Sarah started her running career later in life. Never having done anything remotely athletic, she joined a training group with her friend to run the Monument Avenue 10k five years ago. She realized that the greatest part of the whole event was not the race but the training. Every training run was a chance to go farther and the success of each week was exhilarating. Three years later she took on the task of running her first marathon. After five months of training, Sarah completed the 30th running of the Richmond Suntrust Marathon two days after her 40th birthday. Sarah's favorite event to date was the 2008 Shamrock 1/2 Marathon in Virginia Beach where she ran a personal best. Sarah has gone on to coach the Monument Avenue 10K novice teams for two years and has helped many people design running and training programs to help them achieve their goals. Sarah still enjoys racing and is currently training for her second marathon, the Marine Corps Marathon, which she is due to run in October of 2008. Sarah's specialty, however, is in talking with beginning runners – in particular women - who have never completed a race before. Sarah believes that if you wonder if you can do it – you are already at the starting line.

Sarah lives in Midlothian with her super supportive husband Todd (also a marathoner) and their son Dean who has several medals to show for his races.

Sarah and Jamie met when Sarah started training for her first marathon. She knew that enlisting professional help would be the answer to getting her across the finish line. Jamie trained Sarah for the entire five months prior to the marathon and has continued to work with her since. By working with Jamie, Sarah has discovered the invaluable link of strength and running. By putting these together, Sarah has gained muscle mass, lost body fat and has cut down on injuries almost 100%. Sarah believes that besides endurance and heart, strength has given her more power, more speed and more stamina.
"After running for five years, Jamie has opened up new doors to my running. What once was just a hobby, now I take seriously and try to improve with every run and every workout. The gift of running and now running strong has changed my life in ways I never thought possible. My goal is to see this happen for other people – to see the light come on in their eyes and spirit." -Sarah Vencil

"A runner is someone who runs; it's that simple and that grand. Be that someone. Be yourself. Be your own runner." -Mark Will-Weber

Running has often been called the perfect exercise. It is not utilizing a machine but your own feet, heart, lungs and body weight. You can not lean on it like a bike or stair master and you can only rely on your strength and will to finish. Elements get in your way and impede your progress. Those elements can be external like rain and heat and they can be internal like hydration, nutrition and rest. On the day that all elements click, most people feel as if a good run is akin to flying.
Running is meditative, rhythmic, social, spiritual and healing. It is also hard. Not everyone can run and many people choose not to run. If you have elected to run you are part of a very special club. The friends that you make along the way will be your friends for life.
You can run for many reasons. You can run for weight loss, for health benefits, for time alone, and for mental health. During the training process, most people find an inner strength that they did not know existed. They find their true selves, what they are truly made of.

Run Strong will help you to achieve more than just a medal at the finish line. You will learn about running itself as a sport and all of the technological advances that have been made that will make you stronger and faster. You will find with us the camaraderie and support that will push you through to the final mile. You will finish.