Running the Extra Mile for Denver Zoo

For sixteen years, I participated in both club and high school levels of competitive gymnastics. Unfortunately, I was forced to retire after my senior year due to repetitive injuries to my ankles. After nearly five years of inactivity, I began my running journey in spring 2022 as a means to improve my mental and physical health. Taking that step was a whirlwind experience, especially as someone who never ran and had little endurance. Throughout these past two years, running has slowly become a passion of mine, and in honor of turning 25 this year, I decided to push myself to complete a considerable feat. In just a few months, I will be participating in the Denver Colfax half marathon on behalf of the Denver Zoo!

The Denver Zoo is a leader in connecting people to the awe and importance of wild animals while providing unparalleled care, educational experiences, and local and global conservation efforts that help save wild places and wildlife. More than 350 employees and 600 volunteers passionately support their mission everyday: Inspiring Communities to Save Wildlife for Future Generations. Part of this race's draw is that we will be running directly through the zoo! I'm so excited to be achieving one of my goals for 2024 while supporting such an essential foundation.