Purcell Holistic Nutrition and Wellness Life Coach - Creston

Living in the Kootenays has paved a path that allows me to fulfil my dreams and passions.  As a child growing up in Cranbrook, my family and I were always in the mountains whether it was hiking, camping, fishing, skiing and biking. 

I graduated from Mount Baker Secondary School and studied at College of the Rockies for four years completing a Liberal Arts & Science Certificate and the Certified Dental Assisting Program in 1998.  I moved to Creston, BC in 1999, where I practiced dentistry for 22 years. I have a partner, Bruce, and two boys Carter (15) and Austin (13).

I have always been active outdoors, whether it be mountain biking, road biking, hiking, climbing, backcountry skiing, paddle boarding and, of course, my true passion, trail running. 

I began competing and running half-marathons in 2003 and completed my first marathon in 2005 in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho.

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I continued running up to my sixth month of pregnancy with my oldest son Carter and participated in a 10km race six weeks after giving birth. Austin was born in 2009, and I had taken him to run the Bloomsday Race in Spokane when he was three months old.  

As I became a mother of two, the running seemed to increase in distance, and I felt the importance to maintain my passion for running. I would often start my morning runs at 4 am-4:30 am (usually in between night-time feedings) to “get my run in” before the day started. 

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The running outside in nature was great for stress management, “me-time” (which is so important when raising little ones) and the positive energy it gave me throughout the day.

I have completed over 13 marathons, including the Boston Marathon in 2012.  

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I soon found the anonymous nature and repetitive terrain of road races were taking a toll on my mental and physical well-being. It was then I discovered trail and mountain running.  Living in the Kootenays, there is no shortage of trails, logging roads and mountains. Here I could combine both running and hiking in the mountains into one. The freedom that is felt running through the forest with just the sound of the leaves on the trees and birds chirping is a feeling that will never grow old. This led me to find a new passion for ultra-marathons and endurance racing in the mountains. 

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Holistic Nutrition focuses on a diet that is bio-individuality (one size does not fit all). It includes whole foods, mostly plants, in a macronutrient balanced and anti-inflammatory diet (today’s western diet is considered a high inflammatory diet that can lead to diseases).  A Holistic Nutrition approach also encompasses lifestyle, exercise and movement, stress management, sleep cycles, hormonal balance, mindfulness, social and emotional connection to create optimum wellness.  Completing the Life Coach Certificate program has given me the tools to guide and support others with habit change, goals, removing limiting beliefs and fulfilling their passions and journey.

I am excited to guide you.