Meet the Team

Find out about their running journey. Why do they love running?

Why did they decide to become a pacer?

It gives me peace of mind and makes me feel free!

My running journey began about 8 years ago when I originally set out to get healthy. Little did I know I’d catch the running bug and become competitive. I ran my first 5k and was hooked after that. I had big goals of wanting to run the Boston Marathon one day. With a qualifying time, I achieved that goal in 2025 to run the 129th Boston Marathon. I’m originally from Clearwater, Florida, and enjoy the outdoor scenic routes that running has to offer. I want to be a pacer because I know what it is to set a goal for yourself, and with the help of pacers that I have had the experience with, I want to pass it forward.

Running became an important part of my life during a challenging time, and it quickly grew into a source of strength, safety, and joy. Through races and longer distances—including a half marathon—I’ve fallen in love with the running community and how inclusive and supportive it is. I want to be a pacer because running has given so much to me, and I’m grateful for the chance to encourage others and help them feel confident and supported on race day.

I have been running consistently for ten years. I never imagined I would complete the number of races I have completed after doing my first half. I love running because you can do it almost anywhere at almost any time. It both challenges you and changes you. It provides me the time to process difficult decisions and life’s obstacles, as well as listen to podcasts and talk to friends. It is my favorite way to see a new city and my favorite thing to do while on vacation. I began pacing when I realized I had the ability to run consistently at one pace pretty easily and encourage others along the way. It is truly a gift to be able to meet and help so many people, and it brings me great joy.

I love running because it gives me goals to work towards, and I’ve met so many amazing people who keep me motivated. I wanted to be a pacer to give back to the running community and help others! (Plus the medals and post-race parties are super fun too ☺️)

I ran in high school and then college, running has provided me not only an outlet to my daily stressors, but has also given me enough friends and experiences to last a lifetime.

My running journey started last year in December of 2024 when I ran my first 5K. It was a very tough struggle and made me realize in that moment that temporary pain only leans toward someone success, which made me fall in love with having a passion for running outside of the gym running isn’t only physically challenging, but also mentally it’s something that you’re constantly at war with yourself at and only get to develop to be better at. I decided to become a pacer to motivate others and to inspire them to keep moving, even when it gets tough because the pain is temporary, and the success is always after.

My running journey started early, being born into a turkey trot family. I eventually joined my high school cross-country team just for fun, but after that season, I stepped away from running for about six years. Then the 2023 Chicago Marathon reignited something in me. After watching TikToks of the race, I signed up for a half-marathon, which happened to be the Gasparilla Half. That race is where I fell in love with long-distance running.

Since then, running has become a huge part of my life. I ran my first marathon this year, with my second coming up soon, and this will be my fifth year running the Gasparilla Distance Classic. My first Gasparilla race was when I was 11, so it’s always been a special one for me.

I recently paced my mom to a 5K PR, and that experience made me realize I wanted to take on something new in my running journey. Being able to help someone stay motivated and hit a goal they’ve been chasing felt incredibly rewarding. I’m excited to bring that same energy on race day and help others cross the finish line feeling proud.

first and foremost, I owe all the glory to God for giving me the health, strength, and mind to be able to chase greatness. I was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. I will be 40 years old next month. I’ve always been an athlete my entire life ( football , baseball) , but never got into Ronnie other than in practices. So when my journey with running began, it was about 10 years ago, and I wanted to do something everybody else in the gym wasn’t doing, and that a lot of people said was too hard. Of course, everybody loves to lift weights, a lot of people love ellipticals, etc (which there’s nothing wrong with either of those). I just always wanted to do things that nobody else wanted to do,so pounding the concrete became my journey. My mother used to always tell me as a kid to pound the concrete when it comes to life, whether that’s to go get a job, find opportunities, or Chase opportunities, so striving for this just came naturally. I started out just doing simple miles, trying to get better times, and that turned into 5Ks , 10Ks , which then turned into, well, what can I do that nobody I know has done? So I started setting goals like running from Clearwater to Tampa from the Bayside bridge all the way across the Court Campbell to the Hyatt. After completing that run, I kept going back for More to try to beat my time, which I did each and every time. Running has become more than just exercise. It has become a passion and something I love to do. There’s nothing like strapping those headphones on and immersing yourself in God‘s creation while pushing yourself mentally, physically, and spiritually. Being born and raised in Tampa, of course, I’ve been to the Gasparilla parade many times, and to participate in this event as a pace runner is an absolute honor! God Is Great!

I got into distance running in high school. I was part of a gym that had a run club, and we would run 3x/week, anywhere from 3 to 12 miles per run. My running career took a bit of a dip when I moved to Florida (originally from Minnesota) due to the heat and humidity. Within the last year, working at Fit2Run has re-sparked my love of running. I now enjoy Fit2Run’s weekly run club and even bring one of my dogs!

Running makes me feel fast and strong. I feel my healthiest after completing runs that challenge me both mentally and physically.

I decided to become a pacer to share my positive attitude with others. Races can be intimidating for some, so being able to encourage people during their race is what I’m most looking forward to. I believe completing tasks with a group is easier than completing it by yourself!

