I may have a few new readers poking in around these parts now that the Run Van Blogger Announcement has been made on the Vancouver Marathon’s website, facebook page and twitter and my About Me page is reallyyyyy out of date (it’s on my neverending to do list!) so I thought I’d do a mini about me post for any new faces.
So, hi! I’m Amber. I’m 23 years old and I live in Kamloops, BC. I’ve been running since 2009 and I’ve ran one marathon, five half-marathons and several smaller races including trail races and a sprint triathlon. You can find race reports from every race I’ve ever ran here and you can learn more about my running story here.
Other than running my favourite activity is hot yoga! You can find me in the hot room 2-3 times per week and I find it to be excellent cross-training for my running. I also enjoy swimming, biking and have a love/hate relationship with strength training.
As much as I’d love to do all these fun workouts and blog full-time, these are just things I do outside of my full-time work in marketing and communications. I also do freelance writing for two local magazines on the side! I have a degree in journalism and writing is a passion of mine.
Another passion? Traveling. I love, love, love to travel! I’ve been lucky enough to visit Europe twice and do a bunch of other small trips around North America over the last few years. You can read more about my travels here.
And where would I be without my amazing family! I currently live with my fiance and our two pets; a boxer dog named Chloe and an orange tabby cat with thumbs named Webster. I’ve been with my fiance since I was 16 and he is my very best friend. My two pets make me laugh every single day and bring so much joy to my life. Our families live over 1,000 km away in Fort St. John, BC where we were both born and raised. Being so far away from family and friends when we first moved to Kamloops in 2008 was a big reason for me starting this blog and they are my biggest supporters in all my endeavours, even though they don’t totally get why I would want to run 42.2 km 
And if you want to know more you can check out this post for 21 random things about me or the top posts page!
Thanks for reading and following along on my marathon training journey! Oh, and make sure you like Girl with the Red Hair on Facebook and follow me on Twitter 
Whether you’re a new reader or not I would love for you to say hi in the comments section and tell me a little something about yourself. If you’re one of my wonderful, long-time readers then tell me something I might not know about you
{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
Hmmm… It’s hard to think of something you don’t know about me…
When I was a child, I had an intense fear of escalators. I thought I was going to be sucked into them. I have vivid memories of her trying to get me to get onto an escalator. She’d count down, ’1, 2, 3, step…’ and I’d just stand there. She was so patient with me, not sure I would have been as patient! Ha! So my mo would really try to find an elevator for us to take instead.
Something you don’t know about me?
I went to a private Baptist school through 5th grade, I went to a Baptist college, and now I work for a Baptist organization. But I’m not Baptist, nor have I ever been.
Also, red peppers with avocados are my new favorite snack.
Hi! I’m Emily from Des Moines. Amber got me hooked on your blog because she thought I’d love you, and I do! I’m currently training for my second half marathon in May, followed by my first full in October. Nice to “meet” you!
Something you might not know about me? I played Liza in my high school production of My Fair Lady. This is relevant at the moment because Husband & I are going to see it at the theatre (a real production, not high school) in a few weeks and I’m super excited!
That blue looks so pretty on you.;)
Umm.. Random fact of the day… My last pair of basketball shoes were size 11. WTF??? Big foot here.
Hmm something random about me? I’ve been running since I was a sophomore in high school (year 2000) and no one else in my family runs, at all! Never have, probably never will. They think I’m nuts for liking it so much!
What an exciting opportunity to blog for the marathon – and stay accountable! I’m officially starting marathon training (for my first one!) in 2 weeks. It’s been cold where I live, but I hope I don’t have to run in temps like you ran in last week – good for you though!
Hi! Something you don’t know about me….I can’t stand when people fold paper by running their fingers down the crease. The noise it makes – ahh! Just thinking about it makes my teeth hurt! (It’s like nails on a chalkboard to me).
Hi
Blogging for the marathon sounds like a great opportunity – I’m looking forward to reading more about the “behind the scenes”! Something you might not know about me is that my family is Scottish so as a kid I took Scottish dancing classes and also learned how to play the bagpipes 
YOU’RE ADORABLE!
(YELLING)
Hi Amber! I’m Jason and I live in Kelowna. I also ran in the -30 weather and can totally sympathize. Terrible.
I needed something to do because I was fairly inactive (although I’m a landscaper…), so after my 20 year high school reunion where I caught up with an old girlfriend who runs marathons, I thought that might be something to do. May 6th will be my first half after completing my first 10K in the Okanagan BMO last fall. I’m more than a little nervous!
Amber, it’s so cool you’re a blogger for the Vancouver Marathon. Talk about adding to your overall experience! Something you probably don’t know about me? My whole family came out to watch me run my second marathon. Afterwards, my dad said to me that pretty much every trait I have, they can attribute to a strength from my mom or my dad. But, this whole running thing? They have no idea where it came from. Finally, I stumped my parents! hahaha.
I like to put the blowdryer in my bed to warm me up when im super cold!!!!!
So excited for you! and to see you visually go through this Jordan with Coach Jordan…..have you shared this with your running group?
Something you don’t know about me? Oh jeese… Um. I’m a veracious reader. When I was young my mom read to me every night, as I got older I started reading myself obviously, and I pretty much can’t go to bed without reading a book for like an hour. And it has to be fiction, or something I read for interest, no studying!
Hello! : ) For some reason I’m having a hard time figuring out what you don’t know about me… hmm.. when I was growing up I wanted to be an architect and almost went to school for it. I love houses/design, but I got scared by all the horror stories of the late nights and work around the clock.
Hello! I’m a longggg time reader, but obviously a horrible commenter. I don’t remember how long it has been since I’ve commented. I think you teaming up for this race is awesome! Its so cool to have a blogger spokeswoman for your race!
Something you don’t know about me…
When I was little I wanted to legally change my name to Michelle.
I loved New Kids on the Block when they were cool and then again, oh, about two years ago when they resurfaced.
And you may knwo this already but not sure, I’ve been to 10 Dave Matthews Band concerts in my life (and counting)!
There must be something you don’t know about me…
I have great thoughts/realizations at 4 am when I can’t sleep.
I kept a diary religiously in elementary, middle and high school- and when I was in Australia and Europe in college/after. I can’t seem to keep one now, I guess that’s what blogging is for!
I am currently listening to the Toby Keith Pandora station
Heeeeey Amber!!! Long time reader here
Something you may not know about me … I grew up on a farm as my parents ran a summer camp. We lived at the camp so we had a pool, lake, cabins everywhere, ski doos, etc. etc.. Kids would come in the summer to camp so I would just have to go out my door and walk down a path to the camp to hang out with new friends every day.
I can’t wait to hear more about your training etc!
Um, funny that Jolene is right above me, because I basically grew up exactly the same! My parents owned a summer resort with cabins and tube rentals and stuff, so I had a lot of “summer” friends! I also had to work for them since I was young, so am no stranger to hard work!
Hi Amber! I linked over from BMO’s announcement. Can’t wait to read more
I’m in the lower mainland and will be running my first marathon in May!
I forgot to comment yesterday, so I am doing so right now. Better than never right?
I think this is such an amazing opportunity for you! Can’t wait to hear all about it.
Hm, something you don’t know about me…..really struggling to come up with something! I can’t stand clutter or messes in our house. I am always tidying up or putting stuff away.
Hello! I’m from Belgium. Love this blog.
Hi, thanks for stopping by my blog last week. Since I was on vacation it took me awhile to get back here to comment. So, a couple things about me: I almost went to college for journalism but ended up studying hospitality administration instead. Now I work for a company that provides services to hotels. In fact, I actually worked with a hotel in Kamloops recently.