Born in North West Ohio, to Pat and Larry Rush, I was blessed to have a solid family. My mother taught school and showed me the value of education. My father worked in construction to provide for his family. From them, I learn the value of hard work and dedication that I would be able to succeed in everyday life. They supported me in all of my activities from cheerleading, singing in the choir and other athletic things.
At the age of six, I began my running “career” for the Findlay Jaycee Running program and every summer I headed to different track meets in a tri-state area. My love for running eventually lead me to a school change, where I met my former coach, Pat Wagner. Who then led us to three state championships in cross country, and allowed me to run in the State Track and Field meet at The Ohio State University. His belief in my abilities helped grow my confidence as a runner, as well as, a person. He would have what he called “Thoughts of the day” which were some kind of life lesson, meaning behind these quotes or inspirational sayings. I loved these so much that throughout my life I continued using quotes in my everyday life. To this day, I use quotes to teach my “girls” the same valuable lessons that my coach did.
I later married my husband Doug in the spring of 1989. We were blessed with four beautiful children Ethan, Seth, Abby and Eli. As I was raising my family I began coaching Jr. High track at the local school in the town where we lived at the time. My daughter, Abby needed to switch schools and we decided to take our children to where I graduated from, Liberty-Benton High School. As I was enrolled our children into their new school, I found my former coach, Pat Wagner. He asked me if I would like to come back to my Alma Mater, coach with him and mentor me so that I could someday take over this legacy he created that spans over 30 years. I was more than honored to have this great opportunity to go from being his athlete to now his peer.
From unexpected circumstances, I was asked to take over as the Head Coach for the high school girls cross country team and I stayed on as the girls' assistant track coach because of the passing of my mentor. There, we went on to win the school’s first State Championship in Track and Field in 2015 which was one accomplishment Coach Wagner never was able to achieve. I have became the first in Liberty-Benton High School’s history to have a State Championship as an athlete and now as a coach.
I was fortunate to be introduced to ABC's Secret Millionaire's Coach Tony Branch. He’s the one who has given me the confidence to write my first book. I’ve truly been blessed with this great opportunity and to pursue this is a dream come true.
At the age of six, I began my running “career” for the Findlay Jaycee Running program and every summer I headed to different track meets in a tri-state area. My love for running eventually lead me to a school change, where I met my former coach, Pat Wagner. Who then led us to three state championships in cross country, and allowed me to run in the State Track and Field meet at The Ohio State University. His belief in my abilities helped grow my confidence as a runner, as well as, a person. He would have what he called “Thoughts of the day” which were some kind of life lesson, meaning behind these quotes or inspirational sayings. I loved these so much that throughout my life I continued using quotes in my everyday life. To this day, I use quotes to teach my “girls” the same valuable lessons that my coach did.
I later married my husband Doug in the spring of 1989. We were blessed with four beautiful children Ethan, Seth, Abby and Eli. As I was raising my family I began coaching Jr. High track at the local school in the town where we lived at the time. My daughter, Abby needed to switch schools and we decided to take our children to where I graduated from, Liberty-Benton High School. As I was enrolled our children into their new school, I found my former coach, Pat Wagner. He asked me if I would like to come back to my Alma Mater, coach with him and mentor me so that I could someday take over this legacy he created that spans over 30 years. I was more than honored to have this great opportunity to go from being his athlete to now his peer.
From unexpected circumstances, I was asked to take over as the Head Coach for the high school girls cross country team and I stayed on as the girls' assistant track coach because of the passing of my mentor. There, we went on to win the school’s first State Championship in Track and Field in 2015 which was one accomplishment Coach Wagner never was able to achieve. I have became the first in Liberty-Benton High School’s history to have a State Championship as an athlete and now as a coach.
I was fortunate to be introduced to ABC's Secret Millionaire's Coach Tony Branch. He’s the one who has given me the confidence to write my first book. I’ve truly been blessed with this great opportunity and to pursue this is a dream come true.