I haven't been working for LifeTips for very long, but Melanie is fantastic to work with, and I am looking forward to a mutually beneficially relationship and the opportunity to provide the services that LifeTips clients need while developing my own career as a health and fitness guru and writer. My long-term goals include developing ongoing writing relationships with LifeTips clients, and I would like to write a book about some aspect of running, marathoning, or running injuries that seems under-addressed by the current literature. I'm open to suggestions.

What books have most influenced your life?
The books that have most influenced my life are Watership Down, by Richard Adams, Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott, and The Runner’s Repair Manual, by Dr. Murray Weisenfeld. I first read Watership Down in fifth grade, and to me it is one of those books that has “re-readability” and gives me some new insight every time I read it, which I do about every other year. The same goes for the other two books, to a lesser extent. I get some new insight every time I re-read them, depending on what is going on in my life at the time.

Who are your favorite music artists?
I don’t have very specific tastes in music; my husband is the music aficionado in our family. I don’t listen to music while running, and when I’m at the gym I am willing to be subjected to whatever the gym staff chooses to play that day. I will listen to almost anything, but I confess to nostalgia for 80s music, and I am one of those people who genuinely likes show tunes. The two old tapes that live in my care are “Monster 80s” and a collection of songs from Rogers and Hammerstein shows.

What are your favorite websites and why?
My favorite website is the Weather Channel, weather.com. I’m a weather nut. I have always had a side interest in meteorology, and after I started running I became even more interested in the details of the weather so I could plan what to wear when I went out to run. I travel often, and I can check the weather channel for local forecasts at my destination.
Of course, lifetips.com is another favorite site. Seriously, the lifetips content is so diverse that if you browse around you’ll inevitably learn something new. For instance, I am much more adept at applying mascara after checking out the lifetips makeup tips site.
I also check out runnersworld.com periodically to see what’s new in the world of running.


Where else can people find you on the web?
If you search my name online, you’ll find a lot of race results, from the 10K to the marathon, as well as a variety of articles from my work as a medical journalist for a group of newspapers aimed at physicians in different medical specialties. You can find my Lifetips books on Barnes&Noble.com and on Amazon.com.



What are your professional highlights?
My professional highlights to date include the publication of two books in the Lifetips series: 101 Marathon Training Tips and 101 Sports Apparel Tips. I am thrilled with both of them and I think they can be helpful and interesting to anyone considering training for a marathon, or anyone who feels overwhelmed by the array of sports apparel available these days. I also am proud of my work for Lifetips as an expert guru on fitness and health topics, and of my freelance work for the Health section of the Washington Post. I have written several short items for the Post over the years on topics including marathons, cold weather exercise, and core fitness training.

What advice do you have for the journey of life?
Balance is important in all areas of life. I believe in working hard and playing hard, and I think it is important to keep all elements of life in perspective. Life is messy and unpredictable and doesn’t fit into neat boxes. Most problems and issues are points on a continuum, but you can set priorities, do your best, and enjoy life while keeping a balanced perspective on the ups and downs.

What are you most passionate about in life?
I’m passionate about making time for your favorite people and your favorite things. Any activity that suits your lifestyle and makes life more fun is worth pursuing and worth making time for, whether it is playing sports, traveling, reading books, writing books, or baking from scratch. And be sure to tell the people who enrich your life how much you appreciate them.

What ticks you off?
People who hold grudges bother me. Although it’s important to learn from a bad experience so you don’t repeat your mistakes, you need to be able to let bad experiences go and forgive, learn, and move ahead.

Any thoughts or ideas on living a greener life?
I’m an avid recycler whenever possible. In my capacity as a health and fitness expert guru, I also recommend recycling sports apparel and running shoes. When your shoes are too worn out to run (after 400-500 miles) ask at your local running store or running club about periodic shoe collections. Many local running stores or clubs arranges to collect shoes a few times a year to be donated to charities, often overseas. Some local charities that take other clothing will take slightly used sneakers, too. Wondering what to do with those pricey moisture-wicking socks after they wear out in the heel or toe? Put them in your rag bag and slip one over your hand for dusting or polishing furniture.



What would people be surprised to know about you?
Although I am a health and fitness guru, I also have a huge sweet tooth, especially for desserts that I make myself. I am an avid cookie and brownie baker for all occasions, or no occasion other than I felt like baking. Baking is a creative outlet for me, and I enjoy how I feel when I brighten someone’s day by baking homemade treats. Chocolate and peanut butter are among my favorite food groups.

My philosophy of life, in a nutshell, is to work hard but to play hard, too. Strive for excellence and challenge yourself in your professional life, but make time for whatever form of play recharges your batteries.