ALUMNA KICKS OFF PERSONAL BEST MARATHON RUN

Jennifer L. Bidlingmeyer graduated from MSU in 2000 with a bachelor's degree in Zoology and now sports her Spartan pride at many racing events. She recently completed the Brooksie Half Marathon with a personal best time of 1:55 and is preparing to participate in the Detroit International Marathon. She had this to say on her Facebook page:

My Facebook memory for today was the photo on the left from 6 years ago. The photo on the right is from this summer. In the photo on the left, I weighed 185-190 lbs and had about 20 more pounds to gain to be at my heaviest. That dress was a size 18. I had never run a race - and when I tried, couldn't finish a 5k without walking. If you had told the me of 6 years ago that I would be running for hours at a time for enjoyment, she would have laughed in your face.
 
Despite two young kids, a crazy, chaotic full-time job, a husband, 4 cats, a death in the family, helping my mom move, car troubles, kid troubles, looking for and buying a new house, and maintaining some semblance of order and routine in the old house, I have managed to find time to whip myself into shape for the sake of my health and the sake of my family.
 
The me on the right wears a size small, runs over 100 miles per month, can finish a half marathon in under two hours and still jog alongside her son on his bike afterwards. The me on the right is stronger, healthier and happier than the me on the left, but I had to BE the me on the left in order to want to become the me on the right. Here's to many more years of positive change!