I'm currently working on my new travel fitness blog and newsletter. It's all about challenging physical adventures around the globe (doing a sunrise volcano hike, running a marathon under the midnight sun, etc.) as well as how to stay healthy while on the go.

Here's my blog: https://heidirunsabroad.com

And feel free to subscribe to my newsletter for tips, resources, and stories: https://heidirunsabroad.kit.com/a3a6f005c5

Besides that....in my earlier years....I worked at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey in Residence Life for the last decade (supervising RA's, Hall Directors, etc.). I actually left that job even though I loved it very much (there was a restructure in our department). I chose to leave and instead of getting another job right away, I decided to travel for 4.5 months solo! That led to more of a gap year and now I'm moving to Sofia, Bulgaria!

I'm originally from New Jersey as well and got bit by the travel bug back in 2016 when I went on my first group tour, EF Ultimate Break. They do all the planning and take you around with a Tour Director. As much fun as that's been, I've picked up various skills and travel confidence and have planned my own international trips and even traveled solo in Portugal, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and various US states.

One big thing about me is that I'm a group fitness instructor and LOVE talking about fitness! I teach 4 different types of fitness classes (weight lifting, core strength, mixed martial arts, and a yoga based class). They are all Les Mills, if you're familiar with the company. I also love talking about travel, of course :)

I'm also finding a new love for hiking! I did a 6 day solo hike of the Peaks of the Balkans trail (Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro) as a part of my trip. My favorite hike so far was the Koncheto ridge hike in the Pirin mountains of Bulgaria (my Sofia CS host and I did it and ended up doing that section in the dark with headlamps to get to the shelter nearby for the night). The Highline trail in Glacier National Park in Montana is also one of my favorites for the amazing views the ENTIRE time.

While I'm working on my visa process, I'll either be in Bulgaria or traveling to other countries :)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I sometimes travel solo and am interested in connecting with folks from the area. I'm pretty low maintenance so I don't mind crashing on a couch! So far the hosts I've met on CS have been absolutely wonderful! On my 4.5 month solo trip, the CS connections I made were my favorite part of my trip.

Interests

• cats
• running
• hiking
• group fitness
• snorekling
• sustainbility

Music, Movies, and Books

Favorite music: Taylor Swift
Movies: Thor Ragnarok, She's the Man, Man Up
Books: Harry Potter

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I ran the Midnight Sun Marathon in Norway - it happens at night with 24/7 daylight! If I was going to train my butt off for it, I wanted to go someplace new, someplace cool, and have a very unique experience. This fit the bill and was totally worth it!

Teach, Learn, Share

I've been a group fitness instructor for 8+ years. If you're familiar with the company, I teach 4 different Les Mills classes. Essentially I teach classes choreographed to music (yoga, mixed martial arts, weight lifting, and a core class). I would love to share that with others!

What I Can Share with Hosts

During my stay, I'd be more than happy to teach a personal class to you so you can experience it as well! I exercise daily (whether it be one of these classes, heavy weight lifting, running, walking, stretching, or hiking). I find that this is a great way to connect with others as well :)

I also enjoy talking about American culture, psychology and adult development, and all things travel (and much more). I would love to share with you, ask questions, and answer any questions you might have for me (I'll pretty much talk about anything).

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Austria, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Montenegro, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey

Countries I’ve Lived In

Bulgaria, United States