Hi! My name is Hope McKenney and I am a rising senior at Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School. I am grateful to have a family who loves running as much as I do! My parents have run numerous marathons and my younger siblings, Katie and Ryan, enjoy running as well. I was first introduced to running in elementary school when my mom coached me in Girls On the Run. I have continued this amazing sport since then, but I really discovered my love for running during my freshman year of high school. Racing with my team and cheering on others is my favorite part of cross country and track and field. I love the feeling of pushing my body to its limits, especially with 100-200 meters to go where I transition into an all-out sprint and see how hard I can close. Because I love racing, I know I have to train smart, eat right, and get enough sleep, in order to be the best competitor I can be. This past track season, I worked on maintaining balance and keeping a low-stress level, which has allowed me to stay healthy and get to the start line excited for what I will do, rather than nervous about what I won’t do. 

I am excited to race longer distances in college, such as 6ks and 10ks. I am not sure yet what school I will attend, but I am looking for a college where the team has a family-like atmosphere. I plan to study kinesiology, exercise science, or another similar major, which will prepare me for a coaching career, where I can share my passion for running with others! 

I like to camp with my family at Paradise Stream, walk my dog, Kona, and spend time with my family and friends. I also enjoy writing, so I am super excited to write for Central PA Runner! I believe that it is extremely important to learn something from every race and every season and I hope to share what I have learned with you!