For 2 summers in the early 2000s, my roommate Heather and I worked tandem to head up the Powergel stop on the elusive New York Marathon route. We were recruited by the New York Road Runners and flew up to NYC in early November for a long weekend of runner relations.

We were responsible for driving a box truck through the rough and tough streets of NYC to pick up all our equipment at a warehouse in the Bronx. For these two quiet females, it was feat in itself that we didn’t sideswipe anybody or thing. To make things even more interesting, the radio was stuck on high volume so navigating an unknown city and having to scream at the top of our lungs to communicate was exhausting and downright hilarious.

And another “twist” in year one happened while walking through Central Park. Being very accident prone, I stepped on a pile of leaves that was hiding a huge pothole and face planted. My ankle ballooned and I had no choice but to suck it up the rest of race weekend with two wraps and tons of Tylenol holding me upright (barely). Only me.

I vividly remember the vibe in this city was electric. We were used to Disney races, where most of the course was backstage and inaccessible to many spectators. Quite the contrary here, as every balcony was full with cheering fans, roadways were lined 5 people deep, restaurants were hopping, music of all kinds blared at every street corner…. it was over the top exciting!!

Even though I can’t stand the goo, we had the most popular stop on the course and most runners were in good spirits halfway through the race. Our volunteers cheered on our guests and made the whole experience amazing. Empty gel packets littered the streets as far as the eye could see and our crew picked up every last one. We worked our asses off for like 60 hours straight.

I remember staying an extra day to sightsee and take in all the grandeur of city life, but was so ready to return home and crash.

NYC was larger than life.

I rarely purchase vacation packages but found a great deal at an all inclusive resort in the Dominican Republic, which neither of us had ever been to. Wheels up!

We were whisked away in a private car upon arrival to a luxurious retreat Oceanside. The sprawling resort had a little bit of everything to keep us entertained all on site – bumping nightclub, tennis courts, multiple pools, weight room, ocean toys, football, ping pong, beachside cabanas, scuba diving lessons in the pool, hammocks hidden throughout the grounds and so on.

Two meals were included per day and we indulged in the Caribbean fare from a never ending buffet. And I remember lots of ice cream!

We went for daily runs and explored the entire campus via our own two feet. I remember even getting suckered into a timeshare presentation and laughing hysterically when they told us the buy in was 25k. But we gained admittance into the big Friday night beachside party that was over the top spectacular. A huge stage was set up with exotic dancers, live music, a fashion show and a massive buffet. This was one of the few times I actually got persuaded to dance on stage and it was a blast! (Yes, really)

The Dominican was a big party and I could definitely go back for more craziness!

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Most people think of MLB when you mention the words Spring Training. But we stayed out of the limelight hosting amateur teams during the beautiful spring in FL. This Disney owned and operated event was the most intricate I’ve ever been a part of. It was a beast that few of my colleagues had any interest in tackling. A true marathon.

Picture the biggest puzzle you’ve ever seen then throw in 100 pieces that will never fit. My personal philosophy was “where there is a will, there is a way” and we had to find a way to make all the pieces fit together. It spawned creativity and focusing on every detail.

It was organized chaos. In our heyday, we hosted over 950 HS and college teams for 75 straight days in 6 sports (softball, baseball, lacrosse, track & field, tennis and soccer). The clear advantage for northern teams was spending their spring breaks with us in sunny FL and getting a jump start on their season.

We were dubbed the “scheduling queens” and locked ourselves in a conference room for 5 weeks at 15-18 hours a day, which produced an astounding 20,0000 activities. The kicker is that teams could provide requests to help us in the scheduling process (size of school and strength of program were critical to know) PLUS every state had different rules. These included registration, practices, official games, non-official, scrimmages, pre game warmups, batting cages, weight room, community service and days off. Omg. My personal favorites were those coaches that believed in giving back, as we would schedule a food distribution or sport clinic locally for underprivileged youth.

Every team received their own personalized schedule. In order to achieve this level of detail, we even created our own online scheduling system which was a huge undertaking and highly satisfying. We even had so many schedules to spit out that we had to institute waves of distribution, as the change requests coming in on the back end where so daunting and never ending. We relished the handful of coaches that were grateful and overly pleased with their original programs.

Not to mention scheduling all the officials, referees, scorekeepers, local opponents plus all the complex staff (daily coordinators, athletic trainers, groundscrew, concessionaires, registration staff, merchandisers, golf cart drivers, ticket takers and security personnel).

Being the lightning capital of the world, any weather would wreak havoc on the daily schedule. Rescheduling was nearly impossible as teams all had different arrival and departure dates/times. But somehow, this intricate web of activities all came to life each spring. And through a huge team effort, we crafted a masterpiece that teams religiously returned to year in and year out. We formed strong bonds with coaches from all over the country and nothing was more rewarding than being sent thank you notes and pictures of those teams winning conference and state championships.

