I’ve been teaching people how to incorporate health and fitness into their lives since 1998. It’s a chance of a lifetime to teach what I am most passionate about. Early on in life, I learned that it takes determination, discipline and drive to reach goals. Later in life, I learned how to balance family life with work and how to take care of my mind, body and soul. I’ve tried to incorporate all that I have learned in my teaching at PI. It’s important to have a hard workout, but have fun at the same time. Keeping things challenging and varied is my goal for my clients both in class and in personal training.
There is nothing better than watching someone run their first mile or their first marathon; hearing that a client did more push ups than their spouse; or seeing a client lose five to forty pounds. Knowing that my clients are doing something healthy for themselves, reaching their goals, challenging their body and mind…it’s a Pure Pleasure to be doing what I do.
Get it Done
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2010
March 7th- Backyard Burn 10 Miler, 7th place 30-39,1hr14min
March 20th- Nations Half Marathon,1hr49min
March 21st- Backyard Burn 10 Miler, 3rd place 30-39,1hr34minm
March 28th- Backyard Burn 10 Miler, 5th place 30-39,1hr33min
April 11th- Backyard Burn 10 Miler, 4th place 30-39,1hr26min
May 2nd- Fredrick Half Marathon, 11th place 30-34,1hr45min
May 16th- Fredricksburg Half Marathon, 10th place 30-34m,1hr42min
June 6th- Backyard Burn Half Marathon, 9th place 30-34, 2hr22min
August 29th- Run for Chocolate Half Marathon, 1hr54min
November 6th- Amish Country Half Marathon, 14th woman out of 556, 1hr46min
2009
March 8th- Backyard Burn 10 Miler, 1hr34min
March 15th- Backyard Burn 10 Miler, 1hr36min
March 21st- National Half Marathon, 1hr47min
March 29th-Backyard Burn 10 Miler, 1hr43min
April 5th- Backyard Burn 10 Miler, 1hr 20min
April 24th- Pikes Peak 10k, 47min 14sec
2008
March 16th- Backyard Burn 10 Miler, 1hr42min
March 28th- National Half Marathon, 1hr48min
April 6th- Cherry Blossom 10 Miler, 1hr19min
April 20th- LAWS Half Marathon Run for Shelter, 1hr51min
May 18th- Malibu's Sycamore Canyon 30k Trail Race
September 14th- Parks Half Marathon
October 5th- Army 10 Miler, 1hr23min
October 19th- Backyard Burn 10 Miler, 1hr27min
2007
May 29th- San Diego Marathon, 4hr11min
September 16th- Parks Half Marathon
October 8th- Army 10 Miler
October 6th- Chattanooga Stump Jump 50k, 8hr12min
2006
Jan 15th- Carlsbad Half Marathon, 1hr37min
Feb 4th- Death Valley 30k, 2nd place 30-34yr, 2hr45min
Mar 5th- Palm Springs Half Marathon, 1hr37min
Mar 25th- Bel Monte Endurance 25k
Apr 2nd- Cherry Blossom 10 Miler
Apr 15th – Charlottesville Marathon, 3hr56min
May 6th- Capon Valley 50K, 5hr30min
June 17th- Highlands Sky Trail 40 Mile Run, 8hr20min
July 29th- Kilauea Volcano Marathon, 1st place 30-34yr, 4hr54min
Sept 24th- Make-a-Wish Tri, 3rd place 3-34
Oct 8th- Army 10 Miler
Oct 29th- Marine Corps Marathon, 3hr58min
Nov 18th – JFK 50 Miler, 9hr11min
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Sara's Stories From Races
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My First “Ultra”
May 6, 2006
If someone asked me a year ago “are you going to run a 50k trail race?” I would have said “Are you out of your mind?” Well, look where life can take you within six months. So why do I feel like sharing my story with you? Because I still find the “story” a bit intriguing.
My life has changed pretty dramatically within the last year and it’s taught me many new things about life and myself. One thing I realized is it was time to seek new goals and new adventures for MYSELF. Since then, every step of the way (literally) has been an adventure. Now I find myself planning out the next training run an/or the next race somewhere challenging, new and exciting.
