Ken Sprague

DWRunning Tenure:

Joined in December 2019

PRs: 

Mile: 4:33, 5k: 15:23, 8k: 25:12, 10k: 32:45, Marathon: 2:27:22, 50k: 3:17:30

Social Handles:

IG: spragoo262

Long-Term Running Goals:

2024 Marathon Olympic Trials. Explore ultras afterwards and see how that goes.

Most Memorable Race:

2015 Boston Marathon. Was my first year at Boston and second marathon in general. The rain, wind, and low temperature made it exhilarating but a 12 minute PR made it even better.

Fun Facts:

• Ran my first marathon before I had my first beer.

• I earned a full ride scholarship for being a golf caddie.

• I studied abroad in Sydney for a semester.

Track or Trails?:

Trails

Morning or Afternoon?:

Morning

Solo or With Friends?:

Solo

Summer or Winter?:

Summer

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Bolded PRs are PRs run while training with DWRunning.

Brett Miller

DWRunning Tenure:

Joined in November 2019

PRs: 

5k: 18:05, 8k: 31:09, 10k: 38:22, Half Marathon: 1:24:11, Marathon: 2:57:54

Social Handles:

IG: btmill87

Running Start:

My Mom had always been pushing me to give it a try, but I started in high school after I realized I wasn't going to be any good at football like all my friends were - plus football wasn't well suited for someone that weighed 130 lbs. I took off about 13 years after high school, but eventually signed up for the Chicago lottery, got in, and ran the Chicago Marathon in 2018, which rekindled my passion for the sport.

Running Role Model:

So many of them - I listen to Mario Fraioli's podcast pretty regularly, so there's a lot of them that stick out. Pretty much the entire NAZ Elite crew, Steph Bruce, Aliphine, Shalane, Kara Goucher, and Meb come to mind for doing the sport the way it should be done and not worrying about what other people think of them. My high school cross country coach for showing me how to have fun at the sport while still being competitive.

Fun Facts:

• I've lost 50 pounds since running my first marathon in 2018.

• I enjoy a high calorie brunch after my races (preferably a Denver omelet)

• I am somewhat known for wearing a backwards hat while I run to keep the sweat from dripping down my face.

Track or Trails?:

Trails

Morning or Afternoon?:

Morning if I can get out of bed, otherwise afternoon by process of elimination

Solo or With Friends?:

Long runs/speedwork with friends, easy runs solo to gather my thoughts

Summer or Winter?:

Summer

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Bolded PRs are PRs run while training with DWRunning.

Katie Dudek

DWRunning Tenure:

Joined in July 2017

PRs: 

5k: 19:27, 8k: 34:30, 10k: 41:54, 10M: 1:11:35, Half Marathon: 1:32:28, Marathon: 3:18:42

Long-Term Running Goals:

I run as a lifelong form of self-love and self-care. My long term goal is to be able to run throughout my lifetime in a safe and sustainable way.

Running Start:

Between my freshman and sophomore year of high school, I had an emergency appendectomy. I wasn't able to try out for the volleyball team that year, so I joined the cross country team when I recovered instead. I've been running ever since!

Fun Facts:

• I am 5'4" with size 11 feet (still can't decide if this helps my running or causes most of my falls...or a little bit of both)

• I love emotional television or what my husband calls "recreational sadness" (e.g. This is Us, Parenthood, From Scratch)

• My voicemail is usually full because I hate deleting the voices and memories of my favorite people. However, by doing so I am also making it harder to acquire more keepsakes. Rough pumpkins.

Track or Trails?:

Trails

Morning or Afternoon?:

Morning

Solo or With Friends?:

Depends on the day. Sometimes I need a solo run...sometimes I need a run with friends.

Summer or Winter?:

Summer

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Bolded PRs are PRs run while training with DWRunning.

David Murphy

DWRunning Tenure:

Joined in August 2019

PRs: 

Mile: 6:11, 5k: 21:12, 8k: 34:33, 10k: 45:53, 10M: 1:14:31, Half Marathon: 1:37:42, Marathon: 3:28:35

Social Handles:

IG, Strava, & Twitter: whatsnextdave

Long-Term Running Goals:

Keep running without injury (while still hitting PRs through my 40s). Maybe age into a BQ.

