Sole Stories: Leeann Sands
Everyone has a story. For some it’s a story of wanting something more, for others it’s a story full of tears, heart and determination. Our series “Sole Stories” will give you a glimpse into what drives women to change their lives and their “soles.”
BGR!: How did you start running?
LS: I started running about two years ago, out of the blue because a great friend, Randi, invited me to. I didn’t have any running “gear,” proper shoes or a clue of what I would feel like after my first time out. I signed up for a women’s 5K that was going to happen 2 weeks after I got off the couch and started running and I haven’t looked back. My first time out I ran about three miles and it felt great, I was slow, and steady and was very proud that I could run without stopping.
BGR!: Why do you run?
LS: I run because it was something I never thought I could do. I wanted something to challenge myself and help me lose weight after having my twin girls. The first time I was asked to run, I said the dreaded words, “I can’t run.” Then I remember that I watched my girls, who were born at 28 weeks, grow in incubators in the NICU for three months and had they ever *said* “can’t” they would of never made it home. So I run now for them, every time I cross a finish line at a race, I thank them for their “can do” attitude that has rubbed off on me.
