About me

I recently got pretty into running and ran my first race ever (a 10K) in May 2010.  I qualified for the Boston Marathon when I ran my 2nd marathon in December 2011.

I blog here because I want to encourage others to believe in themselves and FOLLOW their dreams!  I believe that anything is possible with enough sweat, hard work, and determination.
A little about my background...
  • I live in Virginia, born in Washington, DC.  I went to a teeny tiny middle-high school, followed by the University of Virginia (BSc Biochemistry) and Virginia Commonwealth University (BSN Nursing) for a second bachelors degree.
  • I'm starting my masters/doctorate in nurse anesthesia at VCU in August 2013.

I love to travel.
Favorite trips of my life:
= bike trip across German with my dad after graduation from UVa
= bike trip across Spain with a group of friends after high school graduation


My Abridged Running Story
I first started running a couple years ago when I started working at my new job (full time, but only three days per week) and I had a ton of free time on my hands.  I only ran for fun...strictly no races, I just would go on "jaunts" of a couple miles.


I eventually worked my way up to running 8 miles a few times per week and then decided to try running a 10k.  My first racing experience included 2 10Ks in one weekend and I was HOOKED!


My running journey has not been without a bump or two, including a pelvic stress fracture in 2010, which took me out of running for 5 months.

 Highlights of my running life thus far include:
  • Running a 3:26 marathon in May 2012
  • Qualifying for Boston at the Rehoboth Marathon in December 2011
  • Running a 42:44 10K in March 2012
What's next?  Let's find out together!!!

57 comments:

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    1. I am! My username is Neon_Katherine...but I'm not always so great about updating it :(

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  2. Where did you go to HS? I am from Alexandria - I bet we know a million people in common! Love the blog and thanks for the support of my ridiculous headwear :)

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    1. I went to a small little magnet school called HB Woodlawn Program in Arlington!

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    2. How funny! I'm from DC too, went to Virginia Tech, moved out to San Francisco, and now back in DC (although I'm dreaming of SF). But my sister went to HB Woodlawn, she's a few years older than you though, She loved it.

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  3. How cool! I'm from Richmond, Va. (Found you through Healthy Tipping Point).

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  4. Found your blog from Rose Runner! You are one speedy lady! GL with your marathon training.

    P/S Love the pics in front of Hotel Del :)

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    1. Aw thanks! I made it back to see the Hotel Del in May, a day or so before I ran the OC marathon, LOVE that place!!

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  5. Just found your blog. Lovin' it so far. I was born in Fairfax, grew up in Florida, and live in DC now! :)

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  6. Oh my gosh! Katherine--I'm so sad I didn't know you in Richmond, too!! Glad I found you (or I guess you found me!) now, though! I will definitely be following. And if I'm back in RVA we'll have to meet up. I really want to do the half in November (did it last year and LOVED it!), so here's hoping!

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    1. Aw I just saw this comment, I remember when I first found your blog :)

      I can't wait to meet up with you in DC soon!!!! We must make a date :)

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  7. Just found your blog! Love it. I also just got into running & blogging. And hahah i have to say, I love your running clothes. I'm all about the brights. Good luck training for your marathon--i can't wait to read about how you do!

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  8. Love your new blog!! Love reading the posts!! Keep it up ladyyyy!!!

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  9. UMMMMM...why have I never read this before???? you are sooooo freaking fast girl! all that neon must look like a blur to people ;)

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  10. haha! Love your freaking blog! I have to say I love wearing flashy clothes too running ;) you should see my running shoes! Anyways just had to give a shout out that I love your blog! I just started one too..check it out some time http://inkedrunnerette.blogspot.com/

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  11. Seriously, the more I read, the more it becomes apparent that you NEED some pink laces. Girl, you were born to SWEAT PINK with us. ;)

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  12. Hi! Just found your blog (and commented on your marathon!! AMAZING) and wanted to say HEY since I live in Charlottesville and just ran Richmond last month, too. I was a few minutes behind ya :)

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    1. Yay thanks for stopping by!! I went to school in Charlottesville, LOVE that town!!

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  13. Hey! I just found you on Terzah's site - holy cow - you've got strength and talent! Love to see another running nurse out there (I worked L&D forever, now an ObGyn NP in private practice). Can't wait to read more about you!

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    1. Hooray for running nurses! Thanks for stopping by!! You inspire me with all your crazy marathons :)

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  14. you're so cool. i love your blog.

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  15. Biking through Germany? Nice! I grew up close by Munich :)

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    1. Woohoo Germany! I also did an exchange program in Aachen for a few weeks one summer when I was in highschool. The bike trip across Germany was my favorite trip over there though! My dad was with me and it was such an amazing experience.

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  16. are you in the bay? /i see your photos..wanna meet up for a run?!

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    1. I would love to meet up for a run....but I live in Virginia!!!!! Next time I'm in San Fran, I'll hit you up :)

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    2. awesome! I saw your photo of the GG bridge so thats why I thought you might be here, but I should have read more :)

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  17. Fun blog! I thought maybe you live in the bay area from your blog photo (where I am) but it looks like Virginia. Cool photo on the bridge.

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    1. Thanks! I loved running across the San Francisco bay bridge...that day we did a cool running tour up there from the marina area downtown. We also did a fun run through that park that led down to the Ocean, very beautiful as well.

