Forty-three-year-old Husted defies the odds by being one of the top masters runners in the state. On a daily basis, she balances her busy, multi-faceted life; she’s an active release therapist (ART), real estate agent, track coach, artist, wife to the Secretary of the State of Ohio, Jon Husted, and mother to her three kids, ages 20, 9, and 6.

Now a track and cross country coach at Worthington Kilbourne High School, Husted has quit and restarted running on multiple occasions. She stopped after her father's death in 2006 and concentrated on raising money for brain-cancer research.

Born in Bucyrus, Ohio, Mrs. Husted earned the titles of All-Ohio Honorable Mention Basketball Point Guard and multi-year State Champion in track and field while a student at Colonel Crawford High School. She furthered her athletic career at Ohio University (OU), where she majored in physical therapy with a minor in psychology while continuing to run track. At OU, Mrs. Husted also volunteered at the student health center’s physical therapy department and with the Ohio Department of Youth Services.

It wasn’t until 2010 that a simple challenge by a friend to do the Warrior Dash rekindled Husted’s interest in running and fitness. This led to an intense three-year training program that culminated in a personal marathon record in the 2014 Philadelphia Marathon. This proved to be a watershed year for her, with three marathons all under three hours: Philadelphia in 2 hours, 46 minutes, 55 seconds, seventh woman overall, first masters; Grandmas Marathon in 2:47:27, 25th woman overall; and Columbus Marathon in 2:47:06, fourth woman overall, first masters. In addition, the sub-3 superstar had prepared for her big 2014 racing year by running the 2012 JFK 50 Miler, coming in eighth for the women in 7:22:44.

A member of Riverside United Methodist Church, Mrs. Husted sings with the agape choir and contemporary praise groups. She also continues her devotion to service through the Staff Parish Committee. Recently, Mrs. Husted was able to obtain a national license for the Open Table, a nonprofit mentoring group for homeless individuals and those living in poverty, an organization for which she also serves as the mission leader.

In her free time, Mrs. Husted enjoys creating original artworks with pastel chalk, her preferred medium, as well as pencil, watercolor, and acrylics. She has also returned to her running roots, participating in several marathons, 50Ks, and 50 mile races and earning the title of one of the country’s “Top 15 Master Female Runners” in 2014 as determined by Runner’s World Magazine.

FCA Involvement: 

- Woman of God. Passion for sports, understands the influence.

- Uses her influence as FCA huddle leader, Supporting Lifewise Academy, Church Involvement, etc. Open in the community about her faith

- Top Class marathoner