I have been athletic my whole life. I started playing basketball in 3rd grade, then soon after added soccer, then in Jr. High I dropped soccer for volleyball and Track (still playing basketball.) All through High School I was a three sport athlete, and I could eat whatever I wanted. Some days I had basketball practice at 5:30 am then volleyball after school, and all of my sports overlapped. So, let’s just say I was burning a lot of calories every day. My junior and senior year of high school I tore ligaments in both of my ankles, shattering my dreams of playing college sports. I would have had to have ankle surgery to play competitively, something I did not wish to pursue at the time.
When I went to Mississippi College, I stuck to playing sports for fun, worked out occasionally, and I slowly started to gain weight over the next four years. Not a lot of weight, but for me, going from 122-143 was a lot.
spring 2008 spring 2011
In January of 2009, I went to Disneyworld for a fun girls weekend and got to watch some of my friends run the Walt Disney World marathon. As I stood on the sideline watching people cheer for complete strangers, tears rolled down my cheecks and I vowed to not only start running again and run the Disney half marathon the next year, but also to be an overall more healthy person. I have definately had some ups and downs but I am on the right track. Not only did I run the Disney half marathon in January of 2010, I ran the Disney full marathon in 2011! I went full circle from watching that race in 2009, to running it myself in 2011. It is something I NEVER thought I could accomplish. I know for a fact I could not have accomplished any of this without God, and my awesome supportive family helping me through every step of the way. Join me on my journey to eat healthy, tone up, and be an overall happy, healthy, person!
In March of 2011 my husband and I packed up our life and moved to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. It has been a wild ride learning a whole new area, making new friends, finding new running routes, a new church, etc. It has been challenging but also a great adventure.
I love God, my husband, my family, my furbabies Bella and Sassy, being active, watching tv, text messaging, blogging, being outside, reading, chocolate, Disneyworld, and many other things! I am so blessed to have an amazing life. Come visit and get to know me better. I love meeting new people and making new friends, so please don’t be shy!
Love the new site! Keep up the great work
I love how you were teary eyed and so inspired watching the Disney marathon, and then decided to run it yourself too!! Like your blog
Thanks for reading! And keeping with the teary eyed theme, I was holding back tears crossing the finish line this morning!!
I’m loving your blog! I always enjoy your posts on the DIS and reading your reports. I love how real and honest you are! Can’t wait to read more and keep up the great work! I struggle myself with getting my runs in and maintaining a healthy lifestyle…it’s definitely a day to day process. Good luck!
Thanks so much for reading and commenting! I love hearing from readers. You are right it’s definately a daily thing. I have bad days all the time!
I just found your blog (from chicrunner) and love it! I love what got you into running and look forward to reading about your journey!
yay I love new readers, thanks so much for psoting and letting me know you are out there lol!. I love comments! Thank you for reading!
I know what you mean. I practically squeal when I get new comments on my blog!
You and your guy make the sweetest couple.
I can’t wait to be a pup pup mama too. One day!
I would love to complete the Disney Princess Marathon in the next year or two
Love reading your blog. xoxo
aw thanks. I love my fur babies! I am afraid one day when we have kids they are going to be jealous!!
Hi – just wanted to say thanks for letting me know about the Couch to 5K running plan. I looked it up online and started the program this week!
that’s awesome! let me know how it goes! I would love to hear your thoughts on it, comments, how it worked for you etc. You could write a guest blog for me!
OK – I will let you know how I do with this new plan of mine! I am trying to get in shape for a vacation to Disney World in June.
oohh good luck! I am doing a Disney cruise in June!
Hi – just wanted to let you know I am on week four of Couch to 5K. So far, so good. I feel like I have gotten in better shape and my jeans are fitting a little better! It is a good program.
that’s great! I am so glad you started it! Hopefully you will catch the running bug and stick with it!! Good for you!!!
I love reading your blog! My husband and I recently started running after I walked the Princess half marathon in March. We have our first 5K this Saturday. We normally have to push 2 kids in a jogging stroller so we are excited to see how we do without them!!
congrats! Racing is so addicting! good luck in your race, I will be running a 5k this Saturday, too!
of course Disney is the best place to race!
you are so adorable!! i gota get caught up on your blog-but you sound like a running beast!
haha you are too funny. I wish I was a running beast!
Hi again – so I just started week eight of Couch to 5K – I had to repeat week six twice, so I am really just at the week 7 schedule, but I can now jog 20 minutes without a break! That is a lot for me
Jogging burns lots more calories than walking and I have been more mindful of what I eat now, because it is just so darn much work to burn off those calories! Congrats on the Disney travel job!
thats GREAT! when you get done I would love for you to do a guest post if you would like, so keep track of your progress! are you going to do a race at some point?
