Running is new passion for local woman

For Midlothian YMCA 10k Training Team member Gina Gentilini, running hasn’t always been a part of her life; it’s a passion she has discovered rather recently.

Gentilini first became involved in the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue10k last year when her neighbor asked if she would join her in the community event. The 39-year-old completed the 6.2-mile race in one hour and 13 minutes.

“A 10k is something that had always been on my bucket list, so I went for it,” she said.

The looks on her boyfriend and mother’s faces as she crossed the finish line last April are images that remain with her to this day. Ever since then, Gentilini has been hooked. She finds herself being most drawn to the competition of it all.

“I know you are competing against yourself, but I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it," she said. "I wanted to do something that was outside of my comfort zone.”

It was her cousin that first encouraged her to join a training team. Last year she was on the Novice team at the Midlothian YMCA, but this year she has stepped it up a notch and joined the Intermediate training team.

Gentilini acknowledges that her coach from the training team, Jeff Wilmoth, has played a huge role in her success. Wilmoth made her want to keep going especially when she was having feelings of doubt at the beginning of her journey.

“He was such a good motivator and made the experience light hearted as we were running up the Grove Hill," Gentilini said.

She continues to train on her own and enjoys running through Rosemont in the Salisbury subdivision. And, while she may not look forward to the large hills in the area, they are proving to be great for Gentilini’s endurance and strength training.

In the midst of completing her first 10k and continuing to train for her second, Gentilini has also accomplished another great feat: losing 30 pounds.

“I have never felt better in my life. I have much more energy than I used to. In the past I could hardly walk 3 miles – let alone run 6.2!”

Gentilini is happy with her weight now, so her main goal is to keep the pounds off for good. She typically runs three to four days a week, averaging three to four miles on weekdays and five to six miles on the weekends. She has also made changes in other areas of her life to complement her exercise.

“I eat much healthier than I used to, mainly because I know how I feel while running if I didn’t eat right earlier that day, or the night before,” Gentilini said.

She remains committed to her active lifestyle by constantly pushing herself to beat her own best times and make improvements.

“I love to run," she said, "and don’t seem to feel quite right if I can’t get my regular runs in during the week.”

Gentilini plans on participating in the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k for many years to come and has set a personal goal of completing the 2012 10k in less than one hour. She also hopes to ring in her 40’s in 2012 by completing the McDonald’s Half Marathon on November 10.

Gentilini is proof that it's never too late to make a healthy lifestyle change.