Here at runladylike.com, Fridays are about sharing the inspiring stories of fit people who motivate all of us to be better tomorrow than we were yesterday. My Friday FITspiration series profiles runners, triathletes and casual exercisers who are making choices every day to be as healthy as they can be – in both huge ways and through simple, small victories.

For some people, running has been part of their lives for as long as they can remember. That is certainly the case for Natalie Mitchell of Nat Runs Far who grew up with parents who loved to run and be active. Not only did she inherit a love of running as a young person, but running continued to bring her many blessings and surprises. Her husband proposed after the LA Marathon, and she has run a personal best of 3:23 in the marathon. Today, Natalie shares her ups and downs with the sport we all love, proving that we can all bounce back from running heartache and injury and be stronger. I’m excited to introduce you to this positive and determined mom of three who is ready to rock the Boston Marathon this spring.

When did you start running and what inspired you to start?
I started running at the age of seven. My parents loved to run, and I remember going to local parks with them while they ran and desperately trying to keep up! My Dad would run 14 miles to work several days a week, which was super inspiring to me! I loved talking to him about his adventures and what motivated him to run that far. His answer was simply that he loved running and fitness. Although my Dad has never run a marathon, he continues to stay fit today with lots of walking and weight training.

My Mom was a model when I was growing up, and fitness was a huge part of her life. She also loved to run and incorporate yoga into her routine, which she still continues today.

I went on to run cross country and track in high school and college. Shortly after college, I started running marathons. (In addition to six marathons, I’ve also completed four triathlons). My parents made fitness a lifestyle for our family and it makes me really happy to do the same for my kids.

Your husband of 14 years proposed to you at the end of the LA Marathon after secretly training for the race. Tell us about that amazing day.
The day my husband Jerold proposed was such an incredible day. Jerold and I met at a friend’s wedding in Laguna Beach on a beautiful Fourth of July weekend. We instantly hit it off and started dating long distance. Two years later, he moved to LA and was living down the street from my apartment. I was training hard for the LA Marathon, and I was really excited about achieving a PR. Jerold told me that he had zero interest in ever running a marathon and he would be content with riding his bike with me during long runs. Little did I know, but Jerold was secretly running every night to train for the LA Marathon. He had a master plan: run the marathon and propose at the finish line.

Marathon day arrived, and I was focused on running a strong race. He walks me to the starting line and immediately took off his sweatshirt to reveal a marathon number on his chest. All I could say was, “What in the world are you doing?!” He told me he decided to run the race and had been training for months. He wanted to show me that he really supported my training. His only request was to meet at the finish so I could cheer for him when he crossed the line. I ran the marathon and afterwards, immediately got too cold from the weather. I ended up in the medical tent, and ruined his plan without realizing it. We finally met up hours later in the hotel and he kept saying he wanted to talk to me. All I could think about was going home and getting into the bath and didn’t want to stop and talk. Finally, he convinced me to stop for a moment so we could talk (I still had no idea what was about to happen).

He told me the story of Pheidippides and how he ran the marathon to deliver an important message. Jerold told me that he ran 26.2 miles to deliver the most important message of his life. He then got down on bended knee and proposed. I was a sweaty mess, but it was the most awesome moment ever! We’ve been married for 14 years, and every year gets better and better.

What running accomplishment are you most proud of so far?
I’m proud of my race at the Chicago Marathon (time: 3:23). Even though I didn’t get the time that I ultimately wanted, I achieved a big PR. I worked really hard for that marathon and it was a big moment for me. I knew when I crossed the finish line that hard work really does pay off!

The past year or so has been a really hard one for you. You’ve had to undergo knee surgery just days before the Boston Marathon and give up running the race. You’ve had a long recovery. Tell us what happened and how this experience has made you a better person and runner.
Where to begin! I had three tough pregnancies, which resulted in not being able to run until I delivered. I was always able to get back into running again after the babies were born, but I had not run another marathon since Chicago. I ran a few half marathons, 5Ks and 10Ks, but mostly ran on my own for fun and fitness. I knew that the marathon was important to me, but I just couldn’t focus on it.

