KCFit.Net

Tuesday Training bLog (Profiles)

by Carly Finucane, posted Jul 28th 2009, 19:32

Amber – Marathon Newbie

Race/Event you are training for:

I am currently training for the KC Waddell & Reed half marathon on October 17.

Tell us about your athletic background and events/races:

I have been running since 8th grade and in high school I was a part of the 2001 Blue Springs High School State Champion Cross Country team. In track I ran the 800 meter, mile, and 2 mile. I was part of the 2002 and 2003 All-State 4×800meter team. This will be my first race longer than a 5k so this will be a new experience for me.

Tell us about your job and work schedule:

I am a registered Dental Hygienist and work in Leawood, Kansas. I work a regular 8-5 schedule and I am mostly training in the evening after work.

Please tell us about your family or home life?  Married?  Single?  Kids?

I am getting married next March and currently live on the Country Club Plaza. There are so many great places to run around the plaza– the trolley trail, loose park, mill creek park– and always good people watching! I live with my fiancee, who doesn’t work out very often, and I’m trying to motivate him to train with me to look good for our wedding next year

Does your significant other participate?  Your kids?

How does this impact your training?  I sometimes run with friends, but mostly I run solo. It’s my “me” time to listen to music and relax and push myself to meet my goals. When I want to do speed workouts I work out with my friend who lives next door who is also training for the half marathon. He runs at a faster pace than I do so I challenge myself to keep up with him.

What keeps you motivated during your training?  Competition?  Personal fitness?  Appearance?

I have always tried to stay in good shape– I have been running since high school so it has become part of my normal daily routine. My motivation is to prove to myself that I can run a half marathon. In high school I never ran more than 6 or 7 miles, and in college I mostly ran 3 miles a day just to stay fit. This race is not going to be about my overall race time, I just want to stay at a good pace and maintain it. I eventually do want to train for a full marathon. As far as motivation, I like to set weekly goals for myself, like next week I want to get up to 8 miles.

Caleb – Avid Runner

Race/Event you are training for:

Chicago Marathon

Tell us about your athletic background and events/races:

Primarily, I’m a runner…I ran cross country and track in high school (Blue Springs high school) and in college at (Wichita state university)…

Tell us about your job and work schedule:

Since February of 2009 I’ve been at “The Sports Medicine Store/Metro Walk and Run” (Sports Medicine Store/Metro Walk and Run Provider Discount) in Overland Park.  I am the running director.  I also head up a running group in overland park.  Due to having a long drive for work, I have to workout early or late.

Please tell us about your family or home life? Married? Single? Kids?

I live in Blue Springs, MO….so I have a good drive for work.  Not married.  I have a girlfriend.  No kids.

Does your significant other participate? Your kids? How does this impact your training?

My girlfriend is an avid runner.  We are actually training for the Chicago Marathon October 11th, and we are traveling to Chicago this weekend for the Chicago rock and roll half marathon

What keeps you motivated during your training? Competition? Personal fitness? Appearance?

My motivation is not that I enjoy to run, its that I don’t like to get into something not prepared to do my best….and to do well in local road races there is no secret formula, its just staying consistent and putting in the time on the road.

Aubrey – Busy Mom

Race/Event you are training for:

Next three races: Aug. 1- KC Women’s Triathalon, October- KC half marathon, Jan 2010 Walt Disney World Marathon

Tell us about your athletic background and events/races:

I have played sports since I was little, with volleyball being my passion. After college, I continued doing my normal exercises like step class, zumba, weight training and playing in rec. leagues for volleyball. I always hated running, so I never did it unless a coach was making me. My husband laughed when I said I wanted to run a marathon and told me I wouldn’t make it. So that is how I joined TNT and completed my first marathon in San Fran. (Take that, Jeff!) I did not run fast, but I did finish it. (Definitely a jogger, not a runner.) Since 2005 I have completed several 5Ks, 10Ks, 3 half marathons, and am preparing for Walt Disney World Marathon in Jan. 2010. After my second baby, I wanted something to motivate me to get in shape, so I have been training for the KC Women’s Triathalon on August 1. It’s coming up! I HATE swimming in lakes and have never been “a swimmer”, so that will be my biggest challenge. If I don’t have a panic attack in the lake, I will cruise the 10 mile bike ride and the 5K run smiling.

Tell us about your job and work schedule:

I am a kindergarten teacher!

Please tell us about your family or home life? Married? Single? Kids?

Married, 2 boys ages 3 and 1

Does your significant other participate? Your kids? How does this impact your training?

I am a morning person, so I usually wake up at 5:30am to go to the YMCA (YMCA Provider Discount) for weights class or swimming laps, or I cycle and run around the neighborhood. I have two toddlers, so they are asleep (as is my husband) so I can get my workout done before they even wake up. I am home by 7:30 5 days a week. I also play in a volleyball league once a week and take a yoga class at Kansas Siddhi Yoga (Kansas Siddhi Yoga Provider Discount) on Thursday nights.

