My name is Michelle Richards and I am a wife, mother, and RUNNER.

I have three beautiful children. Skye, age 14, Alexander, age 12, and my marathon baby Rane age 2. My first and most important job is Mommy and Homeschool teacher to my three children.

I also enjoy my 15 year career as a personal trainer (I train at our gym, Step Fitness) and love the freedom I have to get up early and get my work completed before my children even get out of bed. I occasionally help out at my husband’s business, Car X Performance, doing inventory and account returns.  I enjoy missionary work at home and abroad and love that my gym is built on the foundation that God has blessed us with, Faith, Love, Commitment, and Honesty.

I have been a runner since the age of eight when my father encouraged me to run and run fast. We enjoyed participating in 5k’s and training together and created memories that I cherish. It was not until 2004 that I actually grew to love the sport of running.

I was dared to compete in a half marathon at Disney and those that know me know I can not resist a dare like that. So in 2004 I completed that half marathon and with it set in an addiction that has grown like crazy.

In fact a lot of people really do think I am crazy. I have completed 15 full marathons, 19 half marathons, and so many 5k, 10k, and 15k races that I have lost count. I love coaching endurance racing and helping runners train and complete half marathons and full marathons. I am most proud of my 5 consecutive completions of the Boston Marathon, all of which I re-qualified for the next year.

My ultimate goal is to become the oldest woman to ever run the Boston Marathon. So you could say I plan on running for a long time.

My favorite  memory is really a very recent one and just really made me smile all over. Step Fitness Racing (the name of our run group race team) fielded three teams at the Donna Marathon Relay and on those teams were my husband, my son, and my son’s father. I absolutely love the fact that my children are racing with me and loving to run. I also love the fact that the team my son and I ran with placed 6th overall out of 177 team.

My husband and I started our running group at Step Fitness where anyone and everyone is welcome to come and join in our early morning runs for FREE…..

We have been so very blessed by each and every person that has come into our lives through this running group. We love how each runner brings their knowledge and love for the sport to share on our runs.

Running and helping people run has changed my life. My goal, with God’s help and guidance, is to share the talents and blessing that God has given me with everyone that I can reach.

After all nothing is better than a Monday Morning Run or any day for that matter………