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  18. I found you while searching for info on pelvic stress fractures. I may have one (I am getting an MRI on Weds. and will know for sure)and I am also from Richmond, VA. Could you tell me more about your experience with this injury and recovery? Thanks!

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    1. Oh I have SO much to say about this!

      I had NO clue what mine was... It started SUDDENLY during a jog and I wasn't able to jog another step. And it didn't get any better. So I went to the MD after like 2 days, the MD thought it was a hamstring insertion site tear. Told me to wait on it, see if it got any better. X-rays were negative, as they often are with stress fractures.

      Meanwhile at work, the physical therapist in my ICU examined me for like 4 minutes and figured out what it was. The key was that it hurt when I landed on it or beared weight on it.

      So I went back and had an MRI one week later and it confirmed the stress fracture in my inferior pubic ramus.

      So it took me 5 months before I ran again. Four and a half months to heal until it stopped feeling bad and then I gave it another couple weeks, just to be sure.

      And I've been perfectly fine and injury free since!!

      Please e-mail me at neonblonderunner@gmail.com to talk more about it. Let me know what your MRI shows!!!!!

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    2. Hello,
      I found out today from the MRI that I have two fractures in the pubic ramus bone. Not stress fractures, but FRACTURES. I have to see a specialist to find out more. Initially diagnosed as a groin pull, but...anyway. I am pretty devastated right now. I am holding out hope that the orthopedist will give me more info. Once I wrap my head around this I will be emailing you for real life info if you don't mind. Thanks - Shannon

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    3. My gosh Shannon, I am SO sorry to hear about your pelvic fractures. Please keep me posted on what the specialist says!! Please e-mail me and we can talk about it more!

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  19. Well, I went to the orthopedic doc today. He reviewed my xray and MRI and basically just prescribed rest. I am not on crutches, because he basically said that I "walked in here, I should be able to walk out". Ha ha! He is a runner so that helped that he understood that just healing is not good enough. He is sending me for a DEXA scan and to a Sports Medicine doctor he likes outside of his practice. He says most docs would just say I should stop running! Boo to that. He is concerned because I am only 33 that I got a fracture and I was not running crazy mileage each week. I am a little nervous about that but it'll probably be another week before that is scheduled. He did say maybe 4 more weeks and then we could MAYBE start running a bit to work on my form, gait etc and see if something there could be part of the cause behind a fracture if the scan comes back ok.
    Four weeks seems like I can almost see light at the end of the tunnel! Remember my fracture happened in February, so we are already looking at 2 months ago that it happened, and he says he can see where the bone is calcifying on the xray. Here's to hoping!
    Sleeping is almost impossible. I asked him what the best sleep position was and he said there really isn't one. Ugh. Any advice on that? BTW, I emailed you a few days ago! Thanks!

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  20. A Richmond runner! I'm always looking for more so I'm glad that I found your blog - hopefully we'll run into each other at a race soon

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    1. Yes, look for me in the ugly neon outfits!

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  21. I found your blog through Faster Bunny! I recently moved to D.C. and am trying to run sub-3:30 at NYCM this year. Congrats on OC! I've run that race 3 times and absolutely loved it (minus the concrete water thing at the end...so boring!)

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    1. Oh my gosh how did I not see this comment until just now?!

      I would also LOVE to run a sub 3:20 marathon too! I'm going to hop over to your blog and check out your story, thanks for stopping by!!

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  22. Very new to your blog!
    Found it through the hash tag #colormerad on twitter!
    I love your blog ! So hopeful!

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  23. Hi Katherine,
    I was nominated for a blogger award and I have to nominate 15 other bloggers.

    I’m sure you’ve received this already, but your blog has impacted my running/healthy lifestyle.

    Check out the post: http://thechangeofpace.wordpress.com/2012/07/01/versatileblogger/

    There are some rules if you want to participate:

    (1) thank the blogger who nominated you (2) include the award image in your post, (3) copy the award image to your site, (4) give seven random facts about yourself, (5) nominate 15 other bloggers for the award, and (6) let those bloggers know they’ve been nominated.

    Thanks, and keep up the inspiring writing (and running)!

    Abby

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    1. Abby I already read your post!! :)

      I get your posts delivered to my inbox so I think that I must have seen it right when it went up :)

      Anyway, thank you SO much for nominating me, you are too sweet.

      I did this award last year when I was just getting started, but it'd be fun to do again!

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  24. Ah I love your blog!! Congrats on qualifying!!! You go girl!!

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    1. Awwwww thanks! It meant the world to me :)

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  25. Hi Neon Blonde Runner!
    I found you blog through Google, I googled richmond, virginia blogs. Anyway, my name is Gerald and I am planning to run the Richmond Marathon this November 10, 2012, I am planning to leave New York Friday night and get there race day. I need somebody to pick up my bib Thursday or Friday because there is no race day pick up. Do you know somebody who can help me with that? Thanks.
    My email is:geraldqt@yahoo.com

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  26. I LOVE finding this site!
    Recently started running--short jaunts only though--as a way to de-compress from grad school. This is incredibly inspiring, and I'm going to channel you on my runs from now on!

    Awesome photo shoots too. Absolutely love it

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    1. I love you Cate!!!! Can we please please run together when we are both home at the same time?

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  27. What do you do with all your worn out running shoes?

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    1. I actually donate them to a local thrift store, I figure someone can get some more use out of them!

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    2. Have you always done that? Or did you used to toss them out?

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