Maria Callen

Name: Maria Callen

Age: 59 (well at least for one more month!)

Where you were born (Hometown): I was born & raised in Tacoma – Moved to Pullman for a few years to attend WSU (also met my hubby & married him over there in the Palouse).  Moved to Whatcom County in 1973, bought a house & still live there!

Family: I have 10 siblings – 7 sisters & 3 brothers!  I am married (39 years so far) & have 3 sons.   My oldest (Jesse -31) lives in Tempe AZ with his wife & 5-year old daughter, My middle son (Travis – 28) & youngest (Tommy – 23) live here locally.

Career, business, volunteer..

My husband & I owned & operated a heavy/civil construction company for 35 years.  When the construction industry tanked a couple years ago, we decided to close the doors.  I worked for IMCO Construction for 2 years after that.  Currently I am tracking on subs to complete some TI work in our Office/Warehouse building on Slater Road and am teaching a couple Construction courses (Scheduling & Estimating) at Washington Engineering Institute.

Favorite music: I like all kinds of music (well, excluding heavy-metal & rap)

Favorite quote: “People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are.  I don’t believe in circumstances.  The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can’t find them, make them.” George Bernard Shaw

What do you like best about walking and/or running? I like being outdoors & just getting some exercise!  (I also like hiking, biking, skiing, swimming…)

What inspires you to keep a regular exercise routine? My husband J

What are some tips you have about eating a healthy diet?

We eat a lot of fresh vegetables at our house & since I bought a quality blender, I’m able to include a lot more fruit in our diet (since my hubby is not a great fresh-fruit-kind-of-guy).  We’re getting pretty creative with the smoothies lately!

What is the biggest obstacle you have overcome (this could be exercise related, career related, or anything in your life)?

The biggest obstacle?  Well, closing our business after 35 years and having to lay off people who had worked for us for MANY years.  It was devastating… & going to work for someone else after being self employed all of my life-after-college.

Your favorite place in the world you have walked/run/hiked:

I love every place I’ve walked/hiked/biked… from the ocean beaches of Kauai to the mountain tea-fields in Sri Lanka to sunny Arizona and to the wonderful mountains of Washington & British Columbia

Anything else interesting about you:

Well, let’s see… I’m a Gemini – & since I’ll be turning 60 in June, I’ll be heading off with my best girl-friend for a Safari in Kenya.  Our group leader is a zoologist from Point Defiance Zoo & she’s taking a group of 12 for this excursion.  Can’t wait!

Sarah Kirkish

Name: Sarah Kirkish

Age: 43

Where you were born (Hometown): Detroit, MI

Family: One partner – Robert Schwenke. We are Urban Nomads and have moved over 5 times in the last five years. We are about to become full time RV’ers in the Fall. The rest of our family is in Michigan. My personal blog about our nomadic lifestyle is: http://sarahkirkish.wordpress.com

Career, business, volunteer..

I am a coach, who helps busy professionals to do more of what’s important with less effort. My clients and group coaching classes are focused on real life time management and unstoppable goal setting, which leads to increased personal productivity and professional success.

www.worklifeorganization.com

www.facebook.com/worklifeorg

www.twitter.com/worklifeorg

Favorite book: Whatever is on my kindle.

Favorite quote: “The richest person in the world is not who has the most, but who needs the least.”

What do you like best about walking and/or running? Being “locationally independent”, I like that I can do it anywhere and it will be different each and every time.

What inspires you to keep a regular exercise routine?

Being healthy and the improved quality of life that comes from living my full potential physically.

What are some tips you have about eating a healthy diet?

Awareness – to truly enjoy each bite slowly. Plus tracking what you eat throughout the day.

What is the biggest obstacle you have overcome (this could be exercise related, career related, or anything in your life)?

My biggest obstacle was letting go of other people’s expectations. I still struggle with that, but the freedom that comes from living my own life instead of trying to live up to an ideal or someone else’s idea of ‘normal’ is so worth it!

Your favorite place in the world you have walked/run/hiked:

I need a high tree to people ratio for my ultimate happiness. I really enjoyed living in Western North Carolina between Asheville and the Smoky Mountains.

Anything else interesting about you:

I love to volunteer at the Whatcom Humane Society to get my cat TLC fix. They think it is for them, but it’s really for me!

Patty Seaman

Name: Patty Seaman

Age: 59

Where you were born (Hometown): Stated in a whisper – Inglewood, California

Family: Hubby – Marshall, Daughters and fitness coaches – Jessie 26 and Kieran 24 (we call her Killian when she is coaching – cross between Kieran and Jillian)

Career, business, volunteer.. Small business owner of a computer consulting company with 13 employees – www.nsnw.us

Favorite music: Any and all music – Recently Keb Mo – saw him at the house of blues  New Orleans

Favorite book: Vince Flynn – Mitch Rapp series

Favorite quote: I may be slow, but I am lapping everyone sitting on the couch!

“It doesn’t matter how fast or slow you go, it just matters that you are going”  from my daughter

What do you like best about walking and/or running? The way I feel when I am done.  I find myself smiling as I am running and all my stress vanishes

What inspires you to keep a regular exercise routine?

Signing up for a half marathon keeps me inspired!  Nothing like a deadline to help keep you motivated.

What are some tips you have about eating a healthy diet?

Always have health snacks available, Always!

What is the biggest obstacle you have overcome (this could be exercise related, career related, or anything in your life)?