It all started with a few half marathons with a good friend on the west coast, which then lead to a 18mile trail run in Death Valley (not fun), to a couple more trail runs in Virginia (still not fun) and before I knew it, I signed up spontaneously for my first road marathon in hilly Charlottesville, VA and then BAM… the 50K trail run in West Virginia.
What was I thinking? I thought “this could be fun”. And since the marathon I’ve said to myself before the start “this is all for fun”. And it’s been a blast. And all along I’ve enjoyed the experience, the challenge both mentally and physically and I’m ready for more.
Some of you asked what the 50K was like… I’m not Dean Karnazes (Author of Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All Night Runner- I highly recommend it), but I thought I would try to give an insight to those who don’t know what a trail run is like. First and foremost it’s a completely different feel than a road race. My friend told me that, but I didn’t “get it” until the 2nd or 3rd race and then it all clicked. It’s a “have to do it to understand it” kind of experience. The people are so friendly, the atmosphere a little bit calmer, the aid stations (yes, they call them “aid” because there are times you need some serious help) are great and helpful cheerleaders to help give you a boost just when you need it the most. There are very few bells and whistles if any at all. It’s just you, the trail and little tags on trees to let you know where to run. Basically you “get your trail shoes on, make sure you’ve got water/food/etc, wish yourself good luck and head out to the hills/mountains”… see you in maybe 3 or 4 or 5 hours?? You never really know how the day will go, how your body will react, if you’ll hit the wall or will just have to pack it in. But most importantly is remembering you chose to be out there, you are able to be out there so just “get it done”.
The race itself involves not just the physical endurance, but mental as well. You are constantly looking down for rocks, roots, streams and trees. You try not to look up the hills, it only makes them steeper. You look ahead a couple feet and take one step at a time. You end up using almost every body part during the entire race. When one is cramping, you try and switch or maneuver yourself so that muscle group can “relax” and others pick up the slack. At one point in the 50k my hamstrings were “screaming” to me so I tried walking up one steep incline as if I had skis on… laughing at myself for how silly I must have looked and wondering what the heck I got myself into. Around mile twenty or so, I took a nice dive into the woods after jamming my foot on a hidden rock. That felt great. It was a bit of shock and then more just relief that nothing was broken and no one saw me. At that point who knew where I was or how I would get to the next aid station if I was injured. Then there was the moment “let me stop and stretch my cramping calves out” and then the “oh #$%, my shins are cramping”… what do you do then? Well, nothing. Just keep moving. I remember laughing out loud that even walking caused cramping, so again I would say “what the heck, might as well keep running”. It was so interesting to watch/feel the body and mind hit highs and lows. One of the most challenging experiences of my life.
Your mind wanders constantly. You’re thinking about the finish line and hoping, A- you can still walk, B- you can get up after you sit, C- you don’t have a dozen blisters, D- you will never do this to yourself again. But within hours after the race you’re craving the next one. You now think, “I did 31miles, who says running 40 can’t be done or 50?” That’s only 9 or 19 miles of more pain. That’s doable. It’s a funny way the mind works… then the body just follows along… hopefully.
So through this all I’ve not only gained mental strength but physical strength both from training and the races themselves. I’m so grateful to my friend (who completed a 100miler in the Swiss Alps) telling me trail races are the best and to my mother who has been my “groupie”, photographer and number one cheerleader. I’m glad I challenged my own insecurities and fears and kept running in the woods. I’m hooked. I’m having fun and keeping myself challenged is what keeps me centered/balanced and feeling passionate about life. I wouldn’t want it any other way!
So here’s to more trial races… near and far, long and short, hard or “easy”… it’s all good! One step at a time and who knows what will be next? Maybe the 40miler on June 17th in WVA… the story continues…
Get it Done
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Letting Others Help
“Sara’s Sherpas”
November 22, 2006
Fifty miles complete with family and friends. As most of you know, I spent most of Saturday running. And looking back on it I learned a new lesson… I didn’t finish alone.
I’m typically someone who doesn’t like to ask for help (call me stubborn or stupid). This race I made sure to ask. I knew this was a bigger race than previous ones and I knew having people there would help me and it did.
