Feature Friday: Mom On A Mission To Inspire

Every Friday we chat with one of our blog content network contributors to find out what most inspires them to be fit and find adventure every day.

This week we're chatting with Lisa Rini from Got 2 Run Now.

Lisa is mom, a marathoner and a RRCA certified running coach on a mission to inspire and motivate other athletes to keep moving forward. She believes that it doesn't matter how slow you go; as long as you keep moving you're one step closer to the finish line and that's what matters most.

Read more to find out how she fell in love with running, her favorite inspirational quotes and her wise advice about running marathons.
—Katie Rosenbrock

The Active Times: How did you first become involved in Running?
Lisa Rini: I first became involved in running during high school. I always enjoyed running whether it was during PE, or just to get outside and run around my neighborhood for fitness. Later on, after having my second child, running became not just a way to get back into shape, it became a passion.

What are the wisest words you ever heard about running?
"If you want to win something, run 100 meters. If you want to experience something, run a marathon." ~Emil Zatopek (Olympic gold medalist)

What inspired you start your blog?
My blog Got2RunNow.com started in 2009 as a result of my passion for the sport of running. Initially, blogging was a way to hold myself accountable for my own goals, as well as to inspire other runners to not give up on theirs. 

How do you judge the success of your blog?
Hearing from readers that they decided to start training for their first 5K (or farther), or, that they are taking steps to live a healthier lifestyle because of reading my blog. 

What's the greatest joy you get from running?
There are many joys I get from running, but, the feeling of accomplishment and achieving goals that may seem unattainable when I first set them. Crossing the finish line at the 2011 Boston Marathon comes to mind as one of my greatest running accomplishments.  

What's one thing people don't know about running?
Running is the second highest calorie burning workout behind cross-country skiing.

What's the biggest challenge you've had to overcome while running?
Not to let me inner demons get the best of me. I can often be my own worst enemy. 

What's the one mistake you've learned the most from?
Respecting the distance of the marathon; 26.2 miles is a long way to run, and often I think many runners don't realize the importance of having proper training/coaching. 

What advice would you give to someone who's new to running?
Make sure you get off to a good start by first having a proper shoe fitting by a running store or shoe professional. Second, make sure you are wearing running apparel that wicks sweat away (i.e. no cotton t-shirt or jeans shorts). Socks designed for running are also very important to help ward off blisters.

What's one piece of equipment you would never be without?
My running shoes- Brooks Women's Adrenaline GTS 14.

If money were no object which piece of equipment would you buy?
An Alter G treadmill.

What's one book everyone should read about running?
What I talk About When I Talk About Running (A Memoir) by Haruki Murakami. 

Who do you think is the most inspirational figure in running?
Meb Keflezighi. In April 2014, Meb became the first American man to win the Boston Marathon since 1983. Two weeks shy of his 39th birthday; this win made him the oldest winner of the Boston Marathon since at least 1930. 

What are you passionate about outside of running?
One of my favorite activities besides running is cooking, as well as trying new restaurants. I would definitely consider myself a "foodie". 

What's your favorite quote?
My favorite quote is by the late General George S. Patton- "If you are going to win any battle, you have to do one thing. You have to make the mind run the body. Never let the body tell the mind what to do... the body is never tired if the mind is not tired."

I love this quote because during those times that you physically want to quit, it is when you have to be mentally strong to stay physically strong. 

What's at the top of your running bucket list?
The Big Sur Marathon and the Honolulu Marathon.

What, if anything, did you most recently knock off your bucket list?
Last fall, I became an RRCA (Road Runners Club of America) certified running coach. I have wanted to cross that off my bucket list for a while.

What is your least favorite word?
Can't. I don't like being limited or having limitations when it comes to running. You will never know your limits unless you push yourself to them.

What would your life be like without running?
Without running my life would have a void. I love all types of fitness, but nothing compares to my love for running. 

Where is your favorite place to be?
The beach. I even love running on the beach. There is just something so powerful, yet tranquil about being on a beach, by the ocean.

Read more about Lisa and her running adventures at got2runnow.com.