Dana Ayers
Lee University alumna Dana Ayers has released a memoir titled “Confessions of an Unlikely Runner: A Guide to Racing and Obstacle Courses for the Averagely Fit and Halfway Dedicated.” Her book details her misadventures in life and the humor she finds in running.
"Part Bridget Jones, part Forrest Gump, Ms. Ayers chronicles her awkward mishaps and adventures in transitioning from childhood bookworm to accidental accomplished athlete. Ayers intersperses her hilarious yet relatable struggles with insights about how and why she keeps running.” (Amazon.com)
According to Ms. Ayers, she was inspired to write about the sport of running because of the benefits she’s gained through the years. She hopes the book will entertain runners and non-runners alike, and motivate other people who feel like they are too slow or too weak to finish a race. Since the book’s release, it has been among Amazon’s best sellers.
“Over the last 10 years, Ms. Ayers has completed a multitude of races. She runs them all while admittedly not getting much faster, much thinner, or much more disciplined—though she has managed to be on national television, split open her pants, and get electrocuted.” (Amazon.com)
Ms. Ayers is a 2001 business administration Lee grad and a member of the Lee University Business Advisory Council. She moved to Washington, D.C. after graduation and has worked at the White House, the Department of Homeland Security, and as a management consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton. Ms. Ayers became a runner after moving to D.C. and has "logged a vast array of average finish times since."
Ms. Ayers holds a master's degree in communication from Johns Hopkins University and serves as a public affairs officer for the U.S. Navy Reserve. Her writing has appeared in local newspapers, online magazines, and in “particularly enthralling government PowerPoint” presentations.
“Confessions of an Unlikely Runner” is currently available in eBook form, and will be available in print this November.
Ms. Ayers currently resides in Arlington, Va., and she writes about all of her adventures - in running, work, travel, and love – on her blog http://dcdana.com/.
The book is available at Amazon.