Our next Runner Spotlight comes by way of a few happenchance run-ins with no other than Scott Alexander and though it took Amber Salcedo a few years to finally become an NRC regular, she brings an impressive resume of endurance sports to NRC including swimming in high school (she held a school record that held for over 20 years!) and becoming an Iron-Woman!

Read on to learn more about Amber’s most eventful races including the 2013 Boston Marathon where she heartbreakingly made it within a mile of the finish before being stopped due to the bombing incident and the half-marathon she talked her mother into doing (swearing off any race ever again) that turned into her mom crossing the finish line asking when they could do their next one.

NRC: Where are you from and how did you make your way to the Nolensville area?

Amber: I am originally from Tacoma, Washington and have lived in seven different states including Washington, Oregon, Texas, Indiana, Ohio, California, and of course, Tennessee.  I went to school in Indiana and then started with Nissan after graduation.  I’ve worked with them for about 20 years now and when they relocated their corporate headquarters to Nashville, I moved with them.

NRC: Thank goodness for Nissan because NRC gained a valuable club member!  What do you do there and what do you like about it? 

Amber: I am in the Car-Flow department which is essentially Vehicle Operations.  My day consists of a lot of spreadsheets and is mostly an internal support role.  Nissan has been a great place to grow my career with various roles, responsibilities, and experiences.  My current role gives me lots of visibility internally, including regular meetings with our Senior VP.

NRC: Sounds like you thrive under pressure.  Speaking of that, tell us about your athletic experience growing up.

Amber:  I was definitely not a runner which was apparent after an ill-fated attempt at track early in high school.  Swimming became my sport though I had a bit of a rough start; in my first meet, I had two events and I finished last in one and was disqualified in the other.  However, I am proud to say my swimming career in high school improved significantly after that first meet and by my senior year, I held four school records, and one of those stood for almost 20 years!

NRC: So when did you finally “become a runner” then?  Was there a specific motivation to start?

Amber: I had some high school friends from Indiana come to Nashville to run the Country Music Half Marathon and I enjoyed spectating and cheering for them.  After watching them complete the race, I decided I had to do it for myself and I joined Team in Training’s group training program to prepare me for the Country Music Half and raise money for The Leukemia Lymphoma Society in 2007, and the rest is history.

NRC: Sometimes, all it takes to get motivated is seeing runners have a great time!  Speaking of a great time, how did you hear about NRC?

Amber: Incidentally, I ran into Scott not once but twice at destination races and as we got to talking, we discovered that we both loved running and both happened to live in Nolensville.  I first met Scott in the TSA security line in Boston coming home from the 2013 marathon.  That was a crazy experience because as we were waiting in line, FBI agents were interviewing us and asking for any photos runners might have captured on their phones to help them find the bomber(s).  Though Scott was a really nice guy, I still wasn’t convinced organized club running was for me.  Then, I happened to be in Carmel in 2015 cheering for some friends who were finishing their first full marathon and it was also the year that Jimmy Alexander was completing his first full marathon.  While waiting for my friend to finish, I saw the energy and support from NRC as Jimmy came in and that was the kicker for me- I decided I wanted to be a part of a group that had so much fun and cheered like that!

NRC: Let’s go back to Boston 2013 for a minute.  Tell me about your experience during that race, which was of course, so eventful in a way none of us could have imagined.

Amber: That was a crazy day!  My mom and I ran the race together (I qualified and she ran with a charity bib) and we got all the way through the course with less than a mile to the finish line when we hit a wall of people.  It was confusing and terrifying because there were obviously a lot of runners and we weren’t sure what was going on; there were rumors of a bomb, multiple bombs, and of course, a lack of known information.  It was heartbreaking to get that close to the finish and not be able to cross the line.  I was also fearful upon coming home that I’d be scared to run another big race again so I just ripped the band-aid off and ran the Country Music Full Marathon 10 days later.  I also returned to Boston for a fourth time (I finished in 2011 and 2012 as well) in 2014 and I can assure you there was NOT a safer race out there!  My mom and I finished and enjoyed our chance at redemption crossing that finish line on Boylston Street.

NRC: Wow, I am so impressed with your resilience and determination to not let that event keep you from continuing to race!  What are some of your other favorite races or accomplishments?

Amber:  I’ve completed 16 full marathons and countless half marathons.  I’d say some of my favorites are my first BQ (Boston Qualifier) marathon which was the Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach; it’s a great race- it’s flat and finishes in a nice warm tent with Irish stew and beer.  I’ve completed the Boston Marathon a total of 3 times (4 if you count coming within a mile of the finish in 2013) and I’ve also completed an Ironman- Panama City in 2012.

