she’s back… a reintroduction to sofia strides (and the last few months of my life)

there's something a little vulnerable about coming back to a space you've been absent from for a while. almost 1 year to be exact. has anyone noticed you this page went a little quiet? maybe, but maybe not. do I know why I so abruptly had to revamp this thing? not really. but I think it has something to do with why I started this page in the first place - passion.

so we’re back! for my new friends, my name is Sofia. I am an ACSM certified Exercise Physiologist by training, community health advocate and Heart Screening Director by calling, and a Tampa-turned-Naples girl who is deeply enthralled with building a life that makes me smile. welcome (or welcome back) to sofia strides.

THE LAST FEW MONTHS

I stopped posting and writing on here not for any reason, but just because life was shifting in ways I couldn't fully articulate yet, and I've learned that I'd need to be present in a season that has highs and lows that can change everything. here's just some of what that season held:

half marathon #3! third time’s a charm right? I ran it right in the heart of Naples - truly gorgeous. I questioned exactly why I signed up for it around mile 10 and debated just running into the nearby ocean instead BUT THEN I crossed the finish line and immediately started thinking about the next one. I love that running has always done that for me. it turns me into someone who voluntarily does hard things and then signs up again and again and again.

the loss of a job. and the start of a new one! working at DexaFit Naples was an amazing start to my career. from helping clients better understand their bodies, to being part of their journey toward healthier, stronger lives, and developing so many new skills, I definitely grew. I’m deeply grateful for the experience, the relationships built, and the opportunity to serve my community. but now, I’m in a new role that is truly a calling. I joined Who We Play For as a Heart Screening Director, which means I get to travel across Collier County (and beyond) setting up and running cardiac screenings for student-athletes. some of you close to me know my story… before college, I lost my best friend, John Goodwin, to sudden cardiac arrest. John was a healthy, active teenager. he played football and he was full of life. He had been diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), the most common genetic heart condition, and while it was being monitored, he went into cardiac arrest. and just like that, he was gone. WWPF exists to eliminate preventable sudden cardiac death in youth, like John, through affordable heart screenings, AEDs and working with communities - to honor every kid who never had the chance.

renewing my lease in Naples. this might sound like a small win, but it was actually one of the most intentional decisions I've made, as it came before I had any confirmation of a new job to keep me in town. since living in the 239 for a year, I see how Naples is one of those places that makes you feel like you’re on vacation EVERYDAY. my early morning beach walks. my coffee shops that brew the best bevs. the boutiques with the greatest designer fashion. I chose to stay and see what another year would hold for me, and I'm so glad I did.

WHAT SOFIASTRIDES IS BECOMING

this site has always been about wellness as a way of living, not just as a diet or set of rules, not a program, not a before-and-after. my belief, informed by years of studying exercise physiology and deepened by my own personal experience, is that real wellness is rooted in everyday rituals. it’s in the run that clears my head. the community around me. the meal I love to cook at the end of a long day. the beach days from sunrise to sunset. that's what I want this page to look like as I move forward and share my heart and mind on here! I'm excited to use this site with old roots and combine it with new, fresh ideas to revamp the brand and this community.

I'm really glad you're here friend.