Who is this Runner?

          As a child I always had dreams of going to Nationals, the Olympic Trials and maybe someday, the Olympics. It has been a dream but I always felt it was a long shot. Growing up I loved to run. I ran my first 5k in the fourth grade after seeing my parents and older brother run races and I thought it looked fun. I immediately fell in love with the sport. I was a multi-sport athlete in high school competing in volleyball, basketball, cross country and track but running has always been my passion. I saw some success with my running in high school. I won two cross country titles, won three team championships, and hold school records in the 1600m and 3200m but I was by no means a running “phenom” or prodigy. After graduating as Valedictorian from Manhattan Christian High School, I received both an academic and athletic scholarship to attend Idaho State University. My running, hard work, and perseverance would now allow me to be able to have a very affordable college experience. My times and fitness kept improving every year, it was slow at times, but I was gradually bringing my times down while staying injury free. I never compared myself to others but always stayed positive and kept working hard. By the time I was a senior at I.S.U. my times had significantly improved and I ended my career with the school record in the 3000m (indoors), Distance Medley Relay, and the second fastest time in the 3000m Steeplechase. I received the Big Sky Conference Scholar Athlete Award, Cross Country MVP, the Academic Athlete Achievement Award and graduated with honors.

My college career ended on a very positive note, but instead of hanging up my racing spikes, I decided to keep pursing my childhood dreams and see just where this running thing would take me. With a lot of hard work and dedication who knows how much I can improve? A few months after graduating from I.S.U., I had major surgery to correct a swallowing disorder. It took me over a month to get to the point where I could simply jog more than one mile without having to stop. Going from running around 70 miles a week in college to barely being able to finish one mile was definitely a new challenge for me. I did not get discouraged or give up. I started back slowly and by the outdoor season was running really well, faster than I ever did in college. In fact I made a 21 second improvement in the 3000m Steeplechase and I made it to USA Nationals. It was a huge accomplishment for me. Going to USA’s and competing next to my running “hero’s” was amazing. It felt unreal for me to now be competing against these “professional,” elite athletes. A part of me wondered, “Do I really belong here?” But I was there; I made it, so yes I did belong. After my first experience at USA’s I made it a goal to make it again the next year in 2010. Suddenly my dream of the Olympic Trials and possibly the Olympics was starting to become a reality. I made it again in 2010 and 2011 and now have set my sights on bigger goals.

I want to be a contender in the 3000m steeplechase at the Olympic Trials in 2012. I do not want to simply qualify for the meet but be a force to be reckoned with at the meet. I know I have a lot of hard work ahead of me but I am ready for the challenge. I have been preparing for this the last couple years, working on staying injury free and getting stronger. I even did a Marathon last fall in Chicago to work on my strength and get my body used to some intense training loads. I finished my first marathon in 2:49:31. The next season I set a personal best in the steeplechase of 10:07, which is the USA A standard.  That same season I set PR’s in the mile, 3000m, and 5000m. I ran my first indoor meet of 2012 and ran a PR in the 3000m which qualifies me for USATF Indoor Nationals at the end of February. I am in a good place physically (no injuries) and mentally (I have a goal set in my mind and I will not back down from the challenge) and I am ready to break out onto the scene in 2012.

          I currently work part time at Sound Mind and Body Gym and Wells Fargo bank, and write a weekly blog for Active.com’s G Series Pro Elite Tribe. http://pulse.active.com/loisk I also have a small sponsorship with PowerBar, Club Northwest and Brooks ID. It has taken me many years of hard work to get where I am at and I could not have done it alone. Because of this I try to give back as much as I can. For instance this past fall I served as a volunteer Coach for Girls on the Run of Puget Sound and in June of 2011 I volunteered with the American Cancer Society’s DetermiNation Program as a Coach. These experiences have been very rewarding and I do my best to serve as a good role model for younger athletes. You never know what the future holds and because of this I am going to seize every opportunity I can to accomplish my goals and help promote healthy lifestyle choices and active living for all people. A piece of advice I try to live by is to seize each day and make it an adventure. Don't think you have to wait until tomorrow or until you have more money or weigh less to live the life you dream of. Start now, today, this instant, and the other things will follow.