Team WinS Sponsored Athlete
Erin Johnson
Ten years ago I would have never imagined that I would call myself a runner
today. All through grade school and high school I hated running. I gravitated
toward sports that involved little or no running like softball and figure
skating. In gym class I dreaded the days when we were tested in the mile
run.
In college, I gradually got more interested in fitness and being more active.
I started teaching aerobics classes on campus and weight training in the
gym. One day I decided to get on the treadmill to see if I could run a
mile. To my surprise I was able to run without feeling like I was going
to pass out. I started running more often and building my endurance to
run 3 miles and started running 5K races.
After I graduated I moved to Los Angeles and kept up with running. I had
lengthened my runs to about 6 miles. As my social network grew I started
meeting people who had run the LA Marathon. I was feeling pretty fit at
this point so I figured if they can do it, I can do it. I found out that
a training group called the LA Roadrunners that trained hundreds of people
a year for the marathon. I signed up for the program in the fall of 2004
and began training. My first marathon was the LA Marathon in March 2005
and it was a great experience. I made a lot of friends through the training
program that I have to this day and we still try to meet once or twice
a year to run a marathon together. Currently I have completed 15 marathons
and have several more scheduled in the next year. Running marathons gives
me a great excuse to go visit friends all over the country and run a race
in their town. I am so glad that I found something I enjoy so much that
keeps me healthy as well!
