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.

Today, I’m excited to introduce you to elite runner Sheri Piers who I had the great honor of meeting and spending time with at the 2016 Rise.Run.Retreat. One of the things I value most in people is authenticity and honesty. Add to those qualities a wicked sense of humor and an intense passion for hard work and never giving up and you have Sheri in a nutshell.

At age 40, this mom of three was the first American female finisher at the 2012 Boston Marathon. Her storied running career includes two top finishes at the USA National Masters Championship Marathon and a personal best marathon time of 2:36:59. This past February, Sheri made her third appearance at the Olympic Marathon Trials. Perhaps her greatest achievement is her ability to juggle running more than 100 miles per week while working full time as a medical director in Maine and being a mom to her three kids.

Join me in welcoming one of my favorite guests to the hot seat: Sheri Piers.

rUnladylike: As a 2:36 marathon runner with a laundry list of incredible accomplishments under your belt, people may think you’ve always been a competitive runner. Can you tell us more about your running journey and the road that led you to where you are today?
Sheri: Running has always been a very important part of my life since I was a little girl. I ran competitively in high school and was part of a very successful cross country and track team. During that time is when the nerves and pressure to succeed took over. By the end of my senior year, I was completely burned out from running. I chose to pursue a different path in college … my first love, basketball. I played basketball for four years at St. Joseph’s College in Maine. Throughout my time there, I continued to run three miles daily for peace of mind and for the pure joy that I got from running when it is/was on my own terms. I continued this for the next six or seven years after college as I was starting my family. I ran through all three pregnancies as well. Following the birth of my third child, I started competing again by running local races. When I met my training partner after a local race in 2005, the real competitive racing began!

rUnladylike: You never talk about running without mentioning your training partner Kristin. How has running with a partner affected your running or changed you? What advice would you give to other runners for successfully running with a partner?
Sheri: For me, there is no Sheri Piers without Kristin Barry and vice-a-versa. She has changed my life in countless ways! She has taught me how to be happy for another person’s successes. I have always been someone who doesn’t like to lose in anything … just ask my children. I had a hard time letting them win in Candy Land when they were little … haha! Running with her and seeing her succeed in races makes me just as happy as if I would have won the race! We work so hard together. If one of us has a good day, then we both had a good day. She has been so gracious to share all the knowledge she has about running with me. She is our coach and is the brains behind all of the success we have had.

I highly recommend finding a partner to run with. We have a special thing. We are always there for each other and can count on one another through anything, be it rain, sleet, snow or illness. We have never once bagged out on the other. I can count on her no matter what the situation is. It makes running so much more meaningful for me, and we hold each other accountable. I could go on for days about my relationship with Kristin and the many wonderful memories as well as trying ones. When she was injured, that was a very difficult time for both of us but we got through it together.

rUnladylike: We have to talk about the 2012 Boston Marathon. You finished as the first American female that year. Tell us what that experience was like. What stands out most to you from that day?
Sheri: Boston 2012 turned out to be a great day, however, that was a day I was “fit” to run a PR, so that aspect was very disappointing to me. The heat that day was unbelievable, and we all just had to adjust our goals. That’s the hard part of marathon training … everything has to fall into place on one day for one big race. Weather plays a big part in that. I fortunately benefit compared to other runners on hot humid days. I fair better for whatever reason on days like this. That day for me was just “who was going to be able to survive better” on that very day. Runners were dropping out left and right, and the more people I saw drop out, the more momentum it gave me to keep going.

The whole day was surreal. The most memorable thing was to be able to share with my kids that mom finished in the top 10 at the Boston Marathon. Not a lot of people are able to say that, so for me, that is the most memorable thing about that day.

rUnladylike: As a working mom of three who often runs more than 100 miles per week, what tips would you offer to other busy runners and moms (or soon-to-be moms like me) for fitting it all in? Can you really have it all?
Sheri: I truly live by this and BELIEVE that you can have it all if YOU want it all. It’s prioritizing your time and may take some sacrifice from you and from your family.

rUnladylike: When you are experiencing a really dark moment in a race or run when you feel like giving up or quitting, how do you get through it? What do you do or say to yourself to push through?
Sheri: When I go to a dark place in races, I always try and revert back to all the training and hard work I put in to get to the starting line. Most times, it works. I am a positive thinker and just try and keep positive thoughts in my head in races. I always say, you are going to get out of a race what you put into it.

rUnladylike: What running goals do you still want to tackle?
Sheri: I would like to tackle Boston again! I don’t think I would ever participate in another Olympic Trials, but I would love to try and hit the qualifying time one more time.

rUnladylike: You swear by Diet Sunkist and candy (YAY for being an elite runner who doesn’t survive on lettuce, chicken and sweet potatoes alone!). What’s your favorite go-to candy?
Sheri: I love skittles, gummy bears, necco wafers and air heads!

***

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

What inspires you most about Sheri Piers’ running journey and accomplishments? What sweet treats are your favorite indulgences?