10 years ago I was hit on I-5 and did a 70 mph rollover across the median, southbound traffic and ended up on a frontage road.  Fractured T12 and had lots of soft tissue damage.  Took years to be able to walk more than a couple hundred feet.  Then about 2 years ago, I was able to get walking more and more.  My daughters worked with me and started me running 50′ at first.  Then it was 75′.  We kept doing a walk/run and increasing distance each time out.  I remember the day I actually jogged 1 mile.  I signed up for a half marathon 6 months in the future and figured I would try and walk it.  Well, I jogged the entire distance in just a bit over 3 hours.  What a success!

But, all that was just prep for what was upcoming in my life.  Running taught me I was a strong person and I could get through just about anything.  Too bad it took me 57 years to figure that one out.   But, I figured it out.

December of 2010 I surprised my husband and skied with him for the first time in 10 years.  I had come back better than before the accident due to running.  It just took time and perseverance.

Then in January of 2011 my husband started having trouble walking.  He was eventually diagnosed with Guillain-barre and ended up in St. Francis nursing home paralyzed for about 4 months.  I have never experienced stress to this degree.  We were told that he would get better, but it was a long recovery.  He would need to learn to walk all over again.  Well, we had been through a long recovery and knew we could do it.

My one bright light was having running.  I made sure I ran at least once a week.  During the run I found myself smiling and at the end of the run I had renewed strength to face everything.  I don’t know what I would have done without running.

I have lost 40+ pounds during my time running.  My resting pulse has gone from 80 to 58.  My blood pressure is 110/75.  Because of running, I feel better than I did in my 30’s!

Your favorite place in the world you have walked/run/hiked:

Kauai – But it was sure hot

I now try to run at least once everywhere I go.  Marshall and I just did a 4 mile hike in Sedona two weeks ago.  That was a happy day compared to a year ago.

Bucket list -

I want to find a half marathon that the entire family can do this next winter for my 60th birthday

Hike into and out of the Grand Canyon.

Anything else interesting about you:

I always was envious of my husband’s passion for skiing.  I didn’t have anything I was passionate about.  But, now I have running.

Barbara Boothby

Name: Barbara Boothby

Age: 51

Where you were born (Hometown): Sandy, OR

Family: Husband, Joe (76), son, Jake (9), mom, Erma (88)

Career, business, volunteer.. Mostly, I am a stay-at-home mom running a pretty traditional household (how on earth did THAT happen!) and caring for my elderly mom who lives with us. But I also teach Sunday school and am a lay-leader and “green advocate” at the Beth Israel synagogue.Oh, and I’m also a WSU Master Composter/Recycler. I love worm bins.

Favorite music: Oh, that’s hard!  I love classical, hair rock, a smidge of rap, reggae, feminist, Canadian, disco, pow-wow, Jewish praise music.  My 9 year-old son has me listening to some current teen pop, which I find embarrassingly appealing.

Favorite book: The Aubrey/Maturin series by Patrick O’Brian

Favorite quote: “Getting there is half the fun” (Mary Poppins).  Or maybe “Do or do not.  There is no try.”  (Yoda)

What do you like best about walking and/or running? The endorphins

What inspires you to keep a regular exercise routine?

Honestly….nothing.  I am tragic in this regard, but when I AM on a routine, it makes me feel happy to exercise, and currently, spending time with Carol and my workout buddies keeps me going.  Oh, and did I mention the endorphins?

What are some tips you have about eating a healthy diet?

I come from a long line of people who love truly good food–and way too much of it!  But almost every day I have garden/salad rolls for lunch.  They are filling, low in fat, and healthy, so I know I get at least one really good, reasonably-sized meal on board.

What is the biggest obstacle you have overcome (this could be exercise related, career related, or anything in your life)?

Depression.  I worked at a job with crazy people who made life utterly miserable.  Fortunately, I found a strong, thoughtful therapist who had done her own good mental health work for herself.  She led me through it without medication, and left me with tools to deal with the rough patches–including exercising to straighten out the brain chemicals.

Your favorite place in the world you have walked/run/hiked:

I used to live and work out of Gold Beach, in the Siskiyou Mountains of Southern Oregon.  It is an atonishingly diverse, rugged, and beautiful place.  Good steelhead fishing, too.  I worked for the US Forest Service, so I saw places others are very unlikely to see, and hiked miles and miles of beautiful trails and beaches.

Anything else interesting about you:

I have been blessed to never have had a career.  I’ve done so many diverse jobs in my lifetime–some of them were better than others–a few of them were ones most people don’t even realize exist.  Very few dull moments!

Chris Eder - Waikoloa View

Name: Chris Eder

Age: 47

Where you were born (Hometown): Born in Glennallen, Alaska, but my hometown is really Valdez, Alaska because my parents moved back there when I was 6 days old.  My parents were relocated, along with everybody else in Valdez, due to the March, 1964 earthquake.  My parents returned to Valdez as soon as I was born in October, once the town was safe again.

Family: Significant Other (husband, Guy Smith) and two dogs (one good one and one bad one, more on that another time)

Career, business, volunteer… I manage grant projects at Bellingham Technical College.  Previously, I worked at Washington State University Extension in several positions. I love being in a college environment, I love the energy, the students, the learning, and how college changes lives. I get to be part of this on a daily basis, and wouldn’t trade it for anything!

Favorite music: My all-time favorite musical artist is Barry Manilow!  I *LOVE* him! I have been to 6 of his concerts in 3 different states.  But, I like a lot of music, including Top 40, soft rock, classical, and rock ballads. Right now I really like Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Adele

Favorite book: I love to read, and read a lot … favorite books include: “The Crimson Petal and the White” