Mary Namestnik

Connect What fuels your passion for health and fitness?

I want to be a good example for my children but I also wanting to be capable of doing all the things I dream of. That involves being able to run far and fast and be able to recover quickly so that I can do it all again. I’m also really passionate about setting the example that women with children can do huge physical feats that take a lot of dedication and training time.

What’s your favorite way to train or stay fit?

My favorite way to train and stay fit is by either running, walking, playing with my kids, or teaching HIIT classes. I find a lot of enjoyment in finding sneaky ways to involve kids and family time with fitness. We’ll go on family hikes, walks, and bike rides frequently when the weather is nice. Aside from working it into my life with kids, I took up ultrarunning as a hobby. I love watching the miles tick upwards and feeling my heartbeat and measuring my fitness through racing.

What would you do with $20,000?

I would use the money to start my own racing company and create a location where beginners and advanced runners can all train together and race together. I would love to use it to build a local community for runners to gather and push themselves together.