From Couch to 5K: How Two Teachers Transformed Their Lives Through Fitness and Friendship.

Before COVID, my retirement in 2020, and my sickness in 2022, I had an adventure with a friend. We successfully got off the couch and completed three 5k races.

Veronica and Vanessa – Reformed couch potatoes – We met in 2013 at an environmental science professional development where we created weather stations for our middle school science classes.  Veronica taught at Worcester East Middle, on the south side of Worcester, Massachusetts.  Vanessa teaches at Sullivan Middle School on the Southside of Worcester.  We decided to exercise together after meeting again at several other professional development opportunities.  We started and stopped several times until 2016, when we became more consistent.  We joined the local YMCA and participated in Zumba, boxing, and yoga.  We had a personal trainer.  We started the year in a YMCA-sponsored 6-week contest, which we won!  Reeling from the win, we decided to try our first 5-k race.

2017 -- WE WON!!!