As we gear up for the excitement of the Boston Marathon®, we’re highlighting each of the athletes our team chose to head to Beantown! We received so many heartfelt stories from applicants, and it was excruciatingly difficult to only pick 13. Each story truly inspired us, and we think they’ll inspire you too! While we’re still weeks out from the race, we wanted to share each person’s story before the big day.
With a true love for running (so much so she incorporated it into her wedding!), iFIT member Amy Mast-Morris has spent the last decade training for marathons and even encouraging others to take the leap. She’s now one of our 13 making her way to the Boston Marathon®!
Amy’s story
For over a decade, running has been a part of my life. Through iFIT, I’ve met some of the greatest friends I could ever ask for. My first date with my husband was a running date, and we even had a running theme for our wedding! I’ve even coached other runners into running their first marathon. Running allows me to escape from everything going on in my life and focus on clearing my mind.
When the pandemic hit and everything closed, I really had to turn to running. I’m a teacher and was teaching from home while managing my own two kids with their homework. Without the gym, I needed an outlet to focus on my mental health. That’s when I turned to running more than ever before. For my 40th birthday, I trained and ran a 40K with my best friend. A month later, we ran a marathon together. Due to snowy conditions, we borrowed two treadmills to continue training and ran the marathon together in my garage. It was soon after this that I bought my own treadmill and started doing iFIT running workouts.
The Boston Marathon® is a race that is viewed so highly in the running community. I am not a speedy runner and don’t feel like I could ever qualify, but any runner would say that running the Boston Marathon® would be a dream come true. Being a runner isn’t about time. It’s about doing something for yourself and realizing what your body is capable of. In a time where this rollercoaster of a pandemic is bringing people down mentally, I’m so thankful that I can turn to running.
Disclaimer: This blog post is not intended to replace the advice of a medical professional. The above information should not be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or medical condition. Please consult your doctor before making any changes to your diet, sleep methods, daily activity, or fitness routine. iFIT assumes no responsibility for any personal injury or damage sustained by any recommendations, opinions, or advice given in this article. Always follow the safety precautions included in the owner’s manual of your fitness equipment.
Opinions of iFIT members are not necessarily the opinions of iFIT.