After I had our third baby in 2013, something clicked in my mind and the burning desire was back. I knew I was ready to start training again. I waited until winter 2014 after I stopped nursing our youngest child and started slowly building a base again. I picked the Ventura Marathon as my goal race, and I had a couple of lofty goals: Qualify for Boston again (I had qualified twice before and had never run the race) and run a PR. I focused a lot on my training that summer. Basically, if I wasn’t taking care of my kids, I was working on an aspect of my training. September arrived and I ran the Ventura Marathon. I was on pace to achieve my PR, but some things that were out of my control went haywire and I kind of fell apart at mile 18/19. It was also very hot with zero shade at that point. I went on to run and got the BQ with a time of 3:32! I was slightly disappointed in my time, only because I knew I was capable of so much more. I decided to embrace the fact that I was going to Boston after 3 babies: I was back!

Shortly after the race, my knee started bothering me. I had taken one week off for recovery already but realized I needed more time. By the end of September, I went for a run with friends and was still in a lot of pain. I slogged my way though and knew at that point it was something serious.

Many doctor appointments later (my doctor even had me take six weeks completely off thinking that would solve the problem), I found out that I had a piece of torn cartilage and an osteochondral defect in my knee. After many consultations and interviewing several doctors, I knew that surgery was the only option if I wanted to run again. I couldn’t believe that I wouldn’t be running Boston and even crazier was the fact that surgery was scheduled a few days before the race!

What did I learn from the experience? Patience. Patience like I have never, ever experienced before. I had to give up control and let my body do what it needed to do: heal. My doctor said the defect had been there for perhaps a few years, so it wasn’t the marathon training cycle that caused the problem. My family rallied around me, taking over the big parts of my life, helping to take care of my kids, cooking for us … everything! My church was also so amazing and supportive as well as my children’s school. I will always be so grateful for our wonderful community of friends and my family. It was a long healing process … a brace and crutches for three months and it felt like forever before I could put weight on my knee. For eight long months, I wasn’t able to run a single step. This entire experience made me really appreciate what a gift running is and I will never take it for granted.

What advice would you give someone who is sidelined with a running injury to help them get through?
Follow your doctor’s advice and let the injury completely heal. It takes a lot of patience, but it’s worth it! Also, focus on the things you CAN do, like swimming or biking to stay fit if that is possible. Try and stay positive. One idea is to start a gratitude journal. Every day, I write something in my journal that I’m thankful for. It really makes a difference in your attitude!

What is your running mantra or piece of inspiration you use to keep you going with the miles get tough?
During a marathon, I tell myself that I’ve worked hard to be here. Don’t leave anything on the road. Zero regrets!

You are a mom of three beautiful children. What tips would you offer to the moms or moms-to-be out there when it comes to training and racing while juggling everything else?
Life is going to be messy sometimes. You have to let go of some things. I had an issue with having a messy house and everything not being perfect all the time. It’s the type A runner thing I guess. But, I’ve learned that the most important thing is spending quality time with my children and providing healthy home cooked meals for them. That, along with my training, is a lot to juggle. Some days, there are going to be toys on the floor, some nights you are simply too tired to get all the dishes done. At the end of the day, it’ll all be there tomorrow. These days, I’d rather read an extra story to my kids or play with Legos than worry about if my house looks perfect. Believe me, it took a while to get to that point!

What running goals do you most want to accomplish during the next year?
I’d like to run a really solid race in Boston this spring and then run a fast fall marathon in 2016. I have some time goals that I really want to achieve and I’m willing to do what it takes to make it happen. I feel really lucky to have a supportive husband who takes my goals as seriously as I do. That is invaluable to me.

How can people connect with you?
Blog: www.natrunsfar.com
Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube: @Natrunsfar

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Do you know someone with an inspiring story that should be featured on Friday FITspiration? If so, email runladylike@gmail.com.

Do you have a “significant other” who runs with you? What running goal do you most want to achieve in 2016?