Submitted photo.
Date Published: April 19, 2020
Saturday, April 11, 2020 should have been race day for Emily Nerison. However, COVID-19 had other plans, canceling many events across the world, including the Milwaukee Half Marathon.
Since Emily is a Master Sergeant in the Wisconsin Army National Guard, WIARNG, she is a runner with Team Red, White, and Blue, also known as Team RWB, which is a team comprised of America's veterans.
Proving her shoes weren't made for just walking, Emily laced up on Saturday to compete in a virtual race, which was a change decided upon by the Milwaukee Half Marathon. Emily shared, "I chose to still run my race on the day it was to be run; it was just a different course. Doing a race with others is a different mindset than doing it by yourself. To help motivate me, I decided to run a good portion of this run in the Team RWB way by carrying the American flag. A part of me was also hoping it would bring some motivation and hope to others. While I was running, I received a lot of waves and honks. It was very inspiring."
In one hour, fifty-four minutes, and fifty-six seconds, 1:54:56, Emily completed her 13.10 miles. "I have a passion for running. I try to do a few races or events per year. It is also my goal every year to run at least 1,000 miles," Emily said.
Not only does she have a passion for running, but she also enjoys reading. When asked about her favorite book, Emily picked the Harry Potter series. "Those books are what really got me into reading. I love the world J.K. created. When reading them, you can feel like you are a part of that world."
Along with those hobbies, she has a full schedule. Emily is married to Kevin, and they have two children that she describes as "wonderful." She enjoys spending time with her family, making lasting memories with them. She said that her favorite memory as a child was camping on Madeline Island. "We used to go as a whole family and got to bring my cousins. We would spend all day on the beach and the nights by the campfire," Emily reminisced happily.
Emily is currently creating memories and raising her family in Phillips. As a Phillips High School graduate and RN at Flambeau Hospital, she has established a good life in Price County. "Price County is a beautiful place. It's a great place to move to because you can enjoy its beauty every day. There is also a lot to do for those who look for it. The school district in Phillips is really good, too. We have some amazing teachers," Emily stated, addressing her reasons why she thinks Price County is a great place to live.
She would, however, like to see some changes in the county. "I would like to see some growth and new life breathed into the county. It would be nice to see some updates to it."
As for Emily's future, in ten years she sees herself as the mother of two very active teenagers, working as an RN, and retired from the WIARNG. Most likely, she will still be running, as well.
Written By: Lynne Bohn
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