Sari Stenholm started her running career as a sprinter. She represented Finland in the Junior World Championships in Lisbon, Portugal in 1994 and still holds the junior Finnish record in the 400m. After retiring from competitive sports, she began her transition towards longer distances and took part in many road races. In Finland, Sari used to coach junior track and field, as well as adult runners and triathletes. Getting involved with the Howard County Striders has inpsired her to start training again in a more consistent manner. Sari currently resides in Columbia with her husband Pekka and works as a postdoctoral fellow at the NIH.