In the Flow is a new well-being series on the Dafi blog, featuring monthly interviews with wellness, health and fitness professionals.

April is our month of rebirth, and getting outside in nature and running can be a perfect way to enjoy the outside fresh air to cleanse renew.

In this month’s In The Flow Series, we’re interviewing San Diego-based marathoner, and Dafi influencer, Kimberly Clark.

Kim discovered a love for running 7 years ago and enjoys sharing the ups and downs of her journey on Instagram at @trackclubbabe, while encouraging others to dream big. She has traveled to 57 countries and has big goals for future marathons.

I’m excited to share with you some of Kimberly’s insights and tips for greater health in this interview below!

What’s your trick to keeping hydrated?

To have my refillable 24 oz water bottle and drink 3 of those a day!

Can you share what a day in your life looks like?

I start my day with a glass of water from my Dafi glass pitcher. I head out on a 30 minute run listening to happy music that starts my day off well. Then I juice 20 ounces of celery juice. I make myself a smoothie that I take with me to the office. I commute 30 miles (in Southern California, so you know it takes awhile) everyday. I work in commercial real estate as a broker. I usually post to Instagram at 6 pm at night and usually get home from the office around 7:30- 8 pm. I’ll eat dinner with my husband, and then try to get to bed between 9 -10 pm.

How did you get into health, fitness and well-being? What’s your fit journey?

In 2012, my cousin had started running and she looked amazing and so healthy and fit. So I thought, I’ll join you, and I signed up for 2 marathons and a track club that day. After 10 years of being totally inactive. I’m so lucky that she inspired me to begin this journey that I’m still on. I had wanted to get fit for many years & to start making healthier choices, but that encounter with her really set things in motion for me to really change my life.

How did you get into running track? Was it at an early age? Later in life?

I started running as a senior in high school. I really wanted to be on a team and my dad was a runner so I figured, why not Cross Country?! (Read: they were the only team that would take me…) As a baby runner with zero knowledge of what I was doing, I unfortunately ran myself into the ground and had shin splints that turned into stress fractures- that didn’t stop me from running though and I finished the season as dedicated and injured as they come.

At the end of my senior year of high school, I told a friend that I would do a marathon when I was in college- he said he didn’t think I could do it. That automatically became a challenge. I found out that San Diego Rock N Roll (2002) was later that week, signed up at the expo and suffered through 6 hours and 8 minutes of personal hell. (To my credit, I ran the first 17 miles without walking, and at that point my knees stopped bending, and I was forced to get my legs massaged out at every Aid Station, and walk/jog the last 9 miles. Miserable.) That concluded my running career for a very, very long time.

I went through college and law school without getting back into running and when my cousin told me that she was doing the LA Marathon in 2012- I got it into my head that I wanted redemption in the SD Rock N Roll Marathon. I decided to train this time because the only thing worse than a marathon is a marathon untrained. I joined the San Diego Track Club, trained for two months for the LA Marathon and while it was extremely painful, had a great race- and fell in love with running. From there I set goals like qualifying for the Boston marathon and continued to find joy in the training and pursuing big goals. My first marathon at 17 was a 6:08, and my fastest marathon so far has been a 3:11.

Top healthy travel tip for frequent flyers?

Bring an eye mask with you. Good sleep is the best way to stay healthy and enjoy traveling!

You’re a Californian, what’s your perfect Sunday look like?

Waking up late, going on a run, heading to church, and then going out and exploring- maybe Coronado, or Torrey Pines, or Sunset Cliffs in San Diego. The best part of San Diego is getting to be outside year around. Then we’ll go to dinner downtown to one of our favorite spots, Queenstown Public House and sit down outside and enjoy the weather.

You have a life goal to visit every country — what fuels you to do such an adventure?

I love people, and have always had this desire to understand every culture. It’s so much fun for me to be totally immersed in a new culture and spend time understanding a people and their history. I’ve visited 57 countries and always am looking for new ways to visit more.

What’s your favorite way to restore, recover, chill or self-care?

My favorite way to restore is to visit my college girlfriends and unwind with them. Having lifelong friends means endless laughter which is the best thing for the soul.

How do you get motivated every morning?

Luckily at this point, I’ve been doing everything for awhile, so my routine is all intact. I have goals that I want to reach – but even if motivation is low, the routine I’ve set up keeps me going.

Do you have an AM routine?

I do celery juice and a run everyday.

Do you have a bedtime routine?

Yes! I usually take collagen, reishi mushroom, magnesium, and l-glutamine as my sleep cocktail before bed. I always have a diffuser with essential oils going as I get ready for bed too. Also, a must, I HAVE to take all my makeup off before going to bed. I’ll never sleep with makeup on.

Local healthy find in your hometown of San Diego?

Donna Jeans: a delish vegan Italian spot in downtown San Diego. They make their vegan cheese from scratch — so yummy!

What’s your favorite benefit of alkaline water?

I love the boost of immunity that it gives. In this day and age, we need all the help we can get!

What’s your favorite Dafi product?

I love the glass alkaline water pitcher. It’s so convenient to have access to alkaline water with my faucet and the pitcher. So much easier and better than store bought.