Antonella Chispe was born and raised in SoCal-Los Angeles. She is the First generation American of Ecuadorian parents and 1 of 4 siblings. She holds a Bachelors degree in Kinesiology and is currently working on a second Bachelors in Nutrition-Dietetics to be a future dietitian. What inspired her to pursue nutrition is her current workplace and running. She works in healthcare-dialysis, which has led her to realize there are not many Spanish speaking dietitians and when speaking to patients, they often share there was never a dietitian that they were able to communicate with and ask questions. Listening to so many stories, she decided she wanted to make a difference. When it comes to running, her story starts at 14 years of age. She ran her first marathon at 14, the LA marathon. Running also saved her in many ways. It has pushed her to be better overall as a person. It helped her leave a verbally abusive relationship. It’s been a consistent part of her life that she appreciates and is grateful for everyday. The best part is, she has made great friendships and they train for their races together.

Questions we dive into include:

Antonella's background, including: how did you get started in running and/or athletics?
What have been a few highlights in your running journey?
What role has community played in your running experience (and in life)? Are you part of any running groups?
You mentioned that running led you to choose your profession/career as a dietitian. What has your experience been like -- any highlights/favorite parts about your job?
Where do you see room to improve when it comes to diversity and inclusion within the running (and nutrition) space?
Do you have any tips for someone just getting started with running?
What does life look like outside of running for you (family, career, hobbies, etc.)?
What advice would you give to your younger self?
What does being a Strong Runner Chick mean to you?

This is a spotlight episode where we highlight a member of the SRC community! Be sure to tune into our IG page @strongrunchicks and tag us if you would like the chance to be featured.