We met Sarah earlier this year and had the opportunity to listen to her story and why she started working out. If you know someone that doesn’t think they can run, walk, or be healthy, tell them to think again. Even when we asked her to be our Runner of the Month for November, she kept saying she didn’t deserve to be profiled. We 
disagree. Thanks for inspiring us, Sarah!
~The Runners Edge
Name: Sarah Eastlund
Age: 35
Hometown: Antelope, MT
Miles Run Per Week: 3-12 depending on my workout schedule. I haven’t been doing long distance runs the past 2 months as I am working on building up my “new to running” muscles and toning up after losing so much weight. I never thought that long distances would be easier for me, but they are! Working on my pace and shorter distances proves to be much harder!
Age You Started Running: 35! March 8th was my first day! (first day of half marathon training class)
Currently Training For: I am doing the Elk Ramble and Turkey 8K in November to finish out my 7 races for a Hoodie! I also have a Spartan Sprint in May and you will see me in March for round 2 of half marathon training!
Favorite Race or Run: Honestly the Missoula Marathon training class was my favorite event in 2015. I learned more about me and what my body is capable of doing than I ever thought possible. The people I met were supportive and encouraging and I learned a lot about running. Going from never running to jumping right in at 5 days a week was interesting! But the class really guides you through the process and you are ready by the end. Running a half marathon straight through was a big achievement for me at the end of the training.
What Inspires You to Run? The fact that less than 2 years ago I was told by a doctor that I was too overweight to run inspires me to keep working on my goals and to keep pushing my body to new levels of being active. Now that I have lost weight and I am able to run I want to keep improving my pace! My knees are no longer in jeopardy of not holding me up and I feel free when I am running.
Running Solo or With a Group? Group for sure, but I tend to have more runs alone than groups just due to schedules. Running alone is much harder and takes more mental strength I find. Running in a group pulls the competitiveness out of me and I refuse to stop!
Favorite Quote: “There is only one person you spend your whole life with, and that is yourself. If you aren’t ok with you, there is an issue.” Unknown
Words of Wisdom: Wisdom is something I am nowhere near figuring out. But I do know that life can definitely throw us some curve balls. And there is nothing wrong with getting sucked into them at times. But you have to find a way out. Because life is what we make of it. And life will never be better unless we make it better. Moving on from the curve balls will only make us stronger and sometimes you can surprise yourself and find a whole new life that was waiting for you to grab onto and run with.
Anything Else You’d Like to Add: Thank you Runner’s Edge and Run Wild Missoula for taking me in and treating me no different than if I was a long time skilled runner! I was scared to death to walk in to that store and feeling like I didn’t fit in. But I quickly felt comfortable and confident there. The staff is ridiculously amazing!
