I first met Lindsay Wilkins (formerly Goulet), at the Georgetown Running Company one afternoon years ago. She had just returned from a run and had a radiant smile that spread throughout the store. In fact, every time I see her she has a great big smile on. She loves life, running, and being herself.

Lindsay, now 30, moved to the DC area in 2000 upon graduation from the University of Richmond. Prior to her stint at the university, she spent her life in Wesley, Massachusetts. She first discovered running in high school where she concentrated on short distances. Her big inspiration as a kid was her dad. To this day, her dad still runs daily. However, unlike Lindsay, he is not wedded to the watch and does not run competitively. He is like the majority of runners out there: a recreational runner who loves the sport for fitness and being outdoors.

When Lindsay moved to the Nation's Capital, as with many people her age, she tried to find her niche. It took some time, but after two years of no running she began to get the urge to get some shoes and shorts and hit the roads. Perhaps it was her proximity to the Washington-Lee track; watching runners glide around the track lured her back into the sport. In any case, around 2002, Lindsay started to run again. She joined the Washington Running Club and eventually found a sponsor in Ben Cooke and the Georgetown Running Company.

At the Georgetown Running Company, she aligned herself with Lisa Thomas, Vanessa Hunter, Mary-Kate Bailey, Britton Miller, and Maria Kozloski. After a few of years running with the GRC, she decided to run with George Buckheit at Pacers. George is a well-respected coach in the area who works for Pacers and provides female runners in the DC area structured running plans to assist in meeting their running goals. George and Pacers really create an environment that breeds success. They understand that there has to be a life balance, while at the same time helping local elites develop to the best of their ability.

According to George, Lindsay is the most disciplined runner he has ever coached. She follows his training plans to a tee. This has paid off very well for her. Over the past year, she has set personal bests in the following distances:

5K, 17:20
10K, 36:44
10 mile, 59:28
20K, 1:16.41
Half Marathon, 1:17:55
Marathon, 2:50:33

Lindsay has achieved these times by doing threshold workouts during marathon training. This includes mile repeats at a tempo pace with a one-minute rest as well as something called the "400 meter buffet." It is 25 x 400 with a 100-meter rest. It is very challenging, but Lindsay believes it really prepares her for what she will go through in a marathon both mentally and physically.

Although Lindsay is a talented runner who loves to compete; she is, however, first and foremost a fun-loving person. She realizes that she is not going to be a professional runner who goes to the Olympics. She sees that the competitive running she is doing is finite. Down the road, who knows, she might pick up some other competitive sport for a bit in order to fulfill her competitive drive. She does know that she will always run, even if only for fun.

When not running she can be found traveling throughout the region as a pharmaceutical sales rep. She likes her job because it allows her to meet different people, travel, and stay active. Her husband, Brian, is a great supporter of her running. Without his support, she would not be able to pursue it to this level. Brian can be seen at many races cheering her on.

As for running and training in DC, Lindsay loves it. Not only does she have great people to train with, she also enjoys the great assortment of trails and paths to run, including Rock Creek Park, the Capital Crescent Trail, the C&O Canal, and the W&OD trail.

Regarding her future running plans, her eyes are set on this year's Marine Corps Marathon. Lindsay has been making major strides and I believe she can win. (Imagine that, a George Buckheit-trained Pacers runner winning back to back Marine Corps Marathons!) After the marathon, she is not sure. She and Brian would like to eventually start a family. Having little Lindsays running about might take some time away from Lindsay's personal running, but she is prepared and sees life as process. "There is a time for running and developing yourself and achieving your own goals and then you must go on and develop other sides of yourself," says Lindsay. "I know I won't compete forever, but running is a part of who I am, and I plan on continuing to run no matter where life takes me."

Regardless of the objectives Lindsay decides to tackle, it is certain she will do so with a smile and her ever-present pleasant disposition.