Until recently I have been and on and off lifter. I started at the age of 12 to help with strength and size for football. I had great gains and continued pretty religiously throughout high school and my football days. After football I stopped lifting though and slowly got fatter and less athletic. I would periodically lift but without a plan I wouldn't see gains and eventually stop. A few years a go I got into long distance running. I really enjoy that and it is my true passion. However, the last few years running has been really hard on my body. I have had a couple of reconstructions of a knee and torn meniscus in both as well as arthritis. I knew that if I wanted to continue running I needed to strengthen my legs to continue.

I love lifting because I know it is making me a better person one day at a time. I know it will help my running and everyday I lift the endorphin releases helps my mental health