My Fitness Journey

When I got my first big marketing job fresh out of college, I quickly realized I was not happy being isolated in a maze of cubicles. I was compelled to be more active and found myself quietly falling in love with running and weight lifting. It became clear that this was the path I wanted to follow, and eventually I left my high-paying marketing job to pursue a coaching certification. 

Shortly after, I faced a devastating injury while caving on Mount Saint Helens. I severely tore my right ACL and meniscus tissue, forcing me to work on crutches for the first three months of my new career. I maintained my status as a top-selling coach at my gym while working through debilitating pain and waiting for surgery. Complications with insurance kept me from getting surgery, which prolonged my pain and ultimately led to an opioid addiction. Healing was a rough road and I found a great deal of solace and support in the Portland Zen Buddhist community. I will be forever grateful for the kindness they showed me during one of the most difficult times of my life. 

As soon as I healed and things were looking up, more obstacles were thrown in my path. I sustained another debilitating injury to my right meniscus- this time from a work accident. I’m grateful to have found Ben Patrick with Knees Over Toes, which became a turning point in my recovery. From there, I went on to work for a new big box gym, eventually becoming a district manager and was featured on local news three times in 2018 alone. After climbing the corporate ladder of fitness, I decided it was time to reconnect with what brings me joy and start my own business. I’ve been coaching independently since 2019 and I never looked back. 

Today, through the process of healing, I’ve been able to:

-Win my first Jiu Jitsu competition.

-Complete multiple STP double century bicycle races from Portland to Seattle in under 15 hours. 

-Get a 3:18 finish time on the Portland Marathon (a full-hour improvement since before my injuries).

-Compete in a powerlifting meet.

Welcome to the ZEN WILD WORLD OF GARAGE GYM FUTURES… NO EASY FEET! It was named by my friend, Jessica, who thought it was a pretty cheeky pun and I agree. Thank you, Jessica!