I share a mutual friend with Audrey Schafer and I have seen Audrey's awesome progress. I began to wonder if her trainer could help me too!
When I contacted Ali, I told her I wanted to start running-- to just be someone that could run a few miles several times a week to help with weight loss goals. I had been running some on my own but I felt very disorganized with it and felt I needed a plan to follow because I wasn't making any real progress. I also thought, maybe, I could work towards doing a few 5K races every so often.
My first schedule started December 8, 2008, and my long run that week was 40 minutes. I respectfully thought she was insane to think that I could run 40 minutes straight, but I did it anyhow! And it was hard, but not impossible! Now just three short months later I feel like I have progressed in leaps and bounds. Ali's programs builds you up so slowly and soundly that it's almost like it sneaks up on you. One day I just set out for my long run and it was, "Oh my gosh, I just ran 6 miles!”
I'm also proud to say that March 1, 2009, I ran my first half marathon, in Seaside, FL. I finished in 2:30:53. The weather conditions were horrendous, but what a memorable experience! Now I still have a lot of training to do but for a girl who just started seriously running three months ago, I'm proud!
I owe all my good health and fitness to Ali. I think it takes an amazing trainer and coach to build the kind of camaraderie and support system that Ali manages to build just through email! She makes me feel like I'm her number one priority, as I suspect she does with all of her clients.
I look forward to meeting some of the Smith Sports Endurance Team at the Iron Girl 10K in Clearwater. See you all there!
~Pamela O'Steen
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