Manlief Finds Motivation in Running

When the final bell rings, classroom lights shut off, and the school day is officially over, many teachers go home and have the opportunity to spend some time enjoying their own hobbies or interests. Many students may see teachers as educators, but outside of the classroom, they have goals, passions, and talents. These hobbies give the teachers a chance to relax and spend time doing things they are passionate about outside of school.  

English teacher Annette Manlief has been a runner for 20 years now. Manlief loves running, especially marathons. “I’ve completed nine marathons, over 30 half marathons, relay events and challenges,” stated Manlief. 

Marathons have taken Manlief to a variety of locations, and while she has enjoyed them all, she does have a favorite. Manlief stated, “The Nike Women’s Marathon in San Francisco is my favorite race. It was my very first marathon, so I had no idea what to expect. Those hills are also NO JOKE. But what was so very cool about it is that it didn’t have a regular finisher’s medal. Instead, tuxedoed firefighters gave us a Tiffany’s necklace.”

Manlief believes running has given her more confidence about her physical abilities. “I love that I give myself a space that is entirely for me, a place where I can “run away” the day. This hobby has shown me I am more capable physically than I ever thought I could endure. And I have created some of my strongest friendships through running,” said Manlief. 

While she hasn’t run a marathon in the past few years, she is super excited for a marathon in 2026. “ I’m turning 50 this year, so I will be running a marathon this fall. I haven’t picked out the race just yet,” Manlief explained. 

Manlief has some advice for those that may want to give running a try. “Don’t try to do too much at once. You have to build up in a reasonable time. If not, you’ll probably get hurt. Also, having a goal race in mind keeps you motivated,” shared Manlief.