Most Memorable Race:

While true in many aspects of life, the saying "the journey is the destination" is central to my running experience. While love a good race, I also enjoy getting to see and explore places so differently while running. Between work travel and vacations, I have been lucky to lace 'em up in some amazing places.

To that end, I think my favorite runs are the Big Sur Marathon up the Central California coast and running between lighthouses, wild horses, and wheat fields along the White Cliffs of Dover. Both because of the views and the in-the-moment experiences.

Fun Facts:

• I am a dad of 3 (girls 8 and 6, and boy 2).

• I was a boxer in college.

• As a new suburbanite (just moved from Chicago), I am working my gardening and lawn game.

Track or Trails?:

Trails

Morning or Afternoon?:

Afternoon

Solo or With Friends?:

Love running with friends when the parenting schedule allows!

Summer or Winter?:

Fall (and how is that not the only option?)

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Bolded PRs are PRs run while training with DWRunning.

Eric Cale

DWRunning Tenure:

Joined in June 2018

PRs: 

Half Marathon: 1:17:01, Marathon: 2:41:51

Social Handles:

IG: itscales

Most Memorable Race:

Boston Marathon 2014. I had proudly run Boston the past several consecutive years already, but 2014 was special for obvious reasons. In the end, it was not my best race. But, I appreciate it because race day was a contrast between being a day of great healing and unification, and yet so many racers were super locked in and intense. And to top it all off, Meb won the race on the long break. Gives me chills every time I watch it.

Running Start:

I got a late start in endurance sport. It was after college and in triathlon. I had done a couple of IMs and decided I needed to drastically improve my marathon in order to progress in the sport. As it turns out, I never went back!

Fun Facts:

• Go Lions

• Go Hoosiers

• Go Maples

Track or Trails?:

Trails

Morning or Afternoon?:

Morning

Solo or With Friends?:

Both!

Summer or Winter?:

Winter

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Bolded PRs are PRs run while training with DWRunning.

Brendan McDonnell

DWRunning Tenure:

Joined in July 2019

PRs: 

5k (track): 14:45, 10k (track): 30:16, 10k (road): 30:51, 10M: 52:01, Half Marathon: 68:13, Marathon: 2:28:33

Social Handles:

IG: brmcdonnell

Most Memorable Run:

While running at Swallow Cliff in HS with a friend, we stopped for water near a parking lot and a police officer called us over. He made small talk with us and then offered politely to take us to where we were parked, which was a nearby parking lot. We agreed, since we were almost done with our run anyways. While in the back of the car, he told us that two teenagers, one wearing blue shorts and one wearing black shorts, were seen running into the woods after robbing a nearby house. Then he pointed to the helicopter flying above the woods attempting to locate the culprits. After meeting a group of cook county police in another parking lot, we were questioned about what we were doing and why we were there. The officers had us switch cars and drive to a new parking lot. We were lined up, shirtless and sweaty, for an eyewitness in the back of an unmarked police SUV to identify if we were the culprits. They radioed in that we were indeed not the robbers, and then they dropped us back off at our car to drive home.

Running Role Model:

Buddy Edelen: In a time where American running was far behind the rest of the world, there was a fat kid from St. Louis Park who moved to England after college. He wanted to train and race against the best. He worked full time as a teacher, ran hard, high mileage, and loved his pint of Guinness each evening. He eventually crushed some big XC races and ended up setting the WR for the Marathon in 1963. I highly recommend "A Clear Cold Day", which details Buddy's training.

Fun Facts:

• I drink a lot of tea (and no coffee).

• I make a mean crawfish étouffée.

• My favorite sport to watch is hurling. Pull hard!

Track or Trails?:

Trails

Morning or Afternoon?:

Morning

Solo or With Friends?:

With Friends

Summer or Winter?:

Summer

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Bolded PRs are PRs run while training with DWRunning.

