26905_328567311058_719176058_4114515_578560_n

On a brisk February evening in 2010, two relative newcomers to the East Nasty running community made their way up a metal staircase into a small living room. They came to meet new friends and they came to sing. What happened that night is now the stuff of urban legend, but our new East Nasty of the Week was there…and she BROUGHT IT!!! Say hello to the one and only Sara Spencer, and notice her “eyes-closed” technique while rockin’ the mic below.

Sara comes to us all the way from Muskegon, Michigan. In her early years she could be found hanging out on the beach and playing in the waves of Lake Michigan. She received her preliminary education in the Mona Shores school district, AKA “The Fighting Sailors!” Although sports were not really her thing, she excelled in the performing arts. Singing was her true love, and with pride she tells me that she was a “total choir nerd.”

Her singing talents carried Sara to college, where she attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Although she started out as a Vocal Performance major, she switched over to a Graphic Design major for her remaining three years there. And it was that switch over to Graphic Design that allowed Sara to move to Nashville, where she works at Belmont University in the marketing office.

In November 2009, inspired by her high school best friends Carmen Rabbit and Anne Velthouse, Sara decided to begin training for the Country Music Half Marathon on her own. Sara learned of East Nasty by playing on a softball team with THE Graham Stoner, and from his encouragement she began to join our running group for Wednesday night runs. At first the runs were a bit of a struggle for Sara. Each week she would find herself in the dark and alone, with nothing but the fear of stray East Nashville dogs and hope that someone might actually still be hanging around at 11th and Holly to keep her running. Although it was tough, she stuck it out, bought East Nasty gear, and invited others along to the group. Sara completed the 2010 CMHM…on a sprained ankle!!! This year she is excited to try the whole experience again, without the injury.

Besides learning a true love for running, Sara has also experienced a couple of other things since joining the East Nasty community. For starters, she has learned that St. Patrick's Day toga parties can be a little on the dangerous side. On a more positive note however, she has learned what amazing and supportive group of people runners can be. She said to me that joining East Nasty helped her experience what being on a team was like for the first time in her life. And finally…Sara learned to jump over fire.

30912_1466007492190_1293607025_31312054_1557943_n

Be sure to congratulate Sara Spencer! And let’s all hope that if another Karaoke Party ever happens, Sara will once again grace us with her abilities to belt out 90’s power pop music!

Rod