Hildee Weiss: From Couch Potato Mom to Five-Time Half Marathoner

At 46 years old, Hildee Weiss had perfected the art of putting herself last. A devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, she moved through life feeling worn down, invisible, and convinced that fitness was for other people — thinner people, younger people, braver people.

Then one ordinary day, she asked herself a simple question: What if I tried?

That question changed everything.

The Transformation Begins

In July 2014, Hildee made a decision that would rewrite her entire life. She decided to prioritize her own health and wellness. It was not motivated by vanity or a New Year resolution. It was survival. She wanted to be present for her grandchildren. She wanted to feel strong again. She wanted to prove to herself that transformation was possible.

The first steps were shaky. The first 5K felt impossible. But Hildee kept going.

Today, twelve years later, she has completed five half marathons, conquered Spartan races, and run countless 5Ks and 10Ks. More importantly, she has discovered a version of herself she did not know existed — confident, capable, and unapologetically athletic.

Embracing My Inner Athlete — Launching June 9

Her memoir, Embracing My Inner Athlete: Former Couch Potato Mom Discovers Fitness, and Life Has Not Been the Same Since! releases June 9, 2026 — and it is so much more than a running story.

With vulnerable honesty and infectious humor, Hildee reveals the fears, failures, friendships, and fierce determination that shaped her midlife awakening. She shares the days she wanted to quit. The guilt she felt for finally choosing herself. The unexpected joy of a running community that welcomed her exactly as she was. And the quiet, radical act of discovering that you are stronger than you think — at any age.

Who Should Read This?

If you are a woman who has ever felt stuck. If you have believed it is too late to change. If you have watched others transform and thought it could never happen for you. If you are looking for permission — not a fitness plan, but genuine, tender permission — to start your next chapter.

This book is for you.

The Mother Runner community already knows Hildee voice and heart. She is a featured guest on Diz Runs, Run Buzz, and Mind Pump podcasts, and her blog You Want Me To Do What has been chronicling her fitness journey for years. Now, for the first time, the full story — raw, real, and profoundly inspiring.

Get Your Copy

Embracing My Inner Athlete is available now through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Simon and Schuster. Trade paperback, $17.99. Hardcover, $29.99.

Mark your calendar for the official launch on June 9, 2026. And if you are in the Cleveland area, join Hildee for a book signing at The Checkered Shelf on July 19.