Rick Summer

DWRunning Tenure:

Joined in April 2019

PRs: 

8k: 29:05, 10M: 1:00:41, Marathon: 2:57:20

Social Handles:

IG: milestrials

Most Memorable Run OR Race:

First sub-40 10k when I was in the 8th grade, setting a PR by more than 6 minutes. It wasn't because of training. It was one of the first times I wasn't in my head overthinking the run.

Running Start:

My first run was when I was 6 years old. My older brother and I went for a run when my dad did, and after running a mile, we decided it would be a lot more fun to keep running.

Fun Fact:

I try and learn a try a new hobby every 5 years or so. That has included acting, cooking, making cocktails, and playing jazz piano.

Track or Trails?:

Trails

Morning or Afternoon?:

Morning

Solo or With Friends?:

Solo

Summer or Winter?:

Summer

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Bolded PRs are PRs run while training with DWRunning.

Aaron Agustin

DWRunning Tenure:

Joined in May 2017

PRs: 

5k: 20:18, Half Marathon: 1:36:18, Marathon: 3:25:20

Long-Term Running Goals:

Bring my marathon time down to a 3:20 or less

Most Memorable Run OR Race:

During high school track, I finished a 2 mile race thinking I had finished 2nd and would be going onto state sectionals (I was not exceptionally fast so this was a big deal to me)....but turns out I had miscounted how many times I had looped the track and had one more to go. Ended up placing 4th because of I kicked too hard and stopped for too long at the "finish". My friends and I still laugh at this story.

Fun Facts:

• I'm an introvert.

• I probably like my dog more than most people.

• My love eating often conflicts with my love for running.

Track or Trails?:

Trails

Morning or Afternoon?:

Morning

Solo or With Friends?:

Solo

Summer or Winter?:

Winter

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Bolded PRs are PRs run while training with DWRunning.

Kelly Smith

DWRunning Tenure:

Joined in April 2020

PRs: 

8k: 34:48, 10k: 43:57, 10M: 1:13:45, Half Marathon: 1:33:41, Marathon: 3:22:07

Most Memorable Race:

Berlin Marathon. It was a fun and exciting race. It was amazing to run through a city with so much history! And of course a Bavarian pretzel and German beer post-race wasn't too bad either :)

Running Role Model:

Shalane Flanagan! She always shows true determination and grit! Love watching her NYC marathon win!

Fun Facts:

• I love the Chicago Cubs and Irish football (and generally all things Irish)!

• I’m a 6 star finisher after racing Boston 2022!

• My non-running related goal is to visit all 30 MLB stadiums!

Track or Trails?:

Trails

Morning or Afternoon?:

Afternoon

Solo or With Friends?:

With Friends

Summer or Winter?:

Fall

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Bolded PRs are PRs run while training with DWRunning.

Pat Letz

DWRunning Tenure:

Joined in January 2020

PRs: 

800m: 1:56.6, Mile: 4:16, 5k: 14:47, 4M: 20:20, 8k: 24:03, 10k (track): 30:38, 10k (road): 30:42, 10M: 52:12, Half Marathon: 1:07:58, Marathon: 2:26:49

Social Handles:

IG: patletz

Long-Term Running Goals:

Sub 24 minutes at the Shamrock Shuffle, 1:07 half marathon, chip away at an OTQ marathon

Most Memorable Race:

My first ever track 10k where I ran 30s faster than my goal, closing in a 65 to nab a top 10 all time spot at Nebraska.

Fun Facts:

• I finished Ironman Wisconsin 2019 with a time of 10h17m.

• In the summer of 2018 I ran with the bulls in Pamplona Spain.

• Someone clipped my shoe at the state cross country meet and I ran a PR with only 1 shoe for the last 2 miles

Track or Trails?:

Trails

Morning or Afternoon?:

Afternoon

Solo or With Friends?:

With Friends

Summer or Winter?:

Summer

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Bolded PRs are PRs run while training with DWRunning.

Ryan Gooding

DWRunning Tenure:

Joined in June 2017

PRs: 

800m: 1:56.6, 1500m: 4:05.66, Mile: 4:27, 5k: 16:14, 8k (XC): 26:33, 8k (road): 26:52, 10M: 56:33, Half Marathon: 1:14:00

Social Handles:

IG: ryangoodingphotography, rygooding, Twitter: ry_gooding

Running Start:

During the summer before my freshman year, my mom off-handedly suggested that I run cross country to get in shape for the soccer season. I responded, “what’s cross country?”

