Nike+ Human Race Quick Links

Hello, world! My name is Amandah (yes, with an –h; when you are one of four Amanda’s in your class in first grade, someone has to step up). I am honored to be one of your 2009 Nike+ Human Race Ambassadors! I have plenty in store for you for the following months including tons of sweet swag to give away and plenty of tips and motivation to keep you moving! I want to use my first blog as an opportunity to give you a small idea of just who I am as a person and why you should join my team—Up To Speed—on our journey to 10.24.2009! Please give me a chance; competition is my middle name. I also go by encouraging, passionate, enthusiastic, and FUN! I do this because I LOVE IT, and I hope you do, too!

I grew up in Archbald, Pennsylvania, and currently live in Philadelphia, PA. I also spend a lot of time in Flower Mound, Texas, visiting my Mom. I am currently in my fifth year at Temple University studying to be an elementary teacher. I absolutely love working with children, and also plan on coaching softball. I have played my whole life (pitcher and 1B), and cannot get enough! I am your cliché Philadelphia sports fan; I lost my voice for days when my Phillies PHINALLY won the World Series! I gave and received more high-fives in those few days than I have in my entire life, and I loved every minute of it. The city was so alive during the series—I wish it had never ended! I also love animals, and have been walking dogs as my full-time job for over a year and a half now. I so look forward to seeing their happy faces every day and taking them out for some good, fun exercise. I couldn’t have asked for a better job. I follow a vegan diet and spend most of my spare time trying out new recipes and experimenting in the kitchen. I love desserts a little too much—it is one of the many reasons that I run!

I have been running my whole life, but have only been a runner since May of this year. Previous to running with Nike+, I used runs as a training tool for other sports, as a way to relieve stress, and an outlet to simply to enjoy nature; if it would rain, I would run. One of my favorite quotes by John Ruskin reads, “There is no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.” I live by this. You will never see me running FROM a storm, but rather, into it—splashing and laughing!

During a very stressful and rainy week, I happened upon the Nike+ Sportkit in a local store. Needless to say, I had been running quite a bit, and the product intrigued me. I found myself wondering just how far had I been running every day, and if, with the right motivation, I could finally keep with it. After consulting my boyfriend and checking out a store employee’s run log, I was sold. I went ahead and completed the only reasonable impulse buy of my life. Since then, I can easily say that Nike+ has changed my life for the better. I run constantly. I run farther than I ever have before. I run faster than I ever have before. I can finally say that I AM A RUNNER, and you haven’t seen anything yet.

The Nike+ Human Race will be my first 10K (and it will not be my last). I have been planning to run this race since I began using Nike+ back in May. I wanted my first race to be one that I could comfortably run at my own pace, and to be able to stop for a breather if I need to! I love that this race is judgment-free, and is precisely why I chose to name my team UP TO SPEED. Like many people, I have been judged my whole life. When I come up to bat, the fielders move in. When I step on the mound, batters breathe sighs of relief. When I wear one of my (many) football jerseys, I am told it is “so cute” that I borrow my boyfriend’s clothes. When I began running, a friend didn’t believe my pace and told me that I needed to re-calibrate. I’ve never been up to speed for anyone (until they have seen me in action). I decided to run the Nike+ Human Race for myself. I know that I am able to do it, and I know that you can, too. Whatever your pace, you are up to speed on my team. I can attest that nothing feels better than hitting a ball over the heads of those who move in when you approach the plate, pitching a perfect game, flaunting YOUR team’s jersey, and running harder than you ever have before. Nothing feels better than being UP TO SPEED. So lace up, and get out there! Whether you walk, jog, or run, let’s show the world that we ALL are UP TO SPEED on October 24, 2009.