Ambassadors
The 2016 Annapolis Running Classic Ambassadors – The “A” Team!
Waldon Adams (2015, 2016 A-Team Member)
Waldon started running marathons and half marathons at age 50 to offset a severe immune system disease, COPD, and various other life altering circumstances that led to frequent hospitalizations. At age 55, and 15 marathons, numerous halfs, and other distances later, he is now an advocate and outreach worker for people with various addictions, homelessness, and disease, ad believes that running, (or any aerobic exercise) can help lead people out of the hole that these things lead them into, and live happy and productive lives. Waldon is training for his first Ultra (100 miles), which he’ll run at the end of this year!
Jaime Bowers
Jaime is an avid runner and educator from Baltimore, Maryland. Her love for running began over 30 years ago when she ran track in elementary and middle school and was hooked. Once out of college and in an established career, she returned to the sport she enjoyed so much by completing her first half marathon in 2009. After that race, her drive to run was reborn. Now she has completed a half marathon in all 50 states, run 12 marathons, 1 ultra marathon, and completed over 175 (and counting) running races. Jaime’s next big goal is to run a marathon in all 50 states as well as on all 7 continents. She has been a Girls on the Run coach and is an RRCA certified run coach. She is looking forward to being an ARC ambassador and is excited and honored to run for #NapRunATeam this fall.
Courtney Dredden Carter (2015, 2016 A-Team Member)
Courtney is the author of Eat Pray Run DC, where she blogs primarily about running, food and D.C. life. A six-time marathoner, she is a marathon maniac, a runner on Oiselle Team and a Zensah Ambassador. Courtney is obsessed with Pure Barre, loves college football (Roll Tide!) and enjoys exploring new restaurants in DC. She loved running the Annapolis Running Classic last year and is excited to return to Annapolis for the best tomato soup she’s ever had. She can be found on , , and on her blog, Eat Pray Run DC.
Colleen Dahlem (2015, 2016 A-Team Member)
Colleen is an avid runner racing distances from the one miler to full marathons. She’s run 20 half marathons and “nothing compares to celebrating at the finish line of the Annapolis Running Classic!” When not running, she dabbles in the triathlon world, is a mom, kindergarten teacher, kids run coach and fitness instructor.
Jim is a proud father and husband who loves being part of the running community. When traveling, he loves exploring a new city or park by running through it, immersing himself into the fabric of a new location at ground level and seeing so much more than driving by at high speeds. Jim qualified and ran the Boston Marathon for the first time in 2015. Then just six days after that race, he won a 5k for the first time ever! He has run over 20 half marathons and 10 full marathons.
Jim’s whole family is active and into running. His wife is an accomplished marathoner and fitness instructor (and on the A Team!) and their 6 year old daughter runs races with their running club. You can often find all three Dahlems in running clothes with bib numbers on heading to a race. Besides running, one one of Jim’s favorite things to do is to cheer on his family in races. Maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle is how they roll!
Tracy is a retired firefighter paramedic and now stay at home mother to 2 boys. Her run career started a little over 5 years ago with a challenge from her Captain to complete a 5k as a “team building” exercise. Since then, Tracy has run numerous races to include her first marathon last year at Marine Corps. She considers herself the average runner but has embraced the sport for the love of challenging herself. Running has also helped her develop lifelong friendships with those who share the same passion. She looks forward to serving as an Ambassador and continue to share her enthusiasm.
Maureen’s love of running began in college to help with stress and the “freshman 15″. After years of traveling she was more than happy to return to the Annapolis Area and find a running group, some of her best memories come from races and the moments shared with friends. She first ran the Annapolis half in 2012 and returned the following year having convinced 5 family members/friends to join her – it was such an incredible experience! Maureen is a local high school health teacher where she can share her passion of exercise with her students!
Kara is a 41 year old, mom, runner, and elementary school teacher. Running has been a huge part of Kara’s life since high school. After some time off from running to raise her daughter, who is now 15, Kara began training and racing as an adult, back in 2012. In the last four years, she has competed in a handful of 5ks, ten 10ks, six half marathons and one full marathon. Kara enjoys the experiences, locations and excitement of races. Training and racing is both a physical and mental challenge that she loves to tackle. Running is also something that she shares with her teenager daughter. As a mom of a teen, it is important to find ways to stay connected! Kara is a certified RRCA coach and active member of her local run club. She believes that running is about encouraging everyone to find their own strengths and dream big!