NRC:  An Ironman?!  You are amazing!

Amber: The Ironman is a grueling training process but I had a great group to train with, including my now-husband Patrick.  That said, I don’t think another is on the horizon any time soon; the time to train coupled with the lack of a pool nearby makes it challenging and I am not a fan of cycling- I haven’t ridden my bike since I finished the race!

NRC: Let’s talk more about NRC.  What is one of your favorite memories with the club?

Amber: It’s most recent but I really enjoyed the St. Jude Race in Memphis; I did the half and I got to know a lot of our club members so much more during the Saturday training runs and the celebratory dinner afterward.  I always enjoy a good party post-race! (You and me both!)

NRC: Who in NRC has been motivating as you’ve logged more miles with us?

Amber: Without a doubt, Wendy Mucci!  Wendy is so incredibly inclusive and when I told her I wanted to improve my speed after the Memphis race, she invited me out to run with her the very next week.  Wendy pushes me to keep going even when I may not want to but in such a kind, supportive way!

NRC: Wendy is a club favorite motivator for sure!  Tell us about how you deal with injuries or training setbacks you’ve had in your running journey.

Amber: I’ve been relatively lucky when it comes to running injuries; sure, I’ve had minor plantar fasciitis and some shin splints when I first started running but no major issues.  The toughest for me are the mental setbacks as they’re harder and less obvious on how to resolve; I mentally struggled with training for my first BQ (Boston Qualifier) attempt and I found having accountability through my training friends helped keep me going.

NRC: Let’s hope your NRC friends can keep you uplifted during your next training cycle!  When and where is your next race?

Amber: I am planning to do the Sandy Claus Full Marathon in December in Ponte Vedra, Florida.  This will be my first full marathon since 2016 and my first since having my kids.

NRC:  Wow!  That is going to be an amazing race and accomplishment for you.  Speaking of kids, tell us about your family.

Amber: I’ve been married to my husband Patrick for almost 10 years and we met through some mutual friends while I was training for the IronMan.  We have two young kids; our son is 5 and our daughter is almost 3.  My mom, Sharon, also runs with NRC and she has the best “how did you start running” story.  I recruited her to run the Disney Princess Half Marathon with me in 2008; she was not a fan of the training process during the winter in Indiana and said she would “never do another half again.”  As she was crossing the finish line in Orlando, she yelled to me asking when we were going to do another half and the rest is history- she has since completed about 30 half marathons and three full marathons!

NRC: That is such a great story and we’ll be adding Sharon to our list of future Runner Spotlights!  Last question before the lightning round… if there were no limitations, what race would you love to run?

Amber: NYC Marathon and Big Sur

NRC: Those both sound like amazing destination marathons as does your Ponte Vedra race later this year.  We cannot wait to train with you this summer and we look forward to cheering for you in December!  Congratulations and we are so glad Scott finally convinced you to join the NRC family!

Speed Round:

NRC: Favorite mid run fuel?

Amber: Blackberry Gu

NRC: What’s something you’ve accomplished that surprised even you?

Amber: I was part of an All-Women Ultra Ragnar Tennessee team and we finished in 1^st place!

NRC: Most scenic or unique run?

Amber: Lakeshore Drive in Chicago but I like running anywhere I travel

NRC: Any hobbies?

Amber: Reading/Listening to audiobooks

 

Our next Runner Spotlight features one tough woman whose running journey certainly accelerated when she began logging miles with the Nolensville Running Club. In fact, within two months of her first club run, she ran her first Rollin Nolen race, within seven months, she ran her first half marathon, and within 18 months, she ran her first full marathon! She blames peer pressure (I won’t name names…yet!) but after logging some miles with her and learning more about her in our interview, I know Caitlin Maguire is a strong and admirable woman and runner! Read on to learn more about Caitlin’s life before NRC, the story of her twin sister running over her foot on the way to school one day, her huge accomplishment of recently finishing her first marathon in Memphis, and some other destinations she’d like to travel to for a run someday.

NRC: Where are you from and how did you make your way to the Middle Tennessee area?

Caitlin: I was born in Massachusetts, but we moved to Middle Tennessee when I was a kid. I started college in Boston, but I ended up transferring to UT Knoxville to finish my undergrad degree, then out to Colorado to grad school, and have been back in TN for the last twelve years, so I claim Nashville as my home.

NRC: I know you’re a twin so what was that like growing up, especially at school?

Caitlin: I do have a twin sister, Emily, who is technically one minute older than me. Growing up, we went to different schools starting in 5th grade, so we lived pretty separate lives except for sharing a bedroom and later, a car. I usually drove while Emily finished up her homework on the way. We’d switch seats behind the school and she’d drive and drop me off at the front of my school and continue on to hers. One day I hopped out to grab my backpack from the back seat and somehow, she didn’t realize I was still there with the door open when she started driving off and ended up running over my foot. It was painful at the time but I laughed it off. A year or so later I’d forgotten about it and she mentioned it on a run for a laugh. She still feels bad about it to this day!

NRC: We are glad your foot recovered so you could run with us! When did running become a part of your life?

Caitlin: I’ve been a runner for as long as I can remember. My dad and stepmom were into running and I remember joining them for runs for fun as young as 8 years old. I always enjoyed the fun runs at school, and I ran track in middle school. I quit running in high school but picked it up again in my sophomore year of college.

NRC: Speaking of school, I know you’re a teacher. What do you teach and what do you love about your teaching role?

Caitlin: I teach high school Latin at Franklin Road Academy. I really enjoy the FRA community, the smaller classes, and my colleagues. I teach Latin I through AP Latin, so it’s incredibly rewarding to see my students start as beginners in 9th grade and advance to the highest level of AP Latin as Seniors. Having been there as long as I have (going on 12 years now), I enjoy being one of the more tenured teachers; for the graduation procession, we line up in order based on years of service, and I keep moving closer to the front!

NRC: How did you hear about NRC?

Caitlin: I searched running groups in my area and came across NRC. It looked like a great place to meet people, and boy, was I right! After one Wednesday run, I was in and haven’t looked back.

NRC: What is one of your favorite memories of NRC?

Caitlin: There are so many to choose from, but one of my favorites has to be one of my first nights at NRC in 2021. I came inside to claim my free beer from Scott (which is an amazing way to suck people in!) and I sat down next to Wendy Mucci. Anyone who knows Wendy Mucci knows that within five minutes of me sitting down, she had asked my entire life story and was attempting to set me up with her single son. After letting Wendy down easy (“I’m too old for your son”), we had a good laugh and the rest is history. Another favorite was the trip to Memphis this past December to go run the St. Jude Marathon with several NRC club members, including carpooling and rooming with Kendra Mugnano. It was such a fun trip seeing friends at the Expo the day before, enjoying a pre-race dinner as a group, and running and seeing fellow NRC friends on the course! While an injury slowed me down more than I would have liked, I still had a great time completing my first marathon and credit this group for peer pressuring me into achieving a marathon finish about 18 months after my first run with NRC!

NRC: Wow, 18 months from your first run with us to completing your first marathon! Tell me about that running build up from your first run with the club to the marathon. Who motivated you to complete such a feat?

Caitlin: Everyone in NRC is such an inspiration! Before I started running with NRC, my typical run was 4 miles and my “long” run was 5 miles, and my longest run ever was 8 miles. Through some peer pressure from club members like Andy Michael and some encouragement from Wendy Mucci, I ran Rollin Nolen 10 miler within 2 months of joining NRC in October 2021 followed by my first half marathon, Oak Barrel, in Spring 2022.

NRC: Those are both great races, if we do say so ourselves. What are some other favorite races you’ve completed?

Caitlin: Rollin Nolen was a favorite- I love the scenery of that course and enjoyed the training runs previewing the course with some of my Saturday morning running crew. I even finished 3rd in my age group (which, by the way, I am still waiting on my Age Group Winner print, Scott Alexander!). I love the Oak Barrel Half Marathon because it feels like family with so many fellow NRCers out there running it. Memphis Full Marathon was also one of my favorites, though it was difficult. I suffered an IT band injury about 5 weeks before Race Day and it definitely made the marathon more challenging than I hoped it would be. I saw several fellow NRCers on the course that day which was helpful, but I’d say the wheels really fell off for me around mile 15. Miles 20-22 were especially rough and I suffered some serious calf cramping after jumping up for a high five; luckily, there was a gentleman who massaged my cramping calves and a St. Jude nurse who gave me some crackers and Gatorade to help with the cramping. After saying “I am sorry for whatever I said while I was cramping” to both, I made my way to the finish (albeit a bit slower than I hoped) and crossed that finish line to ring the bell!

NRC: So it sounds like you’ve dealt with a running injury recently; how have you dealt with running injuries and what helps you get through them?

Caitlin: I really haven’t had any significant injuries (knocking on the wood table) from running. Sure, I’ve suffered some bad blisters in the military but the IT band and knee pain during marathon training was a whole new experience for me. The injury physically hurts but I also find it mentally challenging to not run or limit my mileage. I miss my friends when I can’t run with them! That said, I find progress, even if it’s slow, always helps; I am still recovering from Memphis and I remind myself to be grateful to be able to run even just a few miles with the group and I know I’ll work my way back towards my pre-injury self.

NRC: I think we can all relate to that! That said, what is your current training goal?

Caitlin: To be pain free! I don’t have a race on the calendar so I am focused on increasing my mileage slowly and safely to four runs per week and working my way back to my weekly long run being closer to 10 miles. Oh wait, I do have a race on the calendar- Oak Barrel in April! (I think every runner in NRC can relate to this too- having so many races that you “forget” about a half marathon coming up in a few months!)

NRC: Let’s talk about your family. Do they live nearby? Do they run too?

Caitlin: My dad and stepmom ran growing up and I recall joining them when I was young. My mom’s a great supporter but not a runner herself. I have an older brother and a twin sister, Emily; Emily runs a little because she has to stay in shape for her Air Force physical fitness test. All of my family is back in Massachusetts, but Emily’s stationed only about 4 hours away right now and we’ve really enjoyed spending more time together since she is so close. Emily and I being twins makes for a fun dynamic and like all healthy sibling relationships, there is certainly a rivalry between us. I like to say that though Emily outranks me, I can run faster than her! (We bet Caitlin can run faster than a lot of people in any branch of the military!)

NRC: Thank you and your sister for your service. Can you tell us more about your time in the military?

Caitlin: I joined the Army National Guard back in 2012. It sounded like a great fit for a teacher- just one weekend per month and a few weeks in the summer. That said, one weekend turned into 4- and 5-day weekends and a few weeks in the summer turned into what feels like the whole summer. (Sounds eerily like some suspect running-mileage math in NRC!) That said, my school has been amazing at arranging long-term substitutes while I’m away for training. I deployed for a year to Ukraine, but I’ve also spent some time in Germany and I’ve got another stint in Eastern Europe coming up this spring.

NRC: Back to running… what is a race on your bucket list?

Caitlin: Before I joined NRC, I didn’t know destination races were even a thing! However, I love to travel so I’d be game for anywhere. Berlin and London come to mind as great spots to log some race miles!

NRC: We are sure no matter what destination you choose, you’ll crush the next race and I’m sure you’ll have some NRC friends excited to join you for the adventure. We also hope you’re healthy for Oak Barrel in a few months. Congratulations and we are so glad you’re part of the NRC family!

Speed Round:

NRC: Favorite mid run fuel?
Caitlin: NRC introduced me to Clif Blocks and I love them; the Salted Watermelon is my favorite flavor!

NRC: What’s your hidden talent?
Caitlin: I can juggle – up to 4 balls and 3 clubs! I taught myself while deployed with a lot of free time.

NRC: Most scenic or unique run?
Caitlin: Tie between the Rollin Nolen and the Mongolian desert.

NRC: Any hobbies?
Caitlin: Cycling (both road and mountain) and indoor rock climbing.

Our next runner of the month found her way to NRC by way of a teacher friend at Centennial High School and we are so happy that our group “aced the test” when it came to keeping Kendra motivated to continue running, even in the heat and humidity of Tennessee.

Kendra Mugnano is known to be one of our most consistent and fastest ladies in the group, but she claims she wasn’t always that fast or athletic (I assure you that she’s just being hard on herself!).  She has completed many half and full marathons and is hopeful to add a few more big ones to her resume.  When we reached out to Kendra to congratulate her on being selected as Runner of the Month, she was surprised and didn’t think she was interesting enough to fill an article.  Even after running many miles alongside her (mostly me trying to hang on at her faster pace), even I learned a few new interesting things about her and her running history!  Read on to get to know Kendra a little better, including how her husband signing her up for a relay eventually led to her running her first marathon, how she grew closer to one of her running best friends, Liz, over a trash can in the Columbus Marathon, and some of her favorite races thus far and those to come.

NRC: I know you’re not originally from the Nashville area, so where did you grow up and where else have you lived prior to moving to Tennessee?

Kendra: I was born in the very small town of Norwalk, Ohio and grew up in Lodi, Ohio. I have also lived in Connecticut, Indiana, and Cleveland, OH most recently before settling in nearby Brentwood.  My husband, John, is an attorney for Bridgestone, so his job is what ultimately moved us from Cleveland to Nashville.