Running Role Model:

My college coach, Tom Donnelly.

Tom is a legend in his own right. Having coached multiple Olympians, world champions, and a one-time world record holder in the 80s and 90s, he could have landed just about any coaching job he wanted. Yet, for the last 45 years, he’s stayed loyal to the tiny program he built at Haverford College.

Tom doesn’t believe in tryouts or cuts. To Tom, anyone willing to spend the time and effort it takes to get even 1% better is deserving of his coaching – PRs and natural talent be damned. He’s instilled in every Haverford runner an enduring belief that buying-in, loving the sport, and caring for your teammates always matters more than what the clock reads when crossing the finish line. The day I lose sight of that is the day I stop running.

Fun Facts:

• I met my fiancé, Katelyn Draths, at a DW long run. Ignore whatever her profile says about me – she was smitten at first sight.

• I’m an avid photographer. I briefly pursued a career in photojournalism straight out of college. It didn’t work out.

• In college, I played guitar in a band that was literally called “You’re Making a Scene, Housecat”. We were great.

Track or Trails?:

Track

Morning or Afternoon?:

Afternoon

Solo or With Friends?:

With Friends

Summer or Winter?:

Fall

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Bolded PRs are PRs run while training with DWRunning.

Lauren Zumbach

DWRunning Tenure:

Joined in December 2016

PRs: 

5k: 17:22, 4M: 24:37, 8k: 28:40, 10k: 36:43, Half Marathon: 1:18:21, Marathon: 2:46:05

Social Handles:

IG: laurenzumbach

Most Memorable Race:

The 2020 Houston Marathon. For a little more than a year leading up to the race, a string of injuries left me struggling to get momentum and I went from dreaming of qualifying for the Olympic marathon trials to doubting I’d make it to the starting line of a marathon. I ran lower mileage in the run-up to Houston than I had before any other marathon and wasn’t sure what kind of shape I was in. But with about 6 miles to go it looked like a PR was still in reach, so I stopped looking at my watch and just ran. Seeing a 2 minute PR at the finish was a moment I will not forget.

Running Start:

I started running twice: first as a middle schooler thrilled to finally find a sport I was good at, even if it took awhile for the track coach to convince me I really was not meant to be a hurdler or high jumper. I found my way back to the sport a few years after college, when I realized I missed both running itself and the feeling of chasing a goal, where each day's run is a chance to get a little bit better.

Fun Facts:

• The only race I’ve ever DNF’d was a beer mile.

• In my brief college running career, I finished everywhere from first to dead last. (One of those races was a lot more competitive than the other).

• I also like to rock climb.

Track or Trails?:

Trails

Morning or Afternoon?:

Morning

Solo or With Friends?:

With Friends

Summer or Winter?:

Winter

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Bolded PRs are PRs run while training with DWRunning.

Katelyn Draths Gooding

DWRunning Tenure:

Joined in November 2016

PRs: 

Mile: 5:22, 5k: 17:57, 10k: 38:27, Half Marathon 1:24, Marathon: 3:02:44

Social Handles:

IG: kdraths

Long-Term Running Goals:

I would like to run a marathon in each city that has an NFL team. (Yes, including Cleveland.) Only 23 more cities to go!

Most Memorable Race:

My college cross country team ran an ‘English style’ cross country race my freshman year. Runners needed to jump over hay bales, crawl under logs, and cross a few creeks. I fell during the last creek crossing and needed seven stitches in my knee. The entire team had to wait in the Urgent Care waiting room as I was getting stitched up.

Fun Facts:

• I met my fiancé, Ryan Gooding, at a DW long run. I fell in love, even though his shorts were shorter than mine.

• I really enjoy cooking. I don’t really enjoy following recipes. Results vary.

• My athleticism begins and ends with running. My junior high basketball team once lost 55-0. I wasn’t even a starter.

