Bonnie Simmons Began To Run As A Hobby And It Morphed Into A Lifestyle
Today’s guest is a lady that loves all types of outdoor activities, which of course also includes running.
I’ve been following her running journey since she joined the ranks of the Orange Mud Ambassador Team and I’m looking forward to learning a bit more about her journey.
Let’s get started as I go a few easy miles with Bonnie Simmons!
Bonnie Simmons
One Key To Better Health
Bonnie Simmons is 49 and has been running for about 5 years.
Five years prior, she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and was forced to evaluate all areas of her lifestyle.
She had the choice to either be on medications or overhaul her diet to help control her symptoms.
Bonnie has been able to successfully manage her disease with food.
The strict diet also came with the added benefit of weight loss.
As the weight began to come off, she had more energy and started to walk more.
Over time her walks gradually turned into running.
Bonnie was enjoying the challenge that running offered and it eventually snowballed into a lifestyle.
A Smooth Transition
Bonnie had a smooth transition to running from the beginning.
She typically runs 5 days a week and enjoys being competitive with herself.
She quickly progressed up to her first half marathon.
Completing the distance made Bonnie curious if she could go farther.
A few months before races were canceled due to covid, Bonnie completed a 30k.
Along with progressing in distance, she also began to explore trail running.
The peaceful aspect of the trails immediately drew her in.
Bonnie Simmons
A Rite Of Passage
Running on trails is quite a bit different than running on the roads.
The terrain forces her to be more aware and pick up her feet more as she is running.
Even the best trail runners will eventually fall, and Bonnie views that as a rite of passage.
She is not a fast runner, by her own standards, but the trail community has been nothing but welcoming.
Bonnie often runs on trails solo and is therefore forced to rely on herself.
She is currently preparing to run her first trail marathon on April 9th.
Her ultimate goal in the future is to complete a 50k.
Trust The Training
Bonnie signed up for a marathon because she craved a challenge.
She wants to continue to remain active as she gets older.
The unknowns about completing a race at that distance make her nervous, but she knows she can complete it.
She trusts her training and will continue to put in the hard work and see where it lands on race day.
The mental portion continues to be the area where she struggles the most.
Bonnie is confident she can complete the race, she just needs to work on strengthening her mind as well.
Keep Going Even When It’s Hard
Bonnie is a mom to 3 kids that range in age from 27 down to 9.
Running is something she does for herself, but it’s also something she hopes her kids’ notice.
She wants them to keep going when things get hard because life and running are about persevering.
Bonnie isn’t afraid to try new things since she began running and she hopes her children push their boundaries as well.
Sometimes she is forced to take a step back and adjust, but she will always come back to the sport.
Running has given her courage and shown her what she is capable of.
Bonnie Simmons
Mentioned In This Episode:
Stay connected with Bonnie Simmons by following her on Instagram.
Bonnie Simmons began running for health reasons in her 40's and never imagined that it would snowball into a lifestyle. Click To Tweet
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A great inspiration of change and teaching by example! Can’t wait to hear about the trail marathon.