Karen is a thirty-something mother of 3, a preschool teacher, and a sometimes blogger, (karengoesrunning.com). She discovered running in 2013 and ran her first half marathon in the fall of that year. Since then, she has run 5 half marathons, 6 full marathons, and numerous 5k, 10k, and 10-mile distances. Karen absolutely loves running and encouraging others to be active! She does that by leading a running club for elementary school children, and being a chapter leader for a local women’s running club. Karen has some big race goals coming up, and can’t wait to run in Annapolis this November!
Kristen lives in Southern Delaware and blogs with her sister at www.jonesinforarun.com. Her days are filled with teaching middle school business and then coming home and logging some double stroller miles with her two toddlers! If Kristen isn’t teaching or running you can find her and the family playing at the beach, cooking up something fun in the kitchen or exploring a local trail!
Bryan Kempton began running indoor and outdoor track during middle and high school over 30 years ago at St. Christopher’s School in Richmond, VA. Running shorter distances at that time seemed preferable to anything longer than the 400m individual or 1600m relay. During his early thirties, however, Bryan decided to revisit the sport of his youth and give longer distances a try. His first race outside of those track meets long ago was the Richmond Marathon. He was hooked. Since that time, Bryan has completed 7 marathons including the Marine Corps, Baltimore and Chicago Marathons and numerous half marathons. Bryan is currently a higher education administrator at the University of Maryland and can often be seen running across campus during lunch breaks. He is thrilled to have passed his love for the sport to his 13 year old son who regularly participates in races with him. He looks forward to serving as an Ambassador for the Annapolis Running Classic.
Elaine is a senior at Virginia Tech studying Communication. Her running career has evolved from high school track and cross country to half marathons and marathons, and even a plethora of obstacle course racing. She’s up for any kind of race that’s going to challenge her! Elaine recently competed for Virginia Tech in the BattleFrog College Championship where they took home second place. After she graduates next May, she’ll be commissioning as an Officer in the Marine Corps where she can continue to run with her fellow Marines. Fun Fact: The Annapolis Half Marathon was the first road-race that she ran without one of her parents. It absolutely terrified her at first, but she felt so at home on the course.
Alexis Reed (2015, 2016 A-Team Member)
By day, Alexis is a happy local government employee. By night, she writes her blog, Flecks of Lex, runs races from 5ks to 200-mile relay races, and competes in volleyball tournaments with Rebellion Volleyball Club. She serves as a Sweat Pink Ambassador, a RunGo Ambassador, and this year as a member of the A-Team! She loves encouraging her friends, family members, and even strangers to give running a try. Born and raised in Maryland, Alexis loves her state, and especially loves the beauty of the state’s capital. Running the Annapolis Running Classic has turned into a tradition for her, as she ends each race year with her favorite race of all.
Samantha Santy
Sam is a Maryland transplant from New Hampshire, and loves nothing more than exploring her new home on foot. She ran cross country in high school, finishing her first half marathon before graduating. After some time away from running, Sam fell in love with it during her senior year at Towson University. In just a few short years she has run eight half marathons and is training for her first marathon. When Sam isn’t working as a speech-language pathologist in Carroll County or running on the NCR Trail, you can find her at November Project, checking out an O’s game, or tasting craft beers. Sam also enjoys sharing her running adventures and interacting with others at samsruns.com. This will be Sam’s first Annapolis Running Classic and she is excited to run the 10K just weeks after her first 26.2 at the Marine Corps Marathon! You can connect with Sam on her blog, , or !
Allison Bourg Sauntry
Allison is a runner who is half-crazy. The 2016 Annapolis Running Classic will be her ninth half-marathon! She’s also run two full marathons and dreams of someday qualifying for Boston. She loves running around Annapolis because the water views, historic homes and vibrant downtown provide so many scenic routes. Allison got into long-distance running as a way to relieve stress, set goals that were non-work related and to burn off calories from the beer and chocolate she loves so much. When she’s not running, she’s kickboxing at the best martial arts school around, 5 Peaks Martial Arts Academy in Millersville! By day, Allison works as the digital executive producer for ABC2 News in Baltimore. You can check out her blog about fitness at abc2news.com/2fitgirls, and follow her on Twitter @abourg_abc2 and Instagram @allisonbourg. Allison lives in Annapolis with her husband Micah and their cat, Jade.
