Meet our very own iDaph Ambassador. She is a champion for others to find their finish no matter what level they find themselves at. Below she offers a few tips for getting started (or started again!) such as linking arms with a running friend to help keep you accountable to signing up for some races to give yourself something to work towards. Read her story below and see if you can relate to starting and stopping then finding that motivation again!

In Betsy’s Words
About 3 years ago my friend and I were doing a walk for JDRF through our work and I mentioned that it was on my bucket list to do a half-marathon. She went home that day and found the one that was at the Biltmore House in March. We trained for about 6 months and did the half-marathon. I immediately signed up for another and did that one a few months later. Then we stopped doing anything at all for the rest of the year…

We both felt absolutely awful and missed the way we felt while we were training for the half so we decided we would have to sign up for races throughout the year to keep us going.

Over the past few years, the majority of events I have done (mostly running and triathlon) have been put on by iDaph.

I absolutely fell in love with iDaph Events!! They are geared towards everyone at every fitness level from the folks that are lightning fast to people like me who struggle to make it to the end. They are so well organized and so much fun I decided this year that I wanted to play an even bigger role which is how I became an Ambassador. Oh and I won’t lie…I have signed up for a couple of them just because of the awesome finisher medals!!!

Interview with an iDaph Ambassador

So you started running later in life. Is that right? Or did you run any during your school years?
Yes, I started later.

What is your favorite part of the triathlon: swim run or bike?
Swim

What are you most excited about for the rest of 2022? Any fall races coming up?
Completing the trilogy with the Black Bear Race. Black Bear & possibly the trick or trail again.

Now that you’ve run a few half-marathons do you plan on running the Asheville full marathon in 2023?!
No! lol

Speaking of races, which iDaph event has been your favorite to date and what made it so special?
My favorite has probably been the Hendersonville Triathlon and the Trick or Trail because my daughter ran that one with me and I won the costume contest. I’m a slow runner so I have to take the wins where I can get them. Lol

What advice would you give to anyone struggling to get back into running after a running hiatus?
Sign up for more races!?
“…sign up for a new (longer, harder, different) race. One that you are questioning if you can even do it. That will force you to really feel like you have to work hard to achieve it. And when you do (which you will) it’s so worth it!!!”

Well, that is my own personal struggle so it’s hard to advise on that one. I would definitely say sign up for a new (longer, harder, different) race. One that you are questioning if you can even do it. That will force you to really feel like you have to work hard to achieve it. And when you do (which you will) it’s so worth it!!!

What made you want to be an iDaph Ambassador?
I love the events so much I really wanted to help out and be behind the scenes as well as an iDaph Ambassador!

Music or no music when running?
Definitely need music!!!

Favorite running season?
Winter! I’m an odd ball. I love a cold run!!

Favorite running shoe?
I still love Brooks even though I have been trying out others recently.

“…it definitely helps knowing she is there and striving to catch up. It goes both ways. When she is having a bad run day I motivate her by not allowing me to pass or catch up to her.”
I typically run solo because my running partner is faster than me but it definitely helps knowing she is there and striving to catch up. It goes both ways. When she is having a bad run day I motivate her by not allowing me to pass or catch up to her.

We are cheering you on Betsy! Thank you for working behind the scenes as an iDaph Ambassador. Keep up the good work!