So I’ve been getting a number of new followers lately and I am part of a blog hop this week and I figure now is a good a time as any to say, HI!
6 years ago, when I was 24, I decided I needed something to challenge me. I wanted to do something I had never done before. While flipping through a magazine I found an ad for the Walt Disney Princess half marathon. Somehow, I convinced my friend to do it with me and I had a goal! At that time the race was in March so this was a perfect goal to hit before my 25th birthday.
My first half marathon
Fast Forward to today and I have done numerous 5K, 10K, half marathons, and I am now working toward marathon number 3. I also have done a handful of sprint triathlons and 1 olympic.
My first Goofy Challenge
I actually turned my love of running/triathlon into a career. When I convinced the nonprofit I was working for to add a 5K to their walk and that grew into a series. I then joined up with a local timing company to be their Race Director for 2 triathlons. I have since turned that into managing and race directing for a national event series! Who would have thought that this simple challenge to myself would become my most favorite job!
Love my job!
So that’s pretty much my journey over the last few years. In there I’ve gotten married, gained a few too many pounds, moved from MD to FL, and met some of the most amazing people! I’m grateful for all of the great things these sports have brought to me and I can’t wait to see what is yet to come!
Me and the hubby!
That’s about where the story leaves off. I’m trying super hard to get better and go faster! Welcome to my journey and I hope you stick around for a bit to join me!
Yay for another Florida blogger! I moved to Florida from Chicago last fall so I love finding fellow bloggers and runners in the state 🙂 How awesome is it that you turned your passion into a career?! That’s definitely something to be proud of!
yay! I feel like we need to find the Florida bloggers from this hop and do a meet up!
I also moved to FL from NJ last year. 🙂
How awesome to have a love for something…and have it evolve into a career! That’s everyone’s dream 😉 I’m in Iowa, and would LOVE to do a Disney race someday….I might have to use that trump card to get my family to join me (we have been to Disney World many times, so visiting Mickey is a pretty easy sell).
I think it is easy to sell a family vaca to Disney! And a great way to support you while getting to have fun themselves!! Totally make that happen!
Hi Kimberly nice to meet you in the blog hop! Isn’t it great when you can use your passion to do good?! I love Iron Girl races and have done the Columbia race a number of times. Maybe I will see you there next year? I haven’t done a Disney race yet but it’s on my list.
Hi Deborah! My first triathlon was Iron Girl COLUMBIA and it is still one of my favorites.
Kimberly, love your spirit! I hope to run a Disney race soon as well! I love that you turned your passion into a career….very inspiring!
Thanks Lauren!
I love that you get to work and let your passion collide all into one! How fun!! I love Rundisney races. If only Michigan wasn’t so far, I’d be signing up for more.
Hey Disney is definitely a travel destination! You should try it sometime
Hi there from the blog hop! So you work for IronGirl? That’s awesome! I did the Columbia Triathlon when we lived back in Maryland (Montgomery County). It was my first triathlon! I coached a group for the IronGirl Del Mar 5K and 10K when we first moved here to the San Diego area, and it was great! One of my runners came in 3rd overall for the 10K that year. I was so proud of her. I love the IronGirl series but they stopped hosting the one here in Del Mar. Maybe you could pull some strings (LOL!).
COLUMBIA was my first tri also! The Del Mar race was a favorite. Not sure if we will be back there but I’ll see about nearby, lol
Where in Florida are you from? I did the Clearwater Iron Girl half in April of 2013, it was so much fun!! It’s my current Half Marathon PR holder (3:09) I’m looking to beat that in a couple of weeks at the Fort Myers Half!
I’m in Tampa, where are you in FL? That’s an impressive course to hold a PR! Good luck kicking that at Ft Myers.
I have always wanted to run a Disney race. Seems like I have been reading a lot about them lately too. May have to sign up for one! And I am so jealous of your career! Sounds awesome! Happy I stopped by!
