WEEKEND WARRIOR
SABRINA G. SAMUELS, 44 OCCUPATION: Shelby County Trustee SPORT: Running and Hot Foot Honey’s Professional Tap Dance Company FIT CLUB: This summer I participated in the Women Run/Walk Memphis. I also run yearly in the Race for the Cure with team Teresa’s Angels. Teresa’s Angels also sponsors a local family for the Christmas holiday each year. It feels so good to give back. BRAGGING RIGHTS: The True Blue 5K – 1st place in age group, Women Run/Walk Training Program Graduation 5K – 2nd place in age group, St. Jude Walk/Run 5K, and the Run Run Rudolph 5K – 3rd place in age group. FAVORITE FITNESS ACCOMPLISHMENT: I completed the Shelby Farms Greenline Half Marathon on my birthday on a whim in 2013. I hadn’t trained. Yikes! Prior to that day the farthest I ever ran at one time was four miles. MOST MEMORABLE WW EVENT: My first race was the Chickfil-A 5K, three summers ago. While I was grabbing lunch at Chickfil-A, I saw the race flyer and it said chicken sandwiches would be given to participants at the end of the race, so I immediately signed up. I have been racing ever since. I ❤ RUNNING: I love running because it makes me stronger mentally and physically. I push myself hard during training. Running mimics the ups, downs, and realness of everyday life. I also enjoy racing because I am giving to a great cause via my race fees while doing something I seriously enjoy. CROSS-TRAIN: I do Zumba, MixxedFit, and Tap dance. I am a member of Memphis’ Hot Foot Honeys, a professional tap dance company. I started formal dance training at age 5. Dancing keeps me energized. BEST EATS: I love lunchtime. I’m always grabbing smoked BBQ wings from Cozy Corner or you can catch me sitting in Miss Cordelia’s eating the grilled chicken salad in a spinach wrap that they call “Our Best Kept Secret.” So good! WW MUST-HAVES: I have to have on all things Nike on race day
HEALTH+FITNESS | Januar y 2016
“I love running because it makes me stronger mentally and physically.”
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minus the socks. I can’t run anywhere without my SmartWool PHD Run Ultra Light Micro socks. SmartWool is the bomb! BUCKET LIST: Running the Hapalua Half Marathon in Waikiki Beach, Honolulu. INDULGENCE: Pound cake with a side of vanilla ice cream. I like pound cake so much that I make them from scratch in the shape of a heart. WHAT FAMOUS PERSON WOULD YOU LIKE AS A DINNER COMPANION? Pope Francis because he spreads the message of loving your fellow neighbor no matter what your differences may be. Pope Francis leads by example. He shows everyone by his actions that he is truly concerned for mankind. I made the journey to Washington, D.C. just to see him address the masses at the Capitol. It was life changing. Interview by Hailey Thomas. Photo by Sarah McAlexander.