#WhyIMini – Lisa Herron

Lisa Herron has the privilege of being an Indy Mini Ambassador for the third year in a row.  Lisa has been an athlete here entire life.  She had to give up running for powerwalking after her 5th knee surgery. She walked her first Mini-Marathon in 2012.  In 2018, her life changed after having two cervical spine surgeries (ACDF).  In July of 2019, she was released from OrthoIndy, and could barely walk 2,000 steps a day.  Through her employer, OneAmerica, she began to use their active lifestyle programs to build herself back better than ever.    Walking the Indy Mini again seemed impossible, but the word “can’t” is not in Lisa’s vocabulary.    Walking4Health has become a mantra to live by every day.  Ever step counts.  Walk, run, crawl….Just show up!

Lisa sets goals that take her out of her comfort zone.  In 2020, she completed her first sprint triathlon, has walked four full marathons, and in 2021, became an ultramarathoner.  She walked 100 miles in 26 hours 53 minutes!    

2021 was a milestone year in walking 4,901 miles.  9,514,326 steps and 10 pair of running shoes.  She set a goal to walk minimally 10 miles a day for 2021., in addition to riding her bike and doing yoga on a daily basis. 

Lisa’s tips for walking: every step counts, get fitted for good athletic shoes, and change every 500 miles.  She has learned to have endurance over speed.  

“I may not beat at the start, but will catch you somewhere in the middle, and keep going to the finish line,” Lisa said. “I have also learned that there is story to told/heard in the middle to the back of the start line. I greatly appreciate the elite athletes, but it is the athletes that have overcome a health challenge, or a life-altering event.  Pause to receive and grow from your peers.  It will change you forever.”

Besides spending her free time maintaining a healthy lifestyle, Lisa works for OneAmerica, and helps promote her employer’s health programs in the greater Indianapolis area.  Lisa has two grown children, Matthew and Lauren.  She is also a dog mom to ReggieMiller, Boomer and LuLuBelle.