From that first 5K, I was all in. I came on as Program Director to help bring Culpeper online, but life had other plans. The founder stepped away. This is hard work, especially as a volunteer. I was appointed Council Director in 2016. At the time, there were no paid positions. Just grit, passion, and pink duct tape. I did the job as a volunteer until 2019 when I was finally paid part-time. It has always been full-time in spirit. I officially became full-time in 2023. I heard much later that many in the community quietly expected the whole thing to fall apart when that early leadership change happened. But instead, we dug in. We grew. And we proved that this mission was bigger than any one person. Girls on the Run was here to stay.

And through it all, my sister-in-law Tabitha has continued to be a critical part of the journey. When our second 5K rolled around in 2016, we quickly realized just how much goes into planning an event of that size. It wasn’t exactly smooth sailing, and there were definitely moments when we were figuring things out as we went. Tabitha stepped in with her trademark calm and competence and took the reins as Race Director. Her behind-the-scenes leadership brought order to the chaos. For years, she helped us grow and shape our 5K into what it is today. She has been the steady voice of reason and the one who asks the questions we didn’t even know to ask. Thanks to her guidance, our fall 5K has grown to more than 1,000 attendees. I’m not sure we’d still be standing without her. Although if you ask her, she’ll proudly remind you that she’s the “former” race director. She has been at every one of our 5Ks except one, and that was only because she had a nasty case of shingles. She has kept me sane and moving forward.

In my previous life, I did a little bit of everything. My last job was as an Internet Engineer. I was once in charge of IP space for the entire world. Most people don’t even know what that means anymore, but it’s my little claim to fame. I used to joke that I helped build the internet, which is not entirely untrue. I walked away from that world to homeschool my son and later my niece, both of whom were facing their own unique challenges.

I’ve always been the “school teacher.” I even taught my younger brother to write my name when he was a toddler. He promptly wrote it on the wall behind his bedroom door. I got in trouble, of course. Nobody believed he could write yet. I’m a trained herbalist, have taken numerous fitness classes, and have always had a passion for wellness and learning. I’ll be honest, I don’t always have the discipline to do what I know I should, but I love staying busy and learning new things. People keep telling me I should write a book. Maybe I will. I’ve really enjoyed blogging, so we’ll see where it goes.

Want to know the real secret to keeping a mission like this going? It’s people like you.

Leading this council has never been about glitz or big paychecks. It’s been about grit, relationships, and a deep belief that this work matters. If you want to be part of that mission, join Team Possible. Your monthly gift helps us keep showing up for every girl who needs us—especially when the unexpected happens.

Join Team Possible

And don’t miss Part 3. That’s where I’ll share what this council looks like today, what we’re facing now, and the legacy we’re building for the next generation.

Spoiler alert: One of our very first GOTR girls is getting ready to take the MCAT. I’m not crying, you’re crying. Stay tuned. It’s worth it.