Every May 1, we would thankfully put those playbooks on the shelves and schedule much needed vacations to decompress. But before the dust settled, it was time to crank it up again in the fall and mentally prepare for the grind ahead.

• 

For a last minute escape, Puerto Rico checked off all the boxes. A quick, direct flight into San Juan and we were in a Caribbean tropical paradise.

We spent our days rolling out of our ocean view room into the massive, multi pool oasis and lounging all day long. No plan. No worries. Sun and sand was all we needed for a chill getaway.

Since we were on a budget, we hit up the local supermarket for essentials by running into town. We splurged a couple times in the luxurious restaurant, but it was outrageous (now we understood why the hotel was so inexpensive because they made all their money on meals since the tourists didn’t have other options).

You can’t go to PR without checking out the Yunque National Forest, and we thoroughly enjoyed climbing amongst numerous waterfalls, traipsing through the jungle boardwalks and diving into the crisp waters to rejuvenate.

More beach and pool time and our long weekend was just right.

• 

• 

• 

• 

It’s a vague memory, but I remember going down in a high school softball game and knowing something was severely wrong inside me.

After numerous tests and pricks (BTW this is when my dream of becoming an ER doctor or paramedic went down the tubes as every time I got blood drawn I would faint – my super queasy stomach), I was diagnosed with sports induced asthma. Why after 15 years on this earth did this pop out of nowhere? Why me? In my super competitive eyes, this was a significant weakness that I had to figure out how to overcome.

Inhalers work fine, when you keep them on you! I am notorious for not wanting to carry anything so this was a real struggle for me. Usually after a few puffs, my breathing is temporarily under control. I am keen on the triggers now which are typically fresh cut grass, heavy pollen and a drastic change in seasons. But typically twice a year, I can feel a deeper twinge in my lungs that sets off all my alarms.

During college, my most severe episode came over a Christmas break which resulted in a sudden hospital stay. I remember barely making it back for practices and wanting to hide it from my teammates, so my coaches set me up on a bike along the sidelines to still be part of the team workouts. I hated every minute of it but had to succumb to taking that one step backward to understand my thresholds and come back stronger. My mentality at the time was just pushing through by doubling up what everyone else did. They run 10 laps and I would do 20. They take 50 shots off the screen and I would shoot 100. It’s the only way I knew how to even the playing field.

My other severe episode happened during my first year working at Disney Sports and finally being setting up with my own home nebulizer machine. I was very thankful for modern technology, as now I could control the rare flare ups myself without the spectacle of an emergency room visit.

Over the years, I have mostly grown out of it and now relapse maybe once every 2 years. Fortunately, I rarely get sick, but when I do, I have a high risk of complications getting deep into my lung sacs. While I don’t live cautiously by any means, I am always subconsciously anxious and worried.

Until you have been gasping for air and genuinely scared for your next inhale, you can not comprehend how scary life can be as an asthmatic. The basic life skill of breathing is almost impossible and there is nothing you can do about it. Think about that….. no fix or problem solving can help you survive. For a person that has built her career on helping others overcome issues and removing barriers, there is nothing more humbling. And while many even think we are faking symptoms, I assure you, I wouldn’t wish that feeling on anyone.

Be kind always.

I’ll never forget it…..

After spending the morning trekking the gorgeous southern coastline of Crete, we stopped in the bay of Marmara to snorkel and swim in the marble colored beach caves. I was mesmerized by these natural wonders and spent my entire free time treading in the crystal clear waters.

After trekking over 25km the past 3 days, I opted to jump on the boat taxi for the short 10 min jaunt to our next lodging. Ilana and I got whisked away to an unspoiled hidden bay. As we cornered a small lighthouse, a quaint white village carved into the cliffside came into view. This was our home for the next 2 days!

We were bounding with excitement to go explore the town of Loutro’s cobblestone streets, as well as being swept off our feet at this unknown paradise. It was definitely a “pinch me” moment that we won’t soon forget. And the only traffic came in via trekking or boat, so again we counted our blessings in getting to enjoy this seaside gem without the threat of big crowds.

Anything goes (including bathing suits), and we did it all. We climbed to the cliffside bar overlooking the aqua blue waters of the quiet bay, sunbathed amongst only a few other curious visitors, steered kayaks along the coastline, dined in a traditional family restaurant, shopped the local markets and enjoyed every last second.

My highlight was snorkeling and swimming over a mile in and around the bay. While the sea life was almost non existent to the naked eye, I was enthralled with the jagged rock edges and couldn’t get enough. The water is extra salty and buoyant, so I felt like I could swim for days on end.

Our time came and went in a flash, and we were off to our next stunning location – Sweetwater Beach!

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Every athlete has a favorite number they just have to wear. I had always been #25; however, most guards and shorter players are stuck with the smaller numbers, so I typically donned uniforms way too big for my frame. It didn’t bother me any! For a big time introvert, my number signified a safe place for me and where I could shed that skin to become a relentless competitor. Sports was my outlet where I didn’t feel judged or insecure. Beast mode.