Thanks for stopping by! If you’ve always wanted to run a Disney race it sounds like now is the time to do it!!
So nice to e-meet you! I love that you turned your passion into a job you love. I also love that you are the Race Director for Iron Girl! Sandy Hook was my very first Sprint Tri back when it was run by Danskin in 2005 or 2006. I did Iron Girl Sandy Hook again in 2012 and 2013. It will always be my favorite race and hold a special place in my heart!
Then I think you should come back in 2016 but not like I’m biased or anything! :-).
It makes me so happy when I see people who have turned their passions into their careers! Way to go! What is an olympic run/race? I am so not a runner, so I feel clueless about some of the terms sometimes!
It is an Olympic distance triathlon. So it is the middle of the road distance
Hi! I’m visiting from the hop. Your journey into running sounds very much like mine, except I was much older. Needing a challenge, I ran the Disney Half Marathon and proceeded to fall in love with running and racing. The half is my favorite distance. It is very awesome you get to work in the field you love!
Thanks! I find my favorite distance is the 10 miler. Long enough to be a challenge but not quite a half, lol
Turning my passion into a career is what I’m trying to do too! Just have to get my foot in the door somewhere…
That’s great! What are you looking to do?
Hello! I’m stopping by from the blog hop today – so nice to meet you! That’s amazing that you’ve turned what you love into a career. Like many others have said, I am trying to do the same! I can tell instantly in the way you write that this is something you’re incredibly passionate about. That’s amazing! Congrats to you on your journey and I hope to stay in touch! 🙂
Thanks Ellyn for stopping by! Good luck at making your passion an everyday thing!!
I’ve seen so many who have run the Disney princess half – and you are definitely inspiring me to consider it!! I love your passion and can’t wait to continue to follow your journey! 🙂
Well let’s be honest “princesses”! Who doesn’t love finishing a race and being like “yeah, who’s a princess, I’m a princess” I mean so are 4,000 other women but whatevs
I love that you were able to turn your passion into a career! So nice to “meet” you. I would love to do a Disney race someday. And I’m planning to get into triathlons next year. I look forward to following your blog so I can keep up with your adventures.
Thanks Wendy! Welcome to the world of triathlon! It is quite addictive!
So nice to meet you! I love that you and your husband run together. I think that’s such a great bonding experience and has so many benefits for your relationship together and also as individuals. I look forward to learning more about you!
Well let’s be up front here. We “run together” in the fact that we drive to the same location and leave in the same car, lmao! He is WAYyyyy faster than me!
I keep saying I want to do the Disney marathon!! Maybe I can commit soon and meet up with ya!! Great job ❤
Looks like the marathon is still open 😉
What a great story! The Disney Princess Half-Marathon is on my bucket list! So lovely to meet you in the blog hop! http://www.obsessedbyportia.com
Thanks for stopping by!!
You have such a fantastic story – I’m glad we were able to meet through the blog hop 🙂 I especially love how you were able to turn your love of fitness into a full-time job and for a national race series like Iron Girl!
Thanks and nice to meet you too!
This is my first time dropping by – great to get to know you and your blog! That’s so cool that you’re a race director – I must admit it sounds like it would be a very fun job! I have such admiration for triathlons – congrats on all your success! 🙂
Hey Janelle! Thanks for stopping by! Race weekends are my most fun weekends! If racing isn’t your thing I HIGHLY suggest volunteering. It is so awesome to watch
That is fabulous, so amazing what that 1 princess half turned into! The fact that you turned it into a career is also amazing! I have been dabbling into turning some of my passions in life into jobs as well. I already do my greatest passion as my main job, but there is always room for more, right:)
Love that you’ve also turned into tri’s and more, seriously wow you are quite an incredible inspiration on shooting for goals and achieving what you set out to do!!!
Thanks, although I don’t think I’ve ever thought of it that way. And yes there is always more room for dreams!
Hi there ,
readed your facebookpage yesterday.