Track or Trails?:

Trails

Morning or Afternoon?:

Morning

Solo or With Friends?:

With Friends

Summer or Winter?:

Summer

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Bolded PRs are PRs run while training with DWRunning.

Rutger Stache

DWRunning Tenure:

Joined in October 2018

PRs: 

 Mile: 5:17, 5k: 18:52, 8k: 30:25, 15k: 1:01:19, Half Marathon: 1:28:39, Marathon: 3:19:27

Social Handles:

IG: doctor_stache, Strava: Rutger Stache

Long-Term Running Goals:

I want to run a sub-3:00 hr marathon and a sub-5:00 min mile.

Running Start:

I signed up for the 2015 Chicago Marathon through a charity team in dental school. Completing a marathon was a bucket list item and I guess you could say I was following a couch-to-marathon plan. I loved seeing my progress and felt a tremendous sense of accomplishment after crossing the finish line. Never looked back since.

Fun Facts:

• My middle name is Wolfgang

• I have never broken a bone

• I love horror and sci-fi movies

Track or Trails?:

Track

Morning or Afternoon?:

Morning

Solo or With Friends?:

Solo

Summer or Winter?:

Summer

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Bolded PRs are PRs run while training with DWRunning.

Mary Tobin

DWRunning Tenure:

Joined in June 2019

PRs: 

Mile: 6:13, 5k: 20:46, 8k: 34:13, 10k: 43:21, 10M: 1:14:42, Half Marathon: 1:34:06, Marathon: 3:18:36

Social Handles:

IG: marybtob

Long-Term Running Goals:

Get my marathon PR down by a few more minutes, run sub-1:30 half, run the Boston Marathon again!

Most Memorable Race:

NYC Marathon 2019! I was fresh off a big PR at the Chicago Marathon a few weeks earlier and ran it at a relaxed pace with two friends, Laura and Lauren, who also both PRed at Chicago. We had the BEST weekend in NYC with our families and the best fall weather- the whole experience was very stress-free and so much fun. Finishing the race together in Central Park, which is in my top three favorite places to run, was the cherry on top of a fantastic experience.

Fun Facts:

• I took Swedish language for two semesters in college.

• I did competitive Irish step dancing when I was in middle and high school.

• I am obsessed with Trader Joe's and go there pretty much every week :)

Track or Trails?:

Track

Morning or Afternoon?:

Morning

Solo or With Friends?:

With Friends

Summer or Winter?:

Winter

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Bolded PRs are PRs run while training with DWRunning.

Jacqueline Robertson

DWRunning Tenure:

Joined in January 2020

PRs: 

Mile: 5:17, 5k: 17:41, Half Marathon: 1:18:17, Marathon: 2:52

Social Handles:

IG: javemaria

Long-Term Running Goals:

Run an OTQ time in the marathon

Running Start:

I joined my gradeschool cross country team at age 9 and haven't stopped running since

Fun Facts:

• In college, I worked as a laser technician at an office specializing in tattoo removal, so got to see/remove hundreds of hilariously bad tattoos

• Despite the fact that my husband holds the American record in the beer mile, I've never even attempted one myself

• The most beautiful place I've ever been to was the Swiss Alps

Track or Trails?:

Trails

Morning or Afternoon?:

Morning

Solo or With Friends?:

With Friends

Summer or Winter?:

Summer

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Bolded PRs are PRs run while training with DWRunning.

Mollie Green

DWRunning Tenure:

Joined in May 2020

PRs: 

Mile: 6:06, 5k: 20:43, 8k: 34:06, 10k: 44:11, 10M: 1:13:26, Half Marathon: 1:36:03, Marathon: 3:22:42

Social Handles:

IG: lafamiliagreen

Long-Term Running Goals:

Keep getting faster as I get older.

Running Start:

I’ve always run, but didn’t really start training until 2018 when a friend that runs the charity team for One Tail at a Time talked me into running the Chicago Marathon for them. I was hooked! I’ve been obsessed with running since.

Fun Facts:

• I foster cats & kittens, in addition to having a dog and two cats of my own.

• I am from West Texas.

• I am an illustrator, and I own a greeting card company.

