We are excited to introduce you to our 2013 ZOOMA Annapolis Ambassadors. This is a select group of ladies who are influential both online and in their personal running communities. They will be helping us keep our runners informed, inspired and motivated. These ladies all have different running backgrounds, but they share a passion for empowering women through running.

Katie Heddleston is the author behind the blog Healthy Heddleston, which she’s been writing for three years. She lives a gluten-free lifestyle, loves creating recipes, and is trained as a Registered Dietitian. Her most rewarding job, however, is being a stay-at-home mom to her little boy born in March 2012. Katie ran four half marathons prior to getting pregnant, but ZOOMA Annapolis will be one of her first postpartum halfs! She not only runs for herself, but hopes to set an example for her son that he might love fitness just as much one day! You can find Katie on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!

Jessica is a mother of three, a wife, a sister, a daughter and a friend. She loves to run and to share her passion for the sport with runners of all experience levels and paces.  Jessica lives her life with her head in the clouds and her heart on her sleeve.  She is a dreamer who believes in the power of hard work and determination.  As a busy mom of three she works hard to balance her own passions and pursuits with the needs of her family and loved ones.  Jessica is a certified Running Coach, a Pilates instructor and a creative spirit with a small business making growth charts for children.  Running brings her to a place of peace and growth each time she puts one foot in front of the other.  You can read about her life, her training and her dreaming on her blog at Pace of Me and follow her on Twitter here.

Lauren, a full-time writer, blogger, social media contractor, fitness enthusiast, and health consultant, has been inspiring others with healthy words of wisdom, wholesome recipe creations, and workout advice for years on her blog, www.saywhatyouneedtosayblog.com.  She began running five years ago as a hobby to keep up with her best friend and former marathoner, Jen, and quickly developed a love for the sport.  After a brief running hiatus last year, she is now back to running 30+ miles a week. Her running resume currently states 12 5K’s, 3 10Ks, 3 10-mile races, and 2 ½ marathons.  Lauren is inspired to be the healthiest she can be and strives to reach this everyday.  After being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 2010, she has had quite a roller coaster ride wit her health and diet, and now has found that knowing your body and your potential is what health truly means. Follow Lauren on Twitter here. 

Allison is the blogger behind Life’s a Bowl, a newlywed, a momma to her furry son, lover of tasty treats, healthy eats, and all things pink.  During the day Allison plans trade shows and at night she sneaks in sweat sessions before racing home to make dinner for her husband and cuddling up on the couch with her pup, Charlie.  She played competitive sports through her sophomore year in college and after hanging up her jersey she yearned for competition and caught the running itch.  Over the past few years Allison has trained for her first marathon and numerous shorter races but due to a few health hiccups those plans were postponed.  Now that she is feeling healthier than ever, Allison is ready to make 2013 her year to run.  The Annapolis Half will be Allison’s first half marathon but it certainly will not be her last!  Follow Allison on Twitter at @lifesabowl.

Dorothy is a mother of 3, marathoner x23, running coach, blogger, freelance writer and lover of all things running. She started running to lose the figurative and literal weight that was bringing her down. She wasn’t immediately hooked and didn’t really fall in love with the sport till she trained for her first marathon in 2003. Over the years she has taken her marathon time from a 4:20 to a 3:11 and improved her race PR’s in every race distance from the 5K on up. In 2012 she was chosen to be the face of the Saucony Find Your Strong Campaign and was featured in the DREAM BIG RUN LONG video. She was featured on the cover of Women’s Running Magazine November/December 2012 issue and was mentioned in the December issue of Runner’s World. Her mantras in life are DREAM BIG RUN LONG and I RUN THIS BODY. You can read her running ramblings at www.mile-posts.com. Her purpose is to inspire and be inspired one mile at a time. She believes that we are capable of great things if we can only first find the courage to believe in ourselves and the beauty of our dreams. Find her on Twitter HERE.

 Jennifer is a 3 time half-marathoner with a social media addiction. She has been blogging at A Knack for Nutrition for nearly three years and enjoys being an active member of the community. She is an ACE Certified Personal trainer who writes openly with her struggles with food and binge eating. She lives in the DC metro area and enjoys nothing more than a morning run along the Potomac and around the monuments. Follow her on Twitter @knack4nutrition or on Facebook here.

Lisa is a working mother and military wife with a passion for running and cupcakes.  Her blog, Lisa Runs for Cupcakes, started as an accountability tool and she now loves to encourage and motivate others to get up and get moving.  Lisa’s blog is also an avenue for her combine her passion for running with raising funds and awareness for military non-profit organizations like, Team Red, White, and Blue, and Team Fisher House.  Feel free to follow Lisa’s training, fundraising efforts, and love for cupcakes on her blog. Check her out on Twitter here.

Anne is the writer behind the food and fitness blog fANNEtastic food, which she uses as a way to motivate others to lead happier, healthier lives through nutrition and exercise, whether encouraging them to try healthy twists on a traditional recipe, to go running for the first time, or to embrace yoga. She aims to show readers that it doesn’t have to be hard or complicated to be healthy – and in fact, it can even be fun! Anne’s fitness tips and healthy but delicious recipes have been featured in a number of national publications, including SHAPE Magazine, Fitness Magazine and Woman’s Day Magazine. She was also featured in the December 2012 issue of Runner’s World as a great “foodie runner” to follow on Twitter!

Anne is currently living in Washington D.C., finishing grad school and preparing to take the exam to become a Registered Dietitian. Stop by her blog for delicious healthy recipes, running training plans, health tips, and lots of fun. You can also follow her on Twitter @fANNEtasticfood, or on Facebook.

Melissa is a busy 20 something!  Currently she is a University of Maryland College Park dietetic intern completing her requirements to become a registered dietitian.  In her spare time, she teaches group fitness and is a certified health coach.  On her blog “Eat on the Run” you can keep up with her latest fitness endeavors, find healthy recipes, and learn about new training techniques and nutrition tips. Running has always been a passion for her, but it took her a little while to discover it.  She’s now completed 9 half marathons and 1 marathon.  Running keeps her sane or slightly crazy…depends on who you talk to! Follow her on Twitter here.

Theodora Blanchfield is a writer and digital strategist and the blogger behind Losing Weight in the City, a blog she started in 2009 to chronicle her quest to lose 50 pounds. More than three years later, she’s kept the weight off and run fourteen half-marathons, three marathons and two sprint triathlons. Professionally, she works as a social media strategist, creating and implementing strategy for brands such as New Balance, F-Factor and Vuguru. She serves on the Management Council for the New York Junior League and she lives in NYC with her dog, Bailey.Find her on Twitter HERE.