Anna Antolini is the March Community Captain of the Month
Anna was born in Blacksburg, Virginia, but her parents are originally from the Flatwoods area of West Virginia. She moved to Beckley in 2008 to attend the Physician Assistant program at Mountain State University. She met her husband, Michael Antolini, and they decided to stay and make this area home. They now have four children and love this region and its community.
Anna has always been active and committed to working out. When she was younger, she played multiple sports, including volleyball, basketball, and cheerleading. Later, she got into CrossFit and even competed a few times before having kids.
Anna discovered her love for running in 2021, when her third child was about a year old. “I needed something just for myself, something that didn’t depend on classes or other people, so it became me, my thoughts, and the pavement.”
Anna first heard about Active SWV when she signed up for the inaugural Rim2Rim race. Active SWV does an incredible job helping our community stay engaged and connected through wellness. “When I saw the opportunity to volunteer as a Community Captain with the Beckley Run Group, I was excited to join a group of like-minded people who love to run for both physical health and mental clarity,” says Anna. She also helped bring the Kids Run Club back to Stanaford Elementary. “Watching these kids grow in confidence as they realize they can run a mile and accomplish hard things they once thought they couldn’t has been incredibly rewarding,” she stated.
Anna admits she is not always motivated. Sometimes it just takes consistency and showing up when you don’t want to. Anna says, “But I’m never upset that I took the time to move my body. Being active is a priority for my husband and me because we want to stay healthy into our older years, keep up with our children, and model an active, healthy lifestyle.” It’s easy to tell them what to do, but actually modeling it matters most.
Anna thinks everyone should join an Active SWV free program, because first of all, it’s free, so what do they have to lose? These programs offer a great way to try something new, take a step toward a healthier, more active lifestyle, and make new friends along the way.
Stay active with Anna or another Active SWV volunteer Community Captain by visiting our website calendar.