Do you have a role model or someone who had a significant influence on your life?

I’ve been most influenced by people who quietly show up and do the work. In the running and nonprofit communities, they’re everywhere—trail workers, aid station volunteers, high school coaches, and volunteers at San Quentin who return year after year simply because it matters.

What I’ve taken from that is simple: Do the right thing, and the meaning and connection follow.

Was there an event in your life that had a significant impact or took it in a completely different direction?

Running changed the course of my life. It’s how I met my husband, Tim, and it became a grounding part of our life together.

For many years, our lives followed a rhythm shaped by running—marathon training in the fall, preparing for the Dipsea and Western States in the spring, and other races in between. The training and races mattered, but the real value was the structure and consistency it gave us, and the fact that it was something we could share.

What is unexpected about your life at 68? What pleasantly surprises you? What scares you?

Rather than slowing down, I feel a greater sense of freedom—to do what I want and spend time with the people I care about. I worry less about things that don’t matter and feel more comfortable being myself—or even being by myself. I no longer feel like I’m chasing something, and for the most part, I feel happy and content.

What’s more challenging is the awareness of time. There are things—like big backpacking or backcountry ski trips—that now feel more time sensitive, which I never considered before. I used to assume we’d always be able to do whatever we wanted and now it’s starting to feel like there are things we should do while we can. That shift is a little disconcerting, but it also deepens my appreciation for what I can still do and motivates me to keep doing it.

Who would you invite to dinner and why?

My mother and father. I would love to see them in their fifties, when they were in the thick of it—raising five children while managing careers and daily life. My later memories of them are shaped by my mother’s dementia and my father struggling with aging. I would welcome the chance to see them in their prime.

What singular nugget of wisdom would you like to share with a young person? 

Show up. Most of the best things in life come from simply showing up—being around good people and doing things that matter to you.

What’s your biggest regret?

I spent too much time worrying about things that ultimately worked out—or didn’t matter as much as I thought.

What’s your secret to aging well?

Stay active, stay engaged, and most importantly, stay connected—to people and to the things that bring you joy. Make time for the people you care about.

What would you like your legacy to be?

My family is everything to me—my husband, my children, their families, and our extended family. I hope my legacy with them is that I helped create a close, supportive family that stays connected and carries forward into the next generation. 

Beyond that, I value the friendships and communities that have shaped my life, including San Quentin, Western States, and the broader running community. I hope my legacy there is that I had a positive influence, and that the friendships I built along the way were meaningful, grounded in showing up for one another, and being part of something lasting.