About

Welcome to EatVegRunChicago, friends! Thanks for following my experimental journey of meat-free marathon training. While I like the idea of blowing it out and following a straight plant-based vegan diet, I cannot bring myself to say farewell to eggs, cheese and Greek yogurt. I ~~like~~ adore eggs and eat them just about every day. The idea to try a modified plant-based diet came to me while on a road trip in Michigan. To pass time, I listened to Scott Jurek’s audio book, “Eat & Run.” In case you aren’t familiar, Jurek is an ultra-running bad ass who attributes much of his success to a strict vegan diet. I figured if he can successfully run on veggies, so can I. Humans are all the same, right?

I have been running since the summer of 2012. For me, running started as a way to meet new friends and get back in shape. My 30-something body was morphing into something unrecognizable and since I couldn’t turn back time, I had to take action. I never dreamed of running more than three miles and certainly never thought I would register for a road race of any sort.

Living in Dallas at the time, I joined a local run group – Luke’s Locker – for their Thursday night social run. Runners typically covered three to six miles with the promise of beer, queso and fun at the end. I liked the finish reward, so I was all in. The first time I ran with the group I met a few runners who were training for a fall half marathon. Within a few weeks they convinced me to join them for a Saturday long run. The long run came with an even better reward — breakfast tacos & beer. Who would pass that up? Not me, not ever. After a few Saturday morning runs with the group, I was hooked. And by hooked I mean I was convinced to register for the Allstate 13.1 in the fall and had no choice but to log plenty of weekly miles to ensure I could complete the course. I will never forget the feeling of crossing the finish line of my first half marathon. I felt like I conquered the world; like there wasn’t anything I couldn’t do if I really wanted to.

Fast forward one year and a half dozen half marathons later and I registered for my first full marathon. Remember that incredible feeling I got when I finished my first 13.1? Well, that was replaced by the ugly cry of incredibly happy tears and overwhelming pride when I took my last step to complete the Cowtown Marathon. Since then, I have completed a total of 11 half marathons, three full marathons and two 200-mile relay races.

I love the sense of accomplishment that running and racing brings. The sweat and the sunshine have a way of filling me up and give me a sense of purpose. We all have a word that describes who we are, and I am always proud to say I am a runner. And for the next six months, I will have two words — vegetarian runner. Sounds like a win-win to me.

I now live in Chicago with my husband, “B” and our two Chihuahuas, Audrey and Maggie. I am starting this meat-free journey in preparation for the Chicago Marathon in October. If you’re an aspiring professional iPhone photog like me, follow along on Instagram — @eatvegrunchicago.