Eat, Run, Travel

Blog by Vanessa Vila

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About Me

Hi, I’m Vanessa!  Thank you for visiting my blog.  Here’s a little about me.

Like all of us, I wear many “hats.”

Family Picture from Nov. 2015
Family Picture from Nov. 2015
Family picture (“front porch pic”) from April 2020

I am a wife, working mom of two energetic & mischievous little boys (ages 9 and 6), former Army officer and veteran, and runner (aka runNerd, because of how much I love running 😉 ) I also love traveling, which was born from my first trip overseas to Norway and France.  My love of photography came from my travels, then grew exponentially when my first son was born in 2011.  And of course… eating.  I’ve tried many local cuisines, from Scandinavia to German to Korean to Puerto Rican.  Eating fuels my running, but it also nourishes and inspires.  I hope to share some of my favorite recipes on this blog!

Hubby & I served in the Army. This was taken in Al Asad, Iraq. October 2008
Hubby & I served in the Army. This was taken in Al Asad, Iraq. October 2008
Sightseeing at El Morro in Old San Juan, photo by my better half :)
Sightseeing at El Morro in Old San Juan in Dec. 2015, photo by my better half 🙂

Running and being active frames my life now, because of the confidence and calmness it gives me, and the inspiration I find while I’m on my runs.  I’ve been active all my life, from “Track & Field” day–my favorite day in elementary school, because I could do an all-out sprint!–to college sports, where I rowed on the Hudson River with the Army crew team.

On spring break with the Army Crew team. Cocoa Beach, FL. 2004
On spring break with the Army Crew team. Cocoa Beach, FL. 2004

In high school, I was a cheerleader for football & wrestling, simply because I loved the gymnastics and dance aspect of it, as well as the teamwork with my friends. What I really lived for was Track season, though. Long jump, triple jump, 100 meter dash, and 4×100 meter relay…I absolutely craved track season the other 9 months of the year.

4 x 100 meter relay team. I'm second from left.
4 x 100 meter relay team. I’m second from left.

After college and into the Army, I became more inclined to distance running, and have completed 17 half-marathons, several beginner Triathlons, and 1 marathon to date–with a slew of 5K’s, 10K’s, and other distances thrown in for good measure. I hope to motivate & inspire others to find fitness and being active as fun & exciting as I do!

Savannah River Bridge Run, 10K. November 2011
Savannah River Bridge Run, 10K. November 2011

This blog will be a place for these 3 loves: eating, running, & traveling, with some photography and of course my wonderful family thrown in 🙂

The Triumvirate: combining eating (or here, drinking Hefeweizen), running (the Weinstrasse half marathon), and traveling (we lived in Germany).
The Triumvirate: combining eating (or here, drinking Hefeweizen), running (the Weinstrasse half marathon), and traveling (we lived in Germany).
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