Happy Fitness Inspiration Friday! This week’s FitSpiration is one of my fellow FitFluential ambassador friends, Whitney. My hope is that you are inspired and find a new fitness blog to follow and enjoy.
Tell me a little about you.
My athletic background starts when I was just a child but really blossomed in my high school years. I swam competitively and skied competitively. My senior year of high school I went to the Junior Olympics for cross-country skiing and to New York State Championships. I chose to attend a Division 3 college and but was able to ski Division 1. I made that decision in order to have an inspiring and talented coach and to attend a college that would give me a degree in Chemistry that was well-respected. I worked hard throughout my college career both academically and athletically. I was All-American every year of college and was consistently achieving Dean’s List with my academics. My senior year, 2008, I peaked athletically. I was USCSA Nordic Ski Champion! I was asked to join the New England Nordic Ski Association Development Team that year as well. By the winter of 2009 I had graduated college and was working full-time at General Electric Global Research. I craved a “normal” life and was struggling to find a balance between training and working. I ultimately decided not to compete that winter and took time to travel, have fun and make new friends. Of course, I was always working out. I did not know any different. In the spring of 2009 I was laid off from my job. In the midst of a job search and looking for a new direction I entered the lottery for the New York City Marathon. I wanted to have a goal and something to look forward to and train for. Not long after I was accepted in to the marathon I moved to Boston, MA to start a new job and life.
While in Boston I found a passion for yoga. I spent the summer exploring yoga and training for my first marathon. In November 2009 I ran my first marathon! I finished in a time of 4:03:51! It was an amazing experience and I fell in love with marathons. I suffered from a severe case of Illotial Band Syndrome while training for the marathon. Yoga helped to heal my body in the months after the marathon and restore balance to my body. Since then I have run a variety of races from 5ks to half-marathons. I set my half-marathon personal best of 1:41:38. I continued to practice yoga and learn everything I could. In 2011 I ran my second marathon, the Chicago Marathon and finished in a time of 3:51:21. I had the “marathon bug” and could not wait to sign up for my next one. I chose to run the Boston Marathon with The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and am currently training for the April race day! In August I will start my yoga teacher training at South Boston Yoga and am currently studying for my NASM personal trainer certification. Within the next year I hope to make a career within the fitness and healthy living industry.
What is your fitness love?
My fitness LOVE has evolved over the years. It was always Nordic Skiing and then it became running and now I would say it is yoga but realistically it is a combination and balance of both running and yoga.
Please share any advice you have to keep you motivated.
Listen to your body. Our bodies are smart and often know what we need and react to life and stress as it comes. I let my body decide what it needs each day. I may have planned for a run and instead feel I need yoga instead and that’s OK. Somedays I need some extra rest and that is OK too. Other days I’m psyched for a 20 mile long run. Fitness and healthy living is all about being flexible and getting what you need!
Continue to find fitness inspiration when you follow her journey through her blog and facebook.
KymberlyFunFit says
Whoa doggies, you are one athletic go-getter. Interesting that such a competitive person as you related so well to yoga. Good luck with all your endeavors and thanks for sharing! http://funandfit.org/fun-fit-blog/
Millicent says
Thanks on your marvelous posting! I certainly enjoyed reading it, you might be a great author.I will always bookmark your blog and may come back sometime soon. I want to encourage that you continue your great work, have a nice afternoon!