What keeps you motivated during your training? Competition? Personal fitness? Appearance?

The thing that motivates me to work out is food and feeling strong. I would rather be strong than skinny. I think that lifting weights is VERY important for women although most don’t do it. I can tell a difference when I miss weight class. And I LOVE to eat! I am not a light eater and know that it’s okay because I will have more energy to have a good workout from eating healthy choices. I am allergic to Corn Syrup and High Fructose Corn Syrup, so that keeps me from eating a lot of unhealthy foods. I also enjoy having a beer or some wine regularly, so I’ve got to burn off all those calories!

I am a very normal, busy mom/wife. But I try to drink a lot of water and green tea, eat one salad a day, and I like to juice fruits/veggies. I go for 5 good workouts a week and 2 days of simple activity (walks, swimming with boys, etc.) however if I don’t get to all 5, I don’t really stress out. Working out makes me a happier, less stressed person.

Chris – Working Out for Wedding

Race/Event you are training for:

Wedding

Tell us about your athletic background and events/races:

I have always been an athlete growing up, playing every sport my parents would allow. I played basketball, baseball, football, lacrosse, soccer, golf, tennis and swam. After I graduated High School my activity dropped considerably, but I continued to play team sports when available. This year I have been trying to get into running and competing in some events. I have run a few 5K’s and a few 4-milers. I decided to get the p90x and do the 90 days leading up to my wedding so I can get back into great shape.

Tell us about your job and work schedule:

I work for KCFit.net which is still a small company, but as you can tell from our website has a lot to offer. Just because I work for KCFit.net, does not mean that I don’t have the same problems everyone else has when it comes to motivating myself to be healthier and more active. I never really stop thinking about work or what KCFit.net can do. My hours are all over the place because so much of the content varies based on season and how many corporate walking challenges we have going at any given time. As mentioned above, I am getting married in a few months and in doing so will be gaining a 2-year old step-daughter. You can imagine how much that fills up my schedule when I am not working.

Please tell us about your family or home life?  Married?  Single?  Kids?

I am engaged to a wonderful woman, Megan, who is also an entrepreneur and incredibly successful (and beautiful). I put up with her so I can hang out with Olivia, soon to be my daughter. She is 2 years old and keeps me on my toes.

Does your significant other participate?  Your kids?  How does this impact your training?

Olivia absolutely loves the park and being outdoors. This makes it much easier to get a run in or gives me time to at least get small doses of workouts in. Megan is similar to me in that we like being active but we have to fight to find time and make the commitment. She is a good runner and we often times will go running with the two of us and Olivia in the running stroller. I like team sports a lot more than she does, so I tend to do that stuff without her. With our schedules, we often do not do the p90x together, although we are both using it to get in shape for the wedding.

What keeps you motivated during your training?  Competition?  Personal fitness? Appearance?

A lot. This is kind of a tough question to answer. I love competition, but like I said I am a team sport guy and there just isn’t the same type of feel to adult leagues. I really like being fit and looking good. I always feel so much better which allows me to be more positive and proactive in life. Becoming a family makes me look down the road as well and makes me want to do it to not only set a good example, but to be around for a long time to see my family grow over the years. Living healthier makes me feel like I am more in control of my life which translates into everything else I do.

Brian – Weekend Warrior

Race/Event you are training for:

Kansas City Half Marathon

Tell us about your athletic background and events/races:

I am an athletic has been and current wannabe.  I was an NCAA Division 1 Swimmer and since college I have completed 2 marathons (Philadelphia & Marine Corps) and Chicago Half Marathon.  I also changed things up and completed the Chicago Triathlon and completed the Firm Man Half Iron Man.  I would like to get back in shape enough where I am able to take long runs or bike rides on the weekend but not to a point where I have a time or target for a race.

Tell us about your job and work schedule:

I work long hours and I am on the road Monday – Thursday every week.  I don’t have much time during the week to exercise, so the bulk of my exercise routine has to be done on the weekends.

Please tell us about your family or home life?  Married?  Single?  Kids?

I am in an amazing marriage and don’t have kids just yet.

Does your significant other participate?  Your kids?  How does this impact your training?

My wife is active exerciser although our preferences for activities differ.  I prefer to run and she would prefer a yoga or pilates class.  I mostly stick with the running because I look quite foolish struggling next to her in yoga.

What keeps you motivated during your training?  Competition?  Personal fitness?  Appearance?

I am mostly motivated by competition that is why I need a race like the KC half marathon to keep focused on.

Please check back next Tuesday when our KCFit Training bLoggers update us on their progress for the week! Go to our KC Events section to find upcoming events around the area.