Now i founded it here too because of the bloghop.
Greetings from germany
Well hello back from the states and thanks for stopping by!
Your welcome ,i will follow everything 🙂
Thank you for shopping by too
Lovely to meet you through the blog hop. How wonderful that you have managed to turn running into your career.
Omg I love your blog name!!!
Awesome story! I love that you have been able to create a passion for something and pursue it as your career. :] that is definitely the dream! looking forward to following your story!
Thanks and welcome!!
Hi there! Its so lovely to get to know you through this blog hop! Congratulations on all of your running accomplishments, its so inspiring to see so many dedicated, seasoned runners that are a part of the Sweat Pink Community! I look forward to continuing to follow along your journey! 🙂
Hi and thanks for stopping by! It is impressive the number of runners with sweat pink!
Hi!! Nice to ‘meet’ you ! Thanks for the lovely intorduction!
You have had great race successes!! Wow a olympic tri…you go girl!!!
Best of luck in the future…I look forward to following along!
Thanks for stopping by! I look forward to checking out your page
🙂
Hi Matilda from runmum.com visiting thanks to the blog hop.
I’m loving this blog hop, it’s so much fun.
Well it’s great to meet you, nice work into turning what you love into a job. It takes a special kind of person to be a race director, and you obviously love it, so keep doing it I say.
Keep being awesome.
Hi and thanks for stopping by! This hop is a ton of fun!!
That is amazing that you turned your passion into a job! I love it and am thrilled to “meet” you from the blog hop 🙂
Nice to meet you too!!
That’s awesome that your hobby ended up turning into a career that you love! Good luck in your 3rd marathon! Which race are you training for?
Walt Disney world marathon
Hi there, I’m visiting from the blog hop. First of all, I think it’s so incredible that you turned your new hobby/passion into a career! I only wish I could do the same. Also, 3 marathons? That’s fantastic. I’ve never even run a half, but I love reading about others’ running journeys. All the best in your continued training.
You’d be amazed what you can do if you take baby steps! Thanks for stopping by!
Hey there! Sounds like you know what it really means to “do what you love and love what you do” Great job, a ton of people work their whole life to turn their passions and hobbies into a career. Way to go!! Keep up the amazing work and I look forward to keeping up with you!
Thanks and I really appreciate the kind words!
I love that you turned your love of running into a career! I am impressed with your tri background! I did my first sprint in August and am planning on doing a sprint in early summer and then an Olympic in August. Good luck with your marathon!
Love this! What a fabulous story of getting to a job you love! So inspiring with all the races you have run! I did the Disney Princess half a few years ago! It was certainly an experience running around Disney!
I can’t wait to see where your runs take you 🙂
Thanks I’ve been enjoying following you around social media the last few days lol
Hi Kimberly! How are you? I found your link from the blog hop.
I admire you for your dedication esp for turning your passion into career (you wont have to think of it as ‘work’ because you love it). Congratulations on all your success!
Thanks for hopping by, lol
Don’t you worry about those few extra honeymoon pounds 🙂 they are just because you are LIVING 🙂 and we are all on a journey to healthier and happier lives!
Yea but it doesn’t help with getting any faster 😉
Awesome! The PHM was my first half–I came to it in a similar way as you–so it will always hold a special place to me!
Hi Kimberly! What an aweseome job to have that originated from your love of the sport. Thanks for working so hard to help so many reach their dreams through racing the events you put together. Much respect to you! So nice to meet you and find your blog through the hop. I look forward to learning more from you 🙂
Hi Teri! Nice to meet you too!
Found your blog through the blog hop also. 🙂 Love that you turned your passion into a career! Looking forward to following your blog and journey!
Hi Kimberly! Nice to meet you…here from Blog Hop! You have an AWESOME story…how awesome is it that you turned your passion into a career. I would REALLY love to do the same! I look forward to reading more about you!
Thanks for stopping by and saying hi!