I would love to do a race sometime this fall. Thanks again for letting me know about Couch to 5K.
you are more than welcome, I am so glad you are sticking with it!
Can I just say, I LOVEEEE your blog….but everytime I look at the url, I take a double glance because at first I ALWAYS read it “running with ass!” LOL.
aw your sweet thanks for posting! Haha I have thought that of my blog name before but no one else has ever mentioned it! Hehe
You have a great thing going on with your blog! I would love to run the Disney races once, but being from Holland, well, I’d have to make a holiday out of it!
thanks!
you could so make a holiday out of it, just run the race at the beginning of it so you can have fun and relax the rest!
I just found your blog–looks like you have made a ton of progress on the running front! I can’t wait to read more!
thanks so much for reading! I appreciate it!
Skinny Runner recommended your blog and now I’m a subscriber! Great washer and dryer by the way
Keep up the great work!.
-aprile
aw thanks so much! I love my readers!
Hey! Skinny Runner sent me over here as well. Looking forward to reading more!
Jess
hi! Love that skinny runner!
Eeeeek!! You work as a Disney Travel Agent!! SO COOL!! Disney is home away from home for meeee! I love it!! I love everything you believe in!! so awesome!! sign me up!
haha lol! If you have any trips coming up I can book for you! and if you have already booked through Disney I can takeover the reservation!
I’m so glad I found your blog, it’s very inspiring! ~Love your photos! Keep Running!
~Take Care
thanks for the sweet comment!
I saw your post on healthy living blogs and decided to stop by!! Love your blog and good luck training for your marathon!
i bet the disney is a great race to run! that sense of excitement in that place probably motivates you right along
it is b/c there is so much to look at! For the full marathon you get to run through all 4 parks, I can’t wait!
I just found your blog and I have enjoyed reading it. I did the Disney half in 2008 and have a goal of doing the Disney full in 2012…
thanks so much for stopping by! That’s exciting! I hope you get to do it!
[...] Running With Sass loves the Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride tea. Her workout favs are sweaty bands and compression socks. I want to get compression socks so I can feel like a Skinny Runner badass. Seriously that girl is a running machine. [...]
OMG! I love your doggies!! Are they poodles?? So cute! I just stumbled on your blog via fitblog chat! You are adorable!
lol thanks! yes they are both toy poodles. Sassy, the black one is 9, Bella is 2.5 they are my life! thanks for reading!
I just came across your site and I love it!
We actually have a TON in common. I’m a freshman in college running track, but in high school I was a three sport athlete from 7th grade on! And to add icing on the cake, I love Disney! Me and my family have made an effort to go every year since I was 5! I’ve always wanted to run in a disney marathon, but just haven’t had the chance.
I’ll definitely be a ‘frequenter’ on your site!
thats awesome thanks for reading! Let me know if you need a disney travel agent
Disney races are the best you should really try to do one!
I came upon your blog tonight (link from the running skirts website) and love it! I’ve done two halfs but walked 99% of them. I’ve put on so much weight and have vowed that 2011 is going to be my year to get in shape and RUN a half marathon. (Your blog is inspiring!) Happy New Year!
Hi! so glad you found my blog! You CAN do it! Take baby steps so it’s not so overwhelming. I started with just being able to run one mile, and added on from there.
Love the new site, Heather! It’s awesome! And congrats on the marathon! You’re a rockstar!
aw thanks so much!
Yeah! I love your site! Came across the link in the disboards – you helped me with some trip questions back in ’09 and we are taking our kids back for a surprise trip this December – long story short – I’ve begun a quest for healthier living and this week has been a total funk for me! So thank you for your ‘re-inspiration’ as my goal is to run the Princess 2012, after I make my goal weight for our December 2011 trip!
hey! so glad you found me! so glad to hear about your new healthy habits! have you already booked your december trip? you know I’m a Travel agent
Yes! Just in January! I didn’t know you were doing that yet or believe me I could have easily said “Here ya go!” Haven’t booked in Feb. yet for the Princess 2012 weekend! I think it’s going to be a girl’s trip!
Did you book through disney or another TA? Because we do takeovers!
Through Disney!!
I can take over the reservation and handle your payments, dining, documents, etc!
Hi! I just found your blog through Twitter
and am now following you on Twitter as well 
Have to catch up on your past posts, but read your review on the “6 weeks to 6 pavk” and will be trying it out tonight. I’m a runner as well and will be running my second half in June. Needless to say, I’m totally stoked! I’m hoping to get some money and start traveling to race. I’d LOVE to run Disney one day. Look forward to reading your blog more
hi! thanks for reading! Disney races are the best!
