Member Spotlight: Emily Phelps
We are very excited to feature Emily Phelps for our Member Spotlight this morning. Emily is a devoted member of the 5AM Club and an avid runner. She has completed 3 half marathons since 2022.
Emily shared the following about her life before joining Forward Fitness, “I was born in Denver and raised in St. Charles. I grew up with my parents and an older sister. We were a very active family—always playing sports. I’ve had a tennis racket in my hands for as long as I can remember. I played competitively through high school and have played recreationally ever since. I graduated from MIZZOU with a degree in journalism, and shortly after graduation, I moved to Houston for a year to teach a college success class to high school students. I rescued my dog, Bruce, and moved back to St. Louis to pursue a career in fundraising! I now live in Maplewood with my boyfriend Hunter and work for Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital Foundation as a philanthropy operations analyst.”
Emily’s dog Bruce helped her find Forward Fitness and we are glad he did. This is what Emily said about why she joined Forward Fitness, “Since moving back to St. Louis I hadn’t found a gym I clicked with. When the pandemic started, I tried working out at home but really struggled to get motivated, so I began walking a lot. I would walk by Forward Fitness every morning, partly because it was my typical route but mostly because my dog made the connection that he would get a treat if he stood by the door. I decided to send an email and inquire. I immediately felt a sense of community, and with that came accountability. I had finally found exactly what I was looking for.”
When asked why health and fitness were important to her, Emily replied, “I feel my best when I prioritize being active and eating well. I’ve learned it’s much easier to stay consistent than it is to fall off the wagon and fight your way back on.”
She had this to say about making fitness a priority in her life, “Exercising has always been equally about physical health and mental health for me. The first few hours of my day are sacred. Getting steps in and wrapping up my workout by 6 am makes me feel accomplished and motivated to start my day.”
Recurring injuries have been a challenge for Emily, but she has found a way to help overcome them, “I have dealt with my fair share of injuries – the most difficult being a recurring disc herniation. I have spent several years improving my form and strengthening my core to prevent further injury.”
Emily shared this about the accomplishment she is most proud of, “In 2022, my best friend and I signed up for our first half-marathon. We had zero training experience and loathed running. Suzanne wrote us a training plan, and week by week, our distance and stamina increased. We completed our first half in the fall of 2022! The runner’s high became addicting; needless to say, I completed my third half-marathon earlier this spring.” I love what Emily said when we asked her what advice she would give someone thinking about a fitness routine to her life, “Find a plan that is attainable for you – everyone’s fitness journey looks different.” That might just show up as a Monday Motivation quote someday.