Whenever I’m asked, “how long have you been running?” I never quite know how to answer this question. I never thought of myself as a “runner”. I was overweight as a child and into most of my adolescent/teen years, I started walking as a form of exercise to battle my triple X pant size. Walking turned into jogging then jogging into running. A year into my journey I encountered a hard stop. A team of medical specialists advised me that due to a spinal condition I would be hanging up my running shoes. That didn’t sit well with me, in 2017 I had spinal surgery and made a promise to myself I wouldn’t give up. Shortly after that promise a condition in my brain set me back a bit more. When I was sure running shoes saw their last light of day I looked at my beautiful daughters and said “NO”. My conditions will not define me. I will overcome! 4 years later I am a USATF Certified Track and Field Coach, I run for a USATF affiliated Marathon Team and I’m training yet again for the Chicago Marathon. When your passionate about something that makes you feel alive, never give up.
Kirstin Bernaeyge