Track or Trails?:

Trails

Morning or Afternoon?:

Morning

Solo or With Friends?:

With Friends

Summer or Winter?:

Summer

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Bolded PRs are PRs run while training with DWRunning.

Lydia Nader

DWRunning Tenure:

Joined in June 2020

PRs: 

Mile: 5:55, 10M: 1:09:54, Half Marathon: 1:29:38, Marathon: 3:12:10

Social Handles:

IG: fuelwithnader

Long-Term Running Goals:

Break 3 hours in the marathon

Running Start:

I started running because of Girls on the Run when I was at a new school and that organization helped me discover my passion for running and helped me make lifelong friends. I continued to run after going through the GOTR program and it made me into the person and runner I am today.

Fun Facts:

• I was homeschooled until 4th grade

• I used to ride horses at a young age

• I love running with dogs! Keeps me honest on my easy runs :)

Track or Trails?:

Track

Morning or Afternoon?:

Morning

Solo or With Friends?:

With Friends

Summer or Winter?:

Summer

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Bolded PRs are PRs run while training with DWRunning.

Chris Robertson

DWRunning Tenure:

Joined in December 2018

PRs: 

1M: 4:13, Beer Mile: 4:37, 3k: 8:33, 5k: 14:38, 8k: 24:16, 10k: 30:49, 10M: 51:38, Half Marathon: 1:07:47; Marathon: 2:24:30

Social Handles:

IG & Strava: chrisrobertson10

Long-Term Running Goals:

Win some races, set personal bests at every distance, run a marathon OTQ, and eventually get into trail racing

Most Memorable Run & Race:

Every destination race is memorable in its own way, especially when traveling with friends. The ones that really stand out are the international trips for beer mile world championships to London, Vancouver, and Berlin because of the new friends met from around the world and exploring new places I otherwise might not have traveled to myself.

The most memorable run for me is rim-to-rim-to-rim of the Grand Canyon I did with a few friends in May 2019. Running for almost 12 hours in 100 degree heat was the toughest thing I've done physically, but it was a blast the entire way because of the scenery and good company. I also ended up sleeping in the Grand Canyon that night just 4 miles from the finish because a friend was suffering from extreme hydration and couldn't quite make it without a break. That meant getting to experience the sunset and vivid stars from within the canyon and made for a great story after.

Fun Facts:

• Beer Mile American Record Holder and former Beer Mile World Champion

• Ran Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim of the Grand Canyon (45 miles) in 2019

• Completed a century week (100 miles, 100 beers) while working full time

Track or Trails?:

Why not a little of both? Sometimes you want an adventure, sometimes you want a PR

Morning or Afternoon?:

Morning

Solo or With Friends?:

With Friends

Summer or Winter?:

Summer

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Bolded PRs are PRs run while training with DWRunning.

Emma Grimes

DWRunning Tenure:

Joined in July 2019

PRs: 

Mile: 4:59.02, 5k: 17:24, 8k: 28:42, 10k: 36:38, Half Marathon: 1:19:05, Marathon: 2:48:37

Social Handles:

IG: shmemmashmimes

Most Memorable Race:

When I finally broke 5 in the mile. It was my first post-collegiate track "season" and I had just failed the week before in a more competitve race running 5:10. I was back at U of I for Club Relays and it was my last chance to go for it. I ran solo for the whole thing and about halfway through the Armory crowd realized what was happening and the atmosphere was absolutely amazing. Crossing the line and seeing the big clock stop at 4:59 was so satisfying - just one of the best race memories I have. Lots of congrats from everyone after, too.

Running Start:

My friend from middle school begged me to join high school cross country the day before it started. I knew I wanted to do track in the spring so I gave in. Thanks Casey!

Fun Facts:

• I was a sprinter in high school, 3x all-state in the 4x400!

• I lived in Galway, Ireland for a year and a half.

• I have a cat named Midge @miraclemidge.

Track or Trails?:

Trails

Morning or Afternoon?:

Morning

Solo or With Friends?:

With Friends

Summer or Winter?:

Summer

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Bolded PRs are PRs run while training with DWRunning.