I began running in September of 2024 after one of my friends convinced me to sign up for a half marathon while we were at a birthday party! Ever since then, I have caught the running bug. I love running because it allows me to have a brain break. I am a therapist, and running is a huge part of my self-care (what keeps me calm lol). The physical component to running is also a huge plus, along with the community it brings. My friend Alina H. reached out to me and asked if I wanted to help pace, and I immediately jumped at the opportunity. I am so excited to see what else is in store!

I was not always a fan of running and couldn’t believe people went out running just “for fun”. Fast forward to now with 3 full marathons, 15+ half-marathons, more 10K and 5K races than I can count, I can’t imagine my life without running. Running has brought me more than I could ever imagine, and I am forever grateful. Thanks to running, I met my husband through a local run club. We now have our baby girl, who takes the love of running with her, doing miles in and out of the running stroller, and we have made some amazing friends.

Running for me is peace of mind when I need relief, strength when I need a reminder of what I’m capable of, and freedom when I need to disconnect. With pacing, I want to help people stay motivated and happy during their race so we can get to the finish line feeling great.

As a former D1 Track and Cross Country athlete for the University of South Florida, I love pushing my limits through running. I enjoy chasing personal bests on the track while also trying to be the best version of myself outside of the track. Running helps me maintain a strong work ethic, which translates to all areas of my life. I decided to become a pacer for Gasparilla as it was the first race I ever completed. 10 years ago, I decided to run the Gasparilla 5k with my grandfather, marking the start of a great running career. Fast-forward to now: I have accomplished many things through running, yet I have never paced a race. I am super excited to help others achieve their own race goals here at Gasparilla through my job as a pacer!

As a former collegiate lacrosse player, running was always part of my training. It wasn’t until my junior year that I had the opportunity to run competitively for the first time. As an 800m specialist, I fell in love with the sport as well as the community, as I had never come across anything like it. Since then, I have drastically increased my typical race distance to half marathons and recently completed my first marathon that qualified me to soon run in multiple world majors. I love running as I have been able to meet people and explore parts of the world that I wouldn’t have been able to without it. I owe a lot of who I am today because of those experiences. Becoming a pacer allows me to help others accomplish their goals and give back to the community that has always been there for me.

I love running because of the peace that it gives me. I enjoy being able to push myself and set new goals for myself. Running provides that for me. I wanted to be a pacer so I can run with a group of people and motivate them along the way. I look forward to being able to encourage others on their journey.

My running journey started around 2008, and I have always enjoyed running as something for exercise and stress relief. I became more dedicated to running multiple days a week and participating in races in 2020, and have consistently maintained it to the present day. I was offered the opportunity to volunteer as a pace runner for the first time this past November for a race in Clearwater, which was a wonderful experience, and I knew I wanted to participate again, so here we are.

I love running because it’s the perfect way to explore new places, whether I’m traveling or discovering new routes during training. I became a pacer to take on a new challenge within my favorite race series, and nothing beats the energy of the Gasparilla races and expo. I’m excited to meet everyone and help motivate runners through the race—especially after running the half marathon last year with my mom and getting to cheer her through her first race in over 10 years.

I decided to become a pacer because I know how hard it is to push yourself sometimes, so if I can be that person to help others push themselves and cross that finish line, my job will be complete.

I love the challenge of pushing for the next PR, whether it’s distance or time. I was excited to have the opportunity as a pacer so I can help others meet their goals during this race!

I started out in the OCR world in 2017. After one to many ankle injuries I decided to keep my feet on the ground and got into distance running with the help of my coach and RunFluent family. I completed my first marathon and ultramarathon in 2025. I love running, especially the trails because it brings me peace, clarity, and draws me closer to God.
I decided to become a pacer because I’ve always been a middle of the pack runner and I love to encourage the back of the pack and new runners who are just getting started. My hope as a Fit2Run Ambassador is to inspire new runners into the sport. As somebody who is also living with an invisible illness my prayer is I can inspire others that they are capable of so much more than they can imagine!

While I have been running on and off for some time, I have only recently began to take it more seriously, and pacing the Gasparilla run is a great way for me to stay motivated and involved with the sport.

My parents first encouraged my brother and me to participate in cross country during high school in our hometown of Scottsdale, Arizona. What began as a routine activity gradually revealed itself as a meaningful framework for personal growth. The daily discipline required in running offered a structured way to challenge myself, and over time, I recognized how these habits—consistency, focus, and resilience—translated into other areas of my life.
I value running because it demands presence and effort, especially on days when motivation is low or external pressures are high. Learning to commit to the process despite those obstacles has played a significant role in shaping my character and strengthening my ability to navigate challenges beyond the sport.

I applied to become a pacer because running continues to energize and motivate me, and I see pacing as an opportunity to contribute positively to someone else’s race experience. Supporting another runner’s goals, particularly in a moment that requires both physical and mental endurance, feels both meaningful and rewarding. This community includes many dedicated and talented athletes, and I am consistently inspired by their commitment!

  To join a Pace Team, please visit the Fit2Run Pace Team Booth, located at the

Tampa Bay 28 Health & Fitness Expo Booth #613– Tampa Convention Center East Hall.