PICKUPS with Amanda Li

Take a minute to get to know Amanda—she's a Hettas Ambassador and integral part of our community. As someone who previously "hated" running, Amanda is proof we can push through our own limitations to redefine what's possible for ourselves. 

Who’s a woman you admire and why?

My mom. She's one of the strongest people I know and was the one who taught me that I could do anything I could put my mind to. (She's also the first one to show up to a race with a camera to capture the perfect shot!)

What inspired you to pick up running later in life?

The pandemic. But I wanted to prove to myself that I could do something that I never thought possible: running.

You’re training for your first triathlon—what has surprised you about the process so far?

How much I actually enjoy cross-training and how expensive it is. Participating in sports is always such a privilege, but truly this one was a bit of a sticker shock.

What song gets you fired up right now?

Who's Afraid of Little Old Me? by the one and only Taylor Swift.

How has starting your own run club impacted you? Your community?

Starting Warm Up Run Collective has truly changed how I approach running. Sure, it's a sport and we can all work toward getting faster or stronger. But what makes it special is that it brings people together. From brand-new runners to pros, it's this one magical thing that we can all unite over. And that's just so cool!

You’re at peak difficulty of a workout, race, or run—what one thought keeps you going?

"I can have an iced coffee after!" Kidding (kinda!). I try remember that I've come SO far as someone who 'hated' running. So, what's one difficult workout?

How are you going to celebrate after completing your Ironman 70.3?

I'm going to be at Ironman 70.3 Ohio in Sandusky. So first, I'm going to celebrate by eating everything.  Then we're gonna go to Cedar Point and ride all the rides!

Which Hettas shoe is your favourite right now and why?

I'm loving the Alma Tempos right now. They're so versatile—the perfect shoe partner for anything from an easy recovery run to a speed workout.

You can follow Amanda on her journey @amondzontherun