Amber Reeves - The Short of It

Amber, two years older than her sister Jennifer, was born in Laurinburg, North Carolina some forty-five-minute drive from Fayetteville, North Carolina.  Fayetteville, North Carolina is known to us military types as Fayettenam!  Her mother toiled as a machine operator making drill bits and her father laid cable for AT&T.  They both got tired of this and divorced when Amber was age four.  Amber lived with her mother through her school years graduating from Scotland High School in Laurinburg where she was on the tennis team.  Amber married after graduation in 1999 and subsequently had two daughters (Alexandria (2000) and Caitlin (2001).  Both daughters are featured in accompanying photos with Amber.    Amber moved to Georgia in 2004, after a divorce, to be near her mother.

Daughter Alex, Amber and Daughter CaitlinAfter being a stay at home mom, Amber with the encouragement of her sister Jennifer, began a career with Biolab, where she participated in producing the brand of cleaners we all know as “Grease Lightening”.  She was there until the decline in the economy caught up with her and she was laid off in 2009.  The layoff spurred Amber to return to school, acquiring a certification in medical billing from Everest Technical College.  Amber formed her own entity in a niche she found doing medical mental health billing for providers.  She now works full time as an independent contractor for one medical entity and in addition does medical billing for three other firms on the side.   

Amber, Sherri Price and Daughter AlexAmber’s first race was the Brain Tumor 5K at Atlantic Station in 2013, as she was convinced to participate in honor of a friend whose daughter suffered from a brain tumor.  She enjoyed the experience so much that she began to google upcoming races and stumbled on the Classic Race Services site.  Running was a way to lose weight, and she found that plugging in her earbuds while running was a therapeutic way to “get lost in the music while clearing my head.”  Amber’s two daughters accompanied her to races providing a non-generational activity that they could do together.  Eventually long term boyfriend Mitch joined the entourage. 

Amber completed one hundred and forty-nine races in 2015 and is first in the 30-34 female age group. Amber is ranked first in her age group in Run and See Georgia, Black Bag, and Clover Glove races series for 2015.  Her favorite races are all those without steep hills!  Her goal for 2016 is to slow down and enjoy races that she has not participated in before and to participate in at least two half marathons.  If you are intrigued about the title of this profile, Amber’s height is 4’10” yet can stride a 5K in 26:40.  She is short but you cannot see her feet in her driver’s license photo!      

Bob checking out from the back of the pack.  Look for the profile on long time senior runner Bill Costantino and profile of Decatur runner Amy Hall.