My WHY - and the Why Behind VITAL
Where It All Began
As a little girl, I dreamed of being on the U.S. Olympic track team. I didn’t know—or care—what event. I just wanted to fly. To feel the power of my body moving with purpose. To push limits alongside athletes from all over the world. That dream was never about medals; it was about the thrill of pursuit, the process, and the feeling of being fully alive in motion.
I was born in Worthington, Ohio, the youngest of five mighty Harding girls. Raised vegetarian by faith-filled, Blue Zone parents, my childhood was rooted in community, travel adventures, and a deep respect for physical and mental well-being.
These values shaped me in ways I didn’t fully understand then, but now, I see them as the foundation of everything I do. Movement was a way of life, and training—whether for an event, challenge, or simply to feel strong—was always part of my DNA.
That passion led me to the world stage—but in a different way. I landed my dream job in sports marketing and event production at IMG in Los Angeles. I worked with world-class athletes, produced major sporting events, and built brand partnerships that connected fans to the energy and excitement of sport. It was fast-paced, high-impact, and filled with creativity. I loved the innovation, the storytelling, and the challenge of bringing ambitious projects to life.
That drive eventually led me into the world of digital media and technology, where I spent over 30 years at the forefront of media innovation—launching new platforms, building brands, teams, companies from the ground up.
But through it all, movement was always my constant.
I owned FitCycle, a boutique fitness studio, and taught spinning and group fitness for years. Training wasn’t just a side passion— it was who I was. I loved pushing my own limits, but even more, I loved helping others do the same. The community was everything.
Then the world shut down.
Fitness moved online, and so did I. I launched the FitLife Challenge, a virtual training community designed to keep people moving, connected, and hopeful. It was more than workouts— it was about resilience, adaptation, and proving that movement brings us together, no matter the circumstances.
The Moment It All Clicked
I didn’t fully grasp my love for endurance training until I set out to hike Rim to Rim to Rim (R3) hike in the Grand Canyon during the pandemic.
Before that, I was staying active - leading my FitLife Challenge, and keeping up with my workouts - but I wasn’t an endurance athlete, and I definitely wasn’t a hiker. So when my sister invited me to join her to take on the R3 for her birthday, my first thought was: That sounds impossible. It was bold, it was daunting, and if I was going to do it, I needed a real plan.
So, I built one.
Three months of training
Gradual hikes, increasing in distance and difficulty
Adding weight
Building vertical gain
Every day became an opportunity—to push a little harder, to adjust, and to grow. I quickly realized training wasn’t just about endurance—it was about strategy, mindset, and preparation.
And the Grand Canyon? It humbled me. I saw hikers struggling, others needing rescue. It was clear: You don’t wing the Rim.
When I finally crossed the Canyon for the first time, I was completely exhausted—but elated.
I had done something I once thought was beyond me. And in that moment, I discovered a deeper strength within myself—one I never knew existed.
The Next Big Leap
“If I could train and complete the R3, could I run 26.2 miles?”
That newfound strength led me to my next challenge: running my first marathon at 55.
I had never run a half-marathon, let alone a full one. But after R3, I thought: "If I could train for that, could I run 26.2 miles?"
The idea terrified me. The risk of injury weighed heavy. But so did the possibility of success.
That fear led me to the American Cancer Society’s Team DetermiNation, where my coach assured me: If you train smart, you can do this.
So I did.
Four months later, I crossed the finish line of the NYC Marathon.
And that was the moment I fully understood my Why.
Training isn’t just about physical endurance. It’s about proving to yourself that you’re capable of more than you think.
It’s about:
Building resilience
Pushing past self-imposed limits
Discovering untapped potential
Learning that when your brain tells you to stop, training gives you the tools to override that instinct
The team - the people who believe in you when you don’t yet believe in yourself
The WHY behind VITAL
After completing R3 and a few marathons, people—young and old—kept asking:
"How did you do that?"
Quickly followed by:
"I could never do that."
That’s when it hit me.
So many people don’t believe they can do big things. They feel a real gap between being “healthy” and taking on bold, audacious adventures.
VITAL is that bridge.
Because I know the power of training—of setting a goal, committing to the process, and becoming the person who can achieve it.
Because I know that fitness and adventure transform us—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally.
At VITAL, we help others push beyond their comfort zones, challenge their limits, and experience the thrill of discovery.
To embrace adventure, resilience, and transformation—not just in training, but in life.
My WHY
After reading Start with Why by one of my favorite leadership experts, Simon Sinek, I realized the importance of getting clear on my WHY for launching VITAL. After spending a great deal of time thinking, leading, hiking, and soul-searching, I discovered VITAL exists to create opportunities for people to train, explore, and challenge their own “impossible” together—so they can discover just how strong, capable, and limitless they truly are.
Final Thought
If you’ve ever thought, I could never do that, what if you reframed it? Instead of “I can’t” or “That’s impossible,” what if you asked, “How can I stretch myself? How can I push my boundaries?”
Growth isn’t about achieving the impossible overnight—it’s about challenging your limits, one step at a time. With the right plan, the right process, and the right community, what once felt out of reach becomes a journey of transformation.
That’s what VITAL is all about. 🚀