Lisa Selby
Lisa lives in Baltimore, MD and has been running since high school. What started as a requirement for field hockey turned into a way to stay in shape through college. During graduate school, running was a way to manage stress, but soon turned into not only a hobby but a passion. Since 2007, Lisa has run in over 40 races including 6 marathons and 11 half-marathons, while earning a handful of age-group and top female awards along the way for shorter distance races. Over the years Lisa has battled several injuries, including a hip labrum tear in 2010 that required surgery. In order to continue running and remain healthy, Lisa has had to make strength training and injury prevention a priority. A long term goal is to qualify for Boston, but more importantly Lisa wants to continue enjoying the miles for many more years.
Magnus Solheim
Magnus is a Norwegian native living in the DMV! He loves running and finding new ways to push his limits. He started running in college and quickly got hooked! With over 10 halfs and 2 full marathons under his belt, he is still chasing that elusive Boston Qualifier which he hopes to qualify for in 2017! Introduced to the world of triathlons in 2015, Magnus completed his first Half-Ironman in October 2015! When not running, he loves spending time with his wife and Golden Retriever.
Kim Stemple
“We Rise By Lifting Others”. With this motto, a medal called Elvis and an incredible community, Kim founded We Finish Together, a community outreach to help others who need that lift, as so many helped her cope with her diagnosis. Kim is a former teacher and coach, and a proud USNA ’85 Marine wife. Running and We Finish Together have been the therapy to keep pushing forward – her miles might be slower, but her voice could not be any stronger thanks to each and every person who is part of We Finish Together, and its now global outreach. “Start Something, Join Something, Be the Change”. Kim runs for Wear Blue, and is also a Lululemon Ambassador, Balega Ambassador, and November Project Tribe member. For more about what inspires Kim to run, Google her story in the Runner’s World 2015 Digital Edition. Kim is excited to be an A-Team Ambassador as Annapolis has been huge part of her life with her family, and now provides one more goal.
Deb Strong
Deb Strong has been running for 14 years; and would have told you that 20 years ago “I hate running!” Running, now is her “me time.” It allows her to participate as an individual or as part of a group, with friends, with strangers, and within a community that is accepting like none other. Over the years, she’s completed 5 marathons, 24 half marathons, and countless races of shorter distances. Deb is super excited to be running in her state’s capital, and is pushing for a PR!
Tamieka Thomasson
Tamieka is a 4o-something year old wife, mother of 2, women’s flag football player, weight trainer, runner and beginner triathlete who lives in the DC area. After tearing her ACL and menisci in her right knee in 2013 playing football, she was devastated and after a short depression, Tamieka vowed to come back better and stronger. With the support of her doctor and physical therapist, Tamieka ran a 5k 4 months post ACL surgery and was back on the field in 7 months! Since then, she has continued to play football 10 months out of the year and has run multiple races ranging from 5K to half marathons. She is currently training for her 1st triathlon in September (Savageman 20.0). Tamieka is excited to join the A-Team Ambassador Team for 2016. You can follow Tamieka on her blog, Fit Balling Running Mom, , and .
Jennifer Yuen (2015, 2016 A-Team Member)
Jennifer started running for fun while she was in college, attributing that to her new surroundings and friends. Her first race was a local Thanksgiving 10K in Bethesda, Maryland. In the past 10 years she’s run 5Ks, four marathons, and practically every distance in between (her favorite distances are the 10 miler and the half marathon). While running a lot of races, her work/life balance was a bit skewed and had an impact on her fitness and health. During the Fall of 2013, she recommitted herself to running and a healthier balanced lifestyle. The Annapolis Running Classic Half Marathon was one of the first (of many) races she ran during that time. To hold herself accountable, she began blogging at Run Jenny Run and is currently training for the 2016 Berlin Marathon. She is excited to be a member of the A-Team again and looks forward to running the 10K for the first time this November!