I Began running when I was 12. I fought being a distance runner from the gun!  After 4 years of cross country under Jerry Marshall, and 4 years of track under Bob Dagenhardt both at Marlington High School, I wanted to be a miler!  After 4 years of the mile and steeplechase under Coach Scott Jones at the University of Akron, I began running Under Matt Woods.  Matt is a great exercise Physiologist, and he told me my worst fear...I would never be a miler.  With a lot of struggle Matt convinced me to run a 10k, and a 1/2 marathon.  I found my nitch in the 1/2, and began training for my first marathon (again with a lot of struggle).  I ran too fast, and too hard and ended up hurt 2 weeks prior to the event.   I ran my first marathon in feb 2008.  Running 2:43:43 on the hilly Austin course in perfect conditions, I qualified to my first Olympic Trials. I pushed far too hard going into the trials, and learned first hand that it truely is better to be undertrained, than overtrained! I have been struggling through injuries, but I am looking forward to 2009, and hoping to be able to get fit, and stay healthy!