This article was originally published in the Lansing State Journal on July 7, 2017 Love-hate relationship. That’s how I would classify my feelings about running, at least back in college. I used to joke that I became a runner because I wasn’t coordinated enough to play any other sport. Between cross country in the fall and track and field in the spring, it was enough to keep me busy growing up and even got me a scholarship to Michigan State. What an incredible experience it was to run in college! I loved running fast, being a part of a team, competing, and chasing goals I always thought were just out of reach. What didn’t I love? The injuries. The tendonitis, shin splints, plantar fasciitis, and every ache or pain that seemed to sideline me nearly every time I felt fit enough to race well. Season after season of training through hard workouts, eating healthy, restful sleep, and challenging races, I would inevitably end up with an injury that would shut it all down. Running seemed like a double-edged sword: train hard enough to run fast but not so hard that you get injured. It was a tricky balance, and one I seemingly lost more often than not. After five years on the rollercoaster of collegiate running, I knew I needed a break. My body needed a break. That’s when I started working at Playmakers and was invited to my first Good Form running class. As someone who was constantly plagued with injury, I signed up. What did I have to lose? The class was simple. It taught me that running was not unlike other sports, that there was a technique that could be practiced and correct form played a crucial role in keeping you healthy. For me, that included achieving injury-free status. Turns out, my former collegiate runner self had a thing or two to learn. Fast forward almost six years later and I’m a Good Form Coach. I’ve taught a few hundred in-store classes and outreach clinics across the Greater Lansing area and have been running for the six years I’ve been at Playmakers. During this time, I’ve raced a handful of marathons, trained through pregnancy, and now I’m pushing our 18-month-old daughter in the stroller on runs around town. More than that, I no longer suffer through continuous injuries the way I had in the past. It’s been six years of running with Good Form, and I’m loving it. I cherish the opportunity to meet new people and introduce them to Good Form. If I’ve learned anything special from teaching it, it’s that Good Form is for anybody. It’s for all the “I’m new to running” runners and the “I’ve been running since before you were born” runners alike; for the middle school kid joining the track team and the grandpa who wants to run alongside him; the 4-minute miler and the self-titled jogger... It doesn’t matter what type of runner you are, what you’ve been through, or where you’re going. Good Form helps you get out and enjoy it. Because of Good Form, I’m back in love with running. Come check out a class (they’re free) and see how it helps you too!