This is most of our family at an Electric Run in Washington DC a couple of years ago. One of our kids was hiding for the picture, and I was pregnant with our eighth.

Hi, I’m Jen. Welcome to Run Determined. I’m a wife to my best friend, David, mom to 8 awesome kids, coffee lover, speech pathologist, and runner. This blog is about our family’s journey to stay fit, have fun, and encourage others.

I started running nearly 10 years ago after our fourth baby was born. You can read about that here. Quite honestly, even though I’ve crossed the finish line at more races than I can count, I still stink at running. I almost always finish races at the back of the pack, but that’s okay. It’s not about finishing first, it’s about setting a goal and being determined enough to get to the finish line one step at a time.

Our family decided to start this blog to encourage other families to get out and move, get in shape, and have fun doing it. I used to hate working out (some days I still do), but now I realize that it’s worth the effort for my own health, my kids’ health, and the example it sets for them.

So whether your goal is to run a 5k or a marthon, to get in shape or stay in shape, or just to have fun being active, I hope you’ll join us for the adventure. As the title of the blog says, our goal is to Run Determined. It’s easy to set a goal, but sticking with it long enough to reach it takes committment and determination. We’d love to be here to encourage you along the way, and we’d love for you to encourage us as well.