Our latest ENOW is known for her love of Texas A&M, her love of her job and her love of her dog. But seriously, the Texas A&M thing is next level. Nasties, it is my pleasure to introduce you to your East Nasty of the Week, Lauren Caswell!

Lauren was born in the small town of Brattleboro, Vermont, but grew up in a suburb of Dallas, Texas. She swam competitively for eight years throughout middle and high school, and played softball and volleyball. When Lauren wasn’t playing sports, she was driving around with the top down on her jeep listening to techno music with her friends.

Lauren went to Texas A&M in College Station. She studied Recreation, Parks and Tourism Sciences with a focus in hospitality management, which included a summer abroad in Italy. She says that those were the best years of her life. She participated in all of the many traditions at A&M and made some of the best friends she could ask for.

On top of the Omni Hotel while it was under construction October 2012

Lauren works for Omni Nashville Hotel. She moved to Nashville two years ago to help open the new hotel, and started as a sales coordinator. She is now a group sales manager, which she loves because she gets to showcase both the city and the hotel.

Lauren started running in 2012. Two months after moving to Nashville, she volunteered with Hands on Nashville to hand out water during the Winter Warmup. Even though she mostly wanted to get out there to meet people, she became inspired by the runners. She started training with East Nasty shortly afterwards for the Rock n' Roll Half and completed her first (rainy) half last year.

After the Women’s Half with Patrick, 2014

Lauren's biggest accomplishment in running is inspiring other people to run. She sets a lot of goals for herself and is always happy when she meets those, but is much more rewarded when a friend says, “Lauren, I’m going to start running because you have inspired me to.”

The thing Lauren loves most about our group is the camaraderie, saying, "Everyone is always so encouraging and supportive. They want you to do well and accomplish your goals. I wish everyone had the mindset of an East Nasty!"

Lauren has been running with East Nasty for two years and says her most memorable experience is seeing two of the guys she coached in P2T become not only coaches themselves, but testaments to the East Nasty cause.

When Lauren's not running, she loves trying new restaurants, traveling, hiking, riding her bike, going out with friends, live music, festivals, beer and hanging out with the main man in her life, her dog, Yogi Bear.

Hiking in East Tennessee with fellow Nasties, Kristen Stone and Lauren Van Sant and their dogs.

Lauren, welcome to Nashville, welcome to East Nasty, and, most importantly, welcome to the ENOW club! Congrats!