I’ve been running since I turned 14. Sixteen years later, I can’t imagine not doing it. Running has taught me about working hard in high school, discipline in college and now – about real commitment to what’s important to me.

After my first season on the track team and placing last in every event I was in, I vowed to myself to keep on running if I improved even a little bit. I ran all summer, lost 30 pounds and began placing in the top three of all the events our coach put me in the following spring. I became more disciplined, happier and faster than ever before.

While I decided not to run with the track and cross-country teams in college, having to make that decision made me realize that working hard is good but that doing things at the right time is more important. I had to make a choice between completing the requirements of the work that came with being a double major and making practice twice a day. I chose the work, because that’s what I came to college for. Yet, I took every opportunity I could-to run.

After college graduation,  my friend Amanda and I made a pact- we’d run The Revlon Run/Walk for Women every year no matter what changed in our lives in the years ahead. This weekend was the 8th year we’d completed the run (walk). So many things have changed in our lives. She’s a doctoral candidate in Clinical Psychology soon to start working at Yale. I’m an ad agency AE and music photographer working on taking my work to the next level. We’re both starting new chapters in our lives. Yet, one thing remains the same-our commitment to friendship for life. Here’s to 8 years of the thing that continues to move us along-running for life!