Heather, I am a high school track coach with a female athlete that has been having dizzy/lightheaded episodes along with collapsing, during races and intense track workouts. I saw on a different blog that you to had these issues, even passing out, when in college. I would like to pick your brain regarding your ultimate diagnosis of hypoglycemia and other related symptoms you had in college.
Thank You
sure no problem! shoot me an e mail.
I just wanted to say I really enjoy your website. I have been in sports and running all my life as well but didn’t start long distance (10 milers, 2 half marathons, and 1 full 26.2! ) till about 3 yrs ago. I enjoy it and I am always looking for great tips and fun races out there! I am also very curious about the running skirts as I have always been a shorts runner and I’m always up for anything that is more comfy!!. I Look forward to learning more on your site! Have a great day!
thanks for stopping by! Running skirts are So freeing, no shorts riding up, comfy, fashionable, and awesome! You won’t want to wear anything else!
Heather,
I have found your blog/web site interesting to read. In some ways we could not be any more differerent and in others similar.
I have never been athletic, do not like running and do not wear running skirts
I do like chocolate and other junk food, I do find motivation on goals and have a deep satisfaction in beating my own achievements.
Understanding the journey others take to reach a similar goal is so interesting and in some ways motivational.
I did not start running until my 50th Birthday and did so because I had started exercising 12 months before with distance walking and had injured my knee with speed walking and found that with a knee support I was able to run pain free while I could not speed walk. Now 2 1/2 years later I am training for a full marathon after completing my 1st & 2nd half marathons last month.
I still don’t like running but I do like the achievment
Life can be strange. Keep up the good work.
thanks! I think it is awesome that you are running! way to go! I hear you on loving the achievement/feeling. Its great!
Hi Heather! I have been reading your blog since May when I was getting ready to head to Disney World. It encouraged me to seek out more bloggers for inspiration, and I have finally set up my own blog! Thank you! Now that I have a Twitter account and a blog, I’ll definitely be following. Who knows, we may end up doing a blogger meet at an upcoming Disney race! (I’m past due for one; I haven’t run Disney since the 2005 1/2 Marathon.) Have a great vacation and birthday!
hi there! thanks for stopping by! so glad you decided to set upi your own blog! comments like this make my day, thank you so much!
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Hi Heather!
I wanted to let you know that I found your blog through a #RunMS tweet and am so happy I did! I live in Long Beach and I am excited to find a “local” blogger! I have a private family blog, but am thinking I may start a public training blog once I start training for the RockNRoll Mardi Gras Half. It will be my first, and after reading your race reports I am SUPER excited to do it! In your recaps you talked about tearing up at certain points during the race-I’m with ya sista! because I was tearing up just reading about your experiences! I am always looking for a running buddy since my hubby isn’t very fond of hitting the pavement. I am @KristynKG on twitter
Ah thank you for tne sweet comments! I am glad you found my recaps helpful. It is a really fun race! So glad to “meet” another local blogger!
[...] And I found Heather! [...]
Hello,
I would love to partner up our two running blogs!
Josh
Stumbled across your blog (and have now favorited it!). Just started running this year with my goal of running my first half marathon in February 2012….the Disney Princess Half!!! I am registered and so excited! I hope I’ll get to see you there. And I love running in skirts.
thats great, good for you! running skirts booth will be at the expo
Love your Disney marathon story!!!! So inspirational!
thank you!
Hi there! This is an incredible story! It’s amazing how much impact what we feel emotionally & physically reading you whole story. I’m excited to check out more from your blog!
Aw thanks for stopping by!
Love your blog, I too live on the gulf coast. Mobile, AL…I do many races in the Gulfport/biloxi area. One of my favorites being the Pursuit of happiness at the the Gulf Islands Waterpark, mainly because you get in free to the waterpark all day, lol (its the little things in life).
Cant wait to catch up your blog and to follow it. oh and i guess I need to venture out into the running skirt world, yall make them look so cute and comfy. lol
I just stumbled upon your blog when searching for WDW marathon reviews/recaps (running it next year!). You have a great blog with lots of awesome info!
I live on the MS gulf coast too (definitely don’t find that too often!). If you have any good running routes that you used to train for WDW marathon that would be so wonderful! 
Jess
awesome! Hello neighbor! I run the OS bridge a lot and along front beach and biloxi beach!
Wow, Heather. Your story is really inspiring. Keep it up!