My family/friends were up at 4am and in the cars by 5am to venture out to Boonsboro with me. What they did for me was “priceless”. When I came down the first mountain at mile 9 or so and saw all my people wearing t-shirts with big red print saying “Sara’s Sherpas” I knew I could make it through the race. I had the best support system out there. I had Advil, oranges, food and new water bottles handed to me. I had my new socks and shoes laid out for me. I had new socks put on for me (at that point I couldn’t really bend down). I had a great friend run with me (and walk since it was the last 12) and carry food and water for me. I had it all. I had love, support, motivation, cheering, and endless encouragement. More friends showed up at mile 46 and 50. It was amazing.
We all ran the fifty miles. There was nothing better than knowing that soon you would see happy faces and they would be there to help… even though they were tired, cold and probably hungry, they made it happen for me. They all stepped up to the plate and made my day!
So thank you Sara’s Sherpas. Thanks mom, dad, Stef, Jim, Mark, Kim, Diane, Maggie and baby Kathleen. Thanks also for the endless emails from clients, friends and family wishing me the best and checking on me afterward. I’m so grateful.
So lesson learned… when you need to reach a goal and you need a little (or a lot) of help, don’t hesitate to ask. Some goals are not meant to be accomplished on your own.
Get it Done
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Hilly, Hot and Hard
When Your Game Plan Doesn’t Work
May 21, 2008
As most of you know, I headed to CA to visit family and do a 50k trail run in the hills of Malibu. Well, that was the intention. Normal race prep for me. Consuming water until I felt like I was going to float away. Good sleep and carb loading. Drive to race site night before for a no-stress morning. Great night sleep with race clothes and water bottles ready to roll. What I didn’t plan was running in record temperatures. Race start was great. I had my sunblock on, my ¾ way frozen water bottles ready, my iPod for emergencies, Advil taken, drop bag filled with necessary items for my “stop” at the 30k mark. What I didn’t realize is I would be using the items at the finish of my race, not for a quick stop. He he.
I laugh because as I do the trail races, I have the best of intentions. I plan to do what I can as well as I can and finish. When I’m running/walking and sometimes feel like crawling, I think that “this must be what it’s like to be in labor”. You haven’t moments of joy, moments of awe and then moments of “what the hell was I thinking”. There are moments of laughter, moments of tears (whether from joy or pain). The thoughts that run through my mind are endless and priceless I’m sure. Unlike the races on the East Coast that I have done, the hills HIGH up above Malibu were gorgeous with views of the endless ocean. Unbelievably breathtaking and worth every step. But there is nothing worse when all you see is a person on a high hill way far away from you running/walking and you realize “%$#!, that is where I’m headed… up and up and up again”. He he. Now mind you, there were down hills to, but the 1-3mile inclines were something else in the heat. It was 75* at race start and went into the low 90’s soon after. My ice water was warm within an hour and any fluids filled after that were warm within 10min.
At mile 9 or so I thought I was for sure doing the 50k, but it went down hill (well not literally, it was more like “went up hill… forever”). I had gotten my first ever bloody nose, not a bad one, but something I hadn’t experienced. I had stomach cramps and wondered if it was going to be my first time trying to hide behind a bush (it wasn’t thank goodness). I had to stop a few times to gather myself physically and mentally. It was hot, it was hilly and it was hard. So my decision to end my race at 30k wasn’t even a question… it was what my body was telling me. Sunday was my first race where it was time to toss the towel in. Time to wave my white flag. And I did with a smile and an admiration for those who continued on (few, since many did drop out at the 30k).
What did I learn? I learned once again, it’s just a race. I picked it to challenge myself and to have some “fun”. I accomplished exactly that and wouldn’t change a thing. As I drove back towards my family in Orange County along the Pacific Coast Hwy, I had a big smile the entire way… I was thrilled I tried it, I was thrilled to be alive, feeling, breathing, seeing, experiencing, and trying something new by myself and most importantly I was driving back to be with my amazing family. The best part is, they wouldn’t have cared if I were doing a 5k or a 100miler or no race at all. They just love me for me and made my quick trip to CA so wonderful.
Thanks to everyone for the endless love and support through all my adventures.
Get it Done
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