twenty-one 25k riverbank runs. It’s so great sharing stories in the beer garden year after year with these same friends and many new ones.

Some of my favorite moments of running come from watching others succeed. I like to stand for a while on Winter Street after completing my Grand Rapids race to cheer on participants doing something they didn’t think was possible. Watching runners complete the last couple hundred feet … in pain … with joy … or by proudly holding hands with their kids has brought tears to my eyes many times.

So the journey has now come full circle. I have tried through the years to give back for the experiences running has given me. I give a donation here and there to support a running fundraiser. I help friends by running alongside them during that Saturday long run. So when Don and Ben approached me a few years back about helping with the Grand Rapids Marathon committee, I knew I had to say yes. It has been fulfilling working with these great people who have a passion for running and want to put on the best event possible. I still get a teary eye crossing the finish line myself, but now being up close and seeing others succeed is just as special.