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Q: You%u2019ve had such a diverse athletic background, from soccer to basketball and track. What was it like balancing multiple sports in high school, and how did those experiences shape you as an athlete?A. I am very competitive by nature and love being active. Balancing multiple sports in high school taught me to manage my time between school, homework, sports, extracurricular activities, and social events. These experiences shaped me as I learned to prioritize and adapt to different demands.Q: You earned a scholarship to play soccer at the collegiate level. What was that transition like, and how did competing at such a high level influence your approach to fitness and discipline?A. Being a college athlete is like having two fulltime jobs. Between early-morning lifting sessions, classes, practices, study halls, and games, the weekly schedule of an athlete is jam-packed from dawn until dusk. To survive, you need to be incredibly passionate about your sport and develop strong time-management skills. Following college, this approach has been key for me in ensuring that I prioritize my time and family to accomplish my goals.Q: While pursuing both a bachelor%u2019s and master%u2019s degree in Accounting, you continued to stay active. What role did fitness play in helping you balance your academic and athletic pursuits?A. Fitness was a major stress reliever during such a chaotic time and was something I maintained after graduating. I%u2019m an early bird, so I love getting my workouts done very early. It%u2019s a great start to my day.Q: You%u2019ve run everything from 5Ks to marathons. What motivated you to take on distance running, and how has it contributed to your overall fitness journey?A. I started running long distances on my own during college as an outlet for myself. It gave me time to think about anything I wanted or nothing at all. I always felt great after a long run%u2014it was my time to escape and relax.Q: At 40, you decided to challenge yourself by stepping into the world of bodybuilding. What sparked your interest in this new sport, and what was the biggest adjustment for you in transitioning from endurance running to bodybuilding?A. I have friends who started competing in the bodybuilding world, and it sparked my interest. I am always up for a good challenge, and I wanted to push myself in a way I hadn%u2019t done before. The biggest adjustment was the running%u2014or the lack thereof, I should say, lol. I went from running daily to no running, using only the stair climber for cardio. That was such a mental switch and a hard aspect to overcome in the beginning. As I continued prepping in my first year, it became easier to deal with once I was set in my new routine, but it was definitely a tough adjustment at first.ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN YOUR CORNER AND A STRONG MINDSET. MY FAMILY IS MY ROCK, AND THEY INSPIRE ME TO KEEP PUSHING FORWARD.FITNESS OVER 40: LESLIE DURST%u2019S GUIDE TO REINVENTING YOURSELF THROUGH SPORTSLeslie Durst16 MOST MAGAZINE - ISSUE 63