About

Jump for joy!

I’m not a born runner. In fact, I had a slight asthma issue as a kid. I first tried running for fitness in college and wasn’t a huge fan. I preferred weights, honestly. Then, something amazing happened. I joined Team in Training in 2008 (that is when my team gave me my running nickname, “Hutch”). After completing my first marathon, life hasn’t been the same.

I got bling fever and enjoy collecting finisher’s medals. Which is why I’ve ran so many Rock ‘n’ Roll series marathons. They give you an additional HEAVY MEDAL for completing multiple events in 1 year. So, I completed 5 halfs and 2 full marathons in 2011 to get my Rock Legend heavy medal, a rewarding, albeit expensive, endeavor.

I do not run fast, but I’m getting faster. After 4 years of registering for events just so I that I would have a reason to train, I’m finally getting to the point where I purely enjoy running for running’s sake. I love the feeling I get when I reach the top of a hill. Not only do I CHOOSE to run 7 and 9 mile back-to-back days on my weekends, but that I CAN. I never dreamed this would be me but I’m so thankful I’ve kept with it. I wouldn’t have gotten here without the support of my husband and my TNT teammates who kept challenging and encouraging me. I’m so lucky to have a husband who runs also, is willing to take pictures of me while I run, and is willing to tackle the new and unknown with me when the adventure bug bites me.

My blog is a way to chronicle my adventures and SHARE them! I figure, if I can do it, then….yeah, that’s right. You can too! I am constantly encouraging my friends to do events with me and by constantly talking about it, I have gotten a lot of people I know to run their first race, or at least be more active in general. I think active and healthy lifestyles are contagious!

From China. Travel adventures are one of my greatest joys.

I write about anything related to my running (training, race events, products), travel adventures, and about my interests in healthy habits (food, nutrition, etc). I plan on pursuing mountain biking and adventure racing in the near future and will share what I learn as I go. I’m no expert, but I share what has worked for me.

I’m a Pace Per Mile state reporter for California! Listen to my audio reports to hear about the most interesting events and follow me @Running_Hutch to get updates on all the other ones (I’m using #CAraces to tag my race tweets).

Team Nuun 2012!

I’m also a Nuun Ambassador and will be running with Team Nuun for the 2012 Hood to Coast Relay! Really loving the sugarless hydration power!

And, I’m also a Maui Jim Rock Brilliantly Running Ambassador, loving my job of sporting the world’s best polarized sunglasses in the southern California sun!

Pinterest? Yea, I do that too.

I have a B.A. in English Literature. In order to finance my addiction to signing up for races, I work in marketing for a publisher in Huntington Beach, CA. I often play piano and guitar and pretend that I’m a rock star. Oh wait, I AM a Rock Star!