My basketball pre game superstitions and routine were quite comical. I always had to be the first out of the locker room so that I could have some alone time to visualize the game ahead. I had my yellow walkman clipped onto my oversized shorts playing 2 songs way too loud – Name by the Goo Goo Dolls and Gangstas Paradise. And I was sucking on a grape or cherry tootsie roll pop, and if the wrapper had an Indian on it, we had extra luck on our side. Our win/loss record surely didn’t indicate the drive and passion that we had or measure everything we left out on that court.

My primary focus was to make 10 layups (split between each side without missing) prior to the onslaught of balls flying around, while emphasizing a slow follow through. I then moved to the baseline to get my fingers warmed up while dribbling back and forth for about 10 mins. I would then go to the bench to remove my jacket and eat my banana.

Another funny note…. I used to collect basketball figurines of all kinds but it was always a treat to find one that had the #25. My mom would scavenge all the Christmas shops and would find the most amazing Santa ornaments. My collection grew to over 150+ mementos and only a few years back did we both realize that we weren’t lucky, but just fell in line with Christmas Day falling on the 25th. Unbelievable!

I don’t really remember anything out of the norm in my other sports, but I was laser focused on being a great teammate and contributing. NC is a division II haven, as I quickly learned most of our opponents were within a 1-3 hour drive allowing us to play and be back to our dorms prior to midnight to study. This was invaluable to me being able to juggle 4 sports practices and games, while still maintaining a high GPA and proudly being a resident advisor in the freshmen dorm for 2 years too. In my opinion, it couldn’t have been accomplished anywhere else or without very accepting teammates, coaches and administration. I am eternally grateful for the overall experience.

Most of the scars on my body are attributed to those college days, as I truly beat myself up for 4 years. I had no fear and frequently found myself diving head first into the bottom of the score table or hitting limbs on the first row of bleachers in a dead run. Go all out or don’t play, right?!

I would go back in a heartbeat. The memories are so precious and life altering! (BTW, the tennis pic below is one of the few of me sporting a tennis skirt, so have a good laugh at my expense.)

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think anyone would want to hear my journey…..

I am humbled and honored to share my story first with my alma mater in their online biannual publication of ‘The Profile’ in conjunction with my 25th reunion this year. While I am typically an introvert and prefer the quiet of nature, I can’t help but share with anyone who will listen my passion for adventure travel. It is insanely addictive!

Recently I found a quote that sums up the last & best year of my life… “I deserve the world so I’m going to give it to myself” – unknown. Taking off on a 10 month adventure of self discovery and a break from the real world has been life changing.

Below link is my story:

https://www.lr.edu/news/backpacking-bear

I challenge you to find your “why”, be your own hero, turn your talk into action and pursue your dreams with reckless abandon.

ASPIRE TO INSPIRE! #beatrailblazer #beyourownhero #befearless #liveyourdream #yolo #noregrets #allin #gamechanger #beinspired #findyourwhy #dreambig

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Do you need a reason? I always have a bag packed in the back of my car to be able to take off on a moment’s notice.

• To learn
• To be anonymous
• Feel alive
• Get to know yourself
• Experience new cultures
• Adapt to new situations
• Have adventures
• Meet people
• Challenge yourself
• Relieve built up stress
• Boost mental health
• Not look back and wonder what if??
• Because life is just too short

It’s so easy to get caught up in the routines of life. The commitments. The deadlines. The outdoors have become an outlet for me.

Find your WHY!

One of my lifelong goals was to visit every single state in the United States prior to my 50th birthday. And exactly 1 week prior to my 47th trip around the sun, I pulled into the southern state of Arkansas to achieve this dream.

Growing up on the eastern seaboard and playing youth sports, we were always on the go via weekend road trips to the next tournament. So we hit about 16-20 states as a family.

I actually didn’t take my first flight until in college, so I had a relatively late start in my quest. We grew up being expert planners and piecing together itineraries (prior to the digital age making navigation a breeze). Believe it or not, I’m actually not a huge fan of flying but my time is valuable and the fact that I want to experience many of the most remote world sites, it is now my travel mode of choice. And I’ve developed quite a knack for finding the craziest of deals….. very addictive!

I get asked quite often my favorite state and without hesitation I always answer Utah. As an easterner and water enthusiast, it’s hard to understand why. However, if you love hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, stunning landscapes and killer sunrises/sunsets, it is a nature lovers playground.

I am so blessed and thankful to have had almost 9 months to explore all the crevices of this beautiful country at the beginning of the big road-trip craze of 2020-2021. To experience many iconic sites without the normal crowds or inflated expenses, it was truly a gift.

While life on the go isn’t all glamorous, I love the freedom and solitude of the open road. It forces me to slow down to enjoy life and just be present.

The destinations on my current US bucket list are now harder to get to, but I’ll never stop planning the next adventure and get excited every time I pull out my carryon bookbag to start packing!

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

•