NRC: You’re pretty darn fast!  What kind of running did you do growing up and did you play any other sports?

Kendra: I didn’t even start running until my late 20s!  Honestly, I was not very athletic as a kid; I played softball and the coach put me in right field (which for those not as familiar with baseball and softball, generally gets less action from hitters) with another girl who also wasn’t very good.  The only other extracurricular of note was Color Guard in high school.  I didn’t have much time for sports growing up because I was determined to eventually move away from home, and so I started my first job in high school as a cashier at the Ben Franklin Five and Dime Store to save for college.

NRC: Speaking of college, I know you and your husband met at Miami University in Oxford, OH and now your oldest son also attends there.  Tell us more about that!  

Kendra: My dad’s cousin worked at Miami University and I attended a wedding near campus in middle school; I fell in love with the campus and knew I wanted to go there eventually.  It is also where I met my future husband; John and I met at Miami my sophomore year of college.  We met in the dining hall through mutual friends and when I called him a few weeks later to ask him to be my date for a sorority party, he said yes but thought I was someone else since making plans then was done solely by phone.  He was a gentleman though (he didn’t act too surprised) and we had a great time and now, the rest is history; in fact, this November, we have been together for 33 years and married for 27 years!  We have two sons, Johnny (who is a junior at Miami University studying to be an engineer) and Joe, who is a high school senior at Father Ryan.

NRC: Speaking of your husband, John, you say you blame him for really getting your running journey started.  How did that come to be?

Kendra: While John was finishing law school at Cleveland Marshall, we moved in with his parents for four years and running became my escape from my father-in-law, who was great to be around, but living under the same roof for four years was a lot, especially in the summer when I wasn’t working as a teacher.  I would go for longer runs to have some time and space to myself!  Once John finished his law degree, we moved into our own home just in time to welcome our firstborn, Johnny, home.

NRC: I know getting summers off to run and read are some of your favorite parts about being a teacher but what else do you love about the profession?

Kendra:  I have taught high school math for 30 years now and seeing the growth and progression of the kids as they grasp new concepts is incredibly rewarding!

NRC: We’ve talked a good bit about your husband, John, and how he got you into running so let’s talk about the rest of your family- your sons and dogs; do any of them run too? What kinds of things do y’all enjoy doing together?

Kendra: Our oldest son, Johnny, is a Junior at Miami studying mechanical engineering and he plays on Miami’s club hockey team; when Johnny was about 10, he would ride his bike alongside me for some of my longer training runs (sounds like a great way to spend time together!).  Joe is our younger son and he’s a Senior at Father Ryan who used to play on a travel hockey team but now just plays high school hockey.  Our family dog, Velvet who we lost recently was a great training partner to run with; we now have Bella and I hope to eventually run with her, but she is still young (about 14 months old) and while she loves walking, she still has some opportunity with pacing (you and me both, Bella!).

NRC: Back to running, tell us about one of your first races that really got you more serious and competitive about running.

Kendra: The Akron Marathon has a big relay and John’s company, Bridgestone, sponsored several relay teams.  John volunteered me for a team since he didn’t want to do it and this was a big deal because people from Bridgestone came from all over the country to compete and they placed me on the “fast” team.  We raced well and I had a great time getting to know some of my relay teammates, especially a woman named Sherry.  Finishing that relay motivated me to do the Twin Cities Marathon in 2012 alongside Sherry.  Since then, Sherry and I have run several marathons including Columbus and Big Sur.

NRC: How did you hear about NRC?

Kendra: It was a fellow teacher at Centennial High School, Preston Johnson, who used to be an NRC regular on Wednesday nights and on the trails Saturday until he moved to East Nashville.  I had just finished a few marathons in a short amount of time and Preston recommended NRC as a great way to train, stay motivated to run, and of course, meet great people!

NRC: We are so glad he sent you our way!  What is one of your favorite things about NRC?

Kendra: I love the camaraderie and longer conversations we can have on our Saturday long runs that keep me motivated and help the miles go by much faster!  I enjoy catching miles on Saturday around Nolensville and Brentwood with friends and fellow NRCers, David Behnen, Andy Michael, Andy Dabson, Caitlin McGuire, Andrea Klint, Scott Alexander, Kyle Prince, and Michael Teague.  We recently had a perfect fall run up Burke Hollow and while the incline was a bit steep, the fall foliage was beautiful and the temperatures were perfect for this native Ohioan.

NRC: Who are some great runners you find motivating in your life?

Kendra: All of my Strava friends who I see out there each and every day logging miles, especially folks like Jason Loyd who run some crazy long distances and then get right back out there again within a day or two.  I also stay in touch with my running partner, Liz, from Ohio, who I met through teaching; we travel to races together and hold each other accountable for training.  When I ran the Columbus Marathon, I incidentally found Liz getting sick alongside the course; I stayed with her the whole race and we finished together. Since then, Liz and I have run Columbus again (no vomiting this time!), Boston, Big Sur, and the Disney Princess Half Marathon.

NRC: What have been some of your most notable or favorite races you’ve done?

Kendra: NYC Marathon because it was my PR (3:31) and it’s also NYC!  Big Sur was beautiful though very challenging with hills; the road was so cambered for water run off and it made the long distance run on it more challenging.

NRC: What are some races you’re currently training for?

Kendra: I am running the Half Monkey the first weekend in November and Liz and I will be tackling the hills of the Boston Marathon again in April 2023.

NRC: If you could run any race, what would it be?

Kendra: I’d love to finish the 6 major races- I still have Berlin, London, and Tokyo left having already completed NYC, Chicago, and Boston.  London would be first on my list and in fact, I’ve started looking at hopefully making that race happen in 2024.

NRC: We are sure no matter what big race you pick next, you’ll crush it and we can’t wait to cheer for you.  Congratulations and we are so glad you’re part of the NRC family!

Speed Round:

NRC: What is your favorite mid-run fuel?
Kendra:  I don’t eat while I run, except for maybe a few gummies or Clif blocks and a couple sips of Gatorade during a marathon.

NRC: What is something surprising about you that no one in NRC would guess?
Kendra: If I was not a teacher, I would be a weather girl!  (I am with her on this one- they get to be wrong often and keep their job!)

NRC: What is one of the most scenic or unique places you’ve run?
Kendra: Big Sur Marathon and running the Manitou Incline outside of Colorado Springs (it’s about 2,700 steps with 2000 ft of elevation gain in about a mile!)

NRC: What are some of your hobbies?
Kendra: Reading during the summer (I usually read 14-15 books in a 2 month period)

Our next Runner of the Month didn’t come to the club fresh off the couch on her way to a 5K nor did she stalk us on Facebook before braving a Wednesday night run.  Nope.  Allison Kusch found her inspiration to lace up with NRC crewing for her then boyfriend, Kyle Prince, deep in the muddy, hill-acious trails of the Stump Jump 50K with the infamous DES trail tribe!  Talk about a making a big impression! 😊

That was four years and many epic finish lines ago – from trails to road races and a ton of Wednesday/Saturday runs in between.  That’s why we couldn’t believe it when we reached out to Allison for this interview that she was a little shocked to be called out as “Runner” of the Month.

Well, we are here to tell you, Allison is not only 100% a tough runner, but a positive force on any course and one of the most kind and welcoming members of our crew.  But, there’s so much more to her incredible story, so read on to learn more about what got her into running, how her family almost got arrested on a football field one summer vacation, and the exciting walk down the aisle that will have our entire running crew high-fiving.

NRC:  So, you’ve been a part of NRC since 2018, but we’d love to know more about your childhood and life before moving to Nolensville.

Allison: I was born and raised in Murfreesboro (aka The Boro)! Which, fun fact, is the geographical center of the state of Tennessee. I am a Riverdale High School graduate! After graduating high school, I moved to Norman, Oklahoma for college (Boomer!). After graduating college, I moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma (just… Boo!) for my very first “big girl” job! Within a year, I was promoted to the company’s headquarters which brought me full circle back home to middle Tennessee!

NRC: Hah!  Bet that was hard moving from OU into the land of OSU!  Growing up were you into sports, the arts, academics, all of the above? 

Allison: My parents put me and my brothers in sports as soon as we were old enough – or at least old enough to pass as old enough!  I was on travel teams for soccer, basketball, and softball growing up. My travel softball team made it to the Softball World Series three years in a row which, as a kid, was THE coolest!! We got to travel to North Carolina, Oklahoma, and even Florida where we got to play in Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando! I played sports throughout high school, lettering in softball and volleyball. I was not ready to give up sports in college, so I joined my sorority’s intramurals team. We played every sport they offered – flag football, water polo, basketball, pickle ball, you name it! You are lookin’ at the winner of mixed-partner horseshoes, all-girls whiffle ball, and 2-time winner of 2-(wo)man sand volleyball! Safe to say I did not peak in high school! 😉

NRC: That’s so awesome!  I vote you as the new NRC horseshoes and whiffle ball committee chair!  LOL!  Sounds like your family was really outgoing and supportive of you in all those adventures.

Allison: My family is truly the greatest!!! I feel so lucky to have such a tight knit family! I don’t know what I would do or who I would be without them! Most of my family still lives in Murfreesboro, with the exception of my mom who lives in Norman. We try to get together for a Sunday-funday as often as possible. And if nothing else, I try to see my two sweet little nephews once a week. They love “family dinners” and I literally cannot say no to that!

NRC: How cool that you have so many in your family right down the road and such a blessing that you all are so close!  What awesome memories you must have over the years. Any memorable moments from your childhood that stand out?

Allison: Part of the University of Oklahoma’s fight song is “Sooner born, Sooner bred” and I truly was! My parents went to and met each other at OU. My brothers and I did not stand a chance! We have been wearing Crimson and Cream since we were born! Growing up, the main characters of our bedtime stories were Barry Switzer, Bill Sims, and Brian Bosworth!

Over the summers when we were little, our parents would take us on road trips to see our grandparents who lived in Oklahoma and Kansas. We would always stop in Norman on our way to Enid, OK (which was about an hour and a half north). One time we pulled up to the stadium and as luck would have it, the gate to get onto the football field was wide open! It was my dad and brothers’ dream come true! They walked onto the field, taking it all in, throwing and catching fake passes and in less than a minute the campus police came rolling up, sirens blaring! Apparently there were silent alarms on the field! Whoops! Needless to say, we did not get out to look at the field on any future trips!

NRC: No way!!!  That is so awesome!  So, you mentioned that work brought you back to middle TN.  Would you share a little about what you do?

Allison: I work for a company that partners with state and government officials to provide halfway housing and residential reentry facilities for justice-involved individuals. We provide housing, meals, programming, and services to help assist returning citizens with reintegration into their communities. The goal for us is to provide the men and women in our care with the tools they need to stay out of the criminal justice system. It is so amazing to hear the success stories of people who have the odds against them and come out on top!

NRC: Wow!  I can imagine that is challenging, but really rewarding!  Now, word on the street is that you and Kyle “Birdman” Prince, of the NRC DES crew, are planning a wedding for sometime this fall?  If so, will you be wearing sneakers with your dress?

Allison: It is true!!! That cutie is off the market!  We are getting married in November overlooking the Smokey Mountains! Shoes are undecided at this point, but I’m thinking maybe some heels to match Kyle’s forest green suit for the ceremony and then switching into some flats for the reception so we can tear up the dance floor! Weddings are just a fancy party after all, aren’t they?!

NRC: Absolutely!  That’s gonna be one epic party!  Y’all are such a cute couple!  How long have you known Kyle? Any fun or favorite dating stories? 

Allison: I met Kyle through work! I procrastinated a project I was responsible for and I emailed Kyle at 9pm the day before it was due to ask for information I should have gotten from him WEEKS before! He came in early the following morning to meet with me and bail me out!

Through conversation in future work projects (that I did not procrastinate on) I figured out he was a runner! So he quickly became my Educational Services Subject Matter Expert annnnddd my running Subject Matter Expert!

Funny dating story – Our relationship evolved so organically that we didn’t even know when we “officially started dating” until 2021! We finally decided it was something we’d like to know, so we sat down at a brewery in Asheville, NC and started pulling up old bank statements. Our first date was November 18th, 2017!

NRC:  Heh!  Not pulling up old bank statements?!  That’s awesome!  Bet that was fun looking back on all the fun times to finally find that first date. 😊  

So, I guess I should ask about running at some point!  LOL!  When did running become a part of your life? 

Allison: One of my brothers talked me into doing the Murfreesboro Middle Half in 2017. That was my first long distance race ever. He had done a few half marathons before and was very dedicated to his training program. I noticed what a difference it made for him both mentally and physically. And I was at a point in my life where I needed the discipline and a positive change. So I signed up! He ran every step of the way with me while my dad and stepmom rode their bikes around to cheer us on at as many points in the race as possible! (We ran 13.1 miles and they biked 8! I told you my family is the best!)

NRC:  That is such a fun race and a perfect one to start with as your first!  When you did start running with NRC? 

Allison: I let Kyle talk me into a flat route run with NRC, pre-COVID when the bigger group was still meeting at Town Hall. I had recently moved closer to Nolensville from the Hermitage area. For the first time in my life, I was living by myself and was in a “new city.” Running was part of my fitness routine and I needed to meet people in the area, so it just made sense!

Kyle and I moved in together in the spring of 2020 and COVID was in full force! Wednesdays were always off-limits for date nights because “on Wednesdays we run!” so I thought… if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em! 

The club was doing Webex Wednesdays, but a handful of folks met IRL at Campo and got some miles in from there! Kyle and I were training for a race we hoped would still take place in the fall, so I used the NRC Wednesday run as my mid-week run and eventually found friends around my pace to run with on Saturdays for my long runs!

NRC: What is one of your most memorable moments with NRC?

Allison: While we were on a long-weekend trip with some of the DES crew in September, some of the less “runner-y” wives, such as myself, got talked into signing up for the Stump Jump 10 Miler… that was in October! I had never run on a trail a day in my life, but within a week of us getting back home I had all the gear I needed (fake it ’til you make it, right?!). We got out to Smith Park two times a week for the 6 weeks we had to train! And we freaking did it! We crossed the finish line marking our first trail race and our longest time spent running. It was so awesome! To this day I am still so proud of us! (Shout out to Grace Michael and Angie Bivens!)

NRC: YES!  That is so awesome!  One of the first times I talked with you, I think you were training for the Yamacraw 25K or some other uber-tough trail race. Would you share a few of your favorite running accomplishments or races?

Allison: It is soooo crazy to me to think this all the way through, because even now, today, I truly do not even consider myself to be “a runner.” There is just so much I don’t know about the sport. And honestly, for me personally, I don’t even consider it “sport” when I am doing it!! It is just exercise, or better yet – social hour! 

My first half marathon was the Murfreesboro Middle Half in 2017. To date, I have run two 25ks, a 20k, 8 half marathons, a 10 miler, and a Ragnar (Chattanooga to Nashville) – with a handful of holiday 5ks peppered in here and there!

NRC: What races are on your calendar for this year?

Allison: I talked Traci Boswell and Wendy Cook-Mucci into signing up for the Swinging Bridge Half Marathon trail race which we just ran at the end August! I also have the Ragnar Bourbon Chase in KY in Sept. and the Middle Half (again, I know) in October!

NRC: Aside from Kyle, of course, are there any NRCers who have made a difference in your running story?

Allison: I would not show up to any run/race/etc. if it were not for Traci Boswell or Wendy Cook-Mucci. Traci is the BEST training partner and running spouse a girl could ask for! Why she slows down to run with me I will never know! But boy am I thankful she does! And I think EVERY NRC member could say this, but Wendy is the absolute best cheerleader! She is the team mom, the action photographer, and the life of the run party! I would not have been able to complete my longest trail runs without her being my carrot, motivating me to keep moving forward. Both Traci and Wendy make it easy to escape into conversation and forget about how mundane/hard/hot/etc. running can be. These two ladies are NRC gold!

NRC: 100% agree!  For our final question, if you could go back in time and give a message to yourself, when you first started running, what would you say?

Allison: Keep lacing up those shoes and keep showing up for yourself!

It really is so hard to put into words, but more than anything running (and running with NRC) has helped me grow so much, in many different aspects! I have become more mentally tough and I now KNOW I can do hard things! Running has brought me closer to my family (who shows up to cheer for me at all of my races), closer to my best friends from college (who, even now from four different states, are my running accountability buddies each and every month for the last three years), and it has given me new friends (NRCers) who make me WANT to show up on Wednesday nights and get up early on the weekends – which if you know me really says a lot! Last but not least, running gave me my future husband! It does not get better than that! 

NRC: You’re so right!  You can’t beat that!  Congratulations and best wishes for the big day and we look forward to lots more celebrations with y’all in the future.  We’re so glad you’re a part of the NRC family! 

SPEED ROUND – Allison Kusch

Go-to hype song:  My “power song” is a Marine Corp running cadence chant – for me it is sentimental and inspiring and it puts things into perspective!

Game Changing Gear: What is a run-life without Body Glide and Feetures?

Game Changing Fuel: I have started putting Liquid IV in my water and it is definitely a game changer! Flavor, calories, electrolytes, salt – it is LIFE in this heat! Also, there is nothing better than post-race chocolate milk and you cannot change my mind! 

Favorite summer treat:  ICE CREAM!!!!!!! I am surprised I have not yet gotten kicked out of Jeni’s for sampling basically every single flavor they have every single time I go in!