Current Residence
Santa Clara, CA
High School
Piedmont Hills High School
Current Affiliation
Tracksmith, New Balance
Profession
Pharmacist, San Mateo Medical Center and CVS
First Trials qualification
No
Number of attempts to qualify
1
College(s)
San Jose State University, Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy
Career Highlights
15th, 2022 Grandma's Marathon (2:36:26, PR); 2nd, San Jose Half Marathon (1:15:59, PR); 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials; 4th, 2017 Los Angeles Marathon (top American)
Family
I am a single homeowner. I have an older brother who lives in Oregon and has three boys, and I also have an older sister. I picked up my work ethic from my dad, a Marine Corps veteran, who pushed me to focus on my education and be the first in my family to graduate from a four-year university. He taught me to be persistent in my work and strive for improvement in everything I do, and that sort of mentality is what I put into running.
Greatest Accomplishment
Qualifying for the Trials.
Interesting Story
I could talk about overcoming all the obstacles - broken ankle, RED-S, college, relationships, living situations, work - but instead I want to share about how an OTQ became a goal for me. Ever since running my first marathon, the Santa Rosa Marathon in 3:08, where I placed 3rd female overall, I realized that I could aim higher than Boston, and that I just needed to shave off 23 minutes to qualify for the Trials. I decided to hold off on serious training until after graduating from pharmacy school. But, while in pharmacy school, I continued running and doing races for fun and ended up improving and qualified for the 2020 Trials. This was all possible because I had such a supportive community - Loma Linda Lopers, Riverside Road Runners, Loma Linda University, Freshii (sponsor), Precision in Movement (physical therapy), a coach (MJ), and Judy and Alan who believed in me and supported me as I trained throughout my years in pharmacy school.
Favorite Post-race Indulgence
A bowl full of berries
Favorite Breakfast
Avocado, egg, & lox toast and a green juice!
Favorite Motivational Quote
"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31
Favorite Running Memory
The 2017 Los Angeles Marathon, where I ran my first race as an elite, beat my PR by 13 minutes, placed 1st USA female, 4th overall female, and finished in a time that would have qualified for me for the Trials (2:37). I also met my role models: Ryan Hall at the pre-race shakeout run, Kara Goucher at the expo, and sat next to Deena Kastor at the pre-race dinner! I remember driving home after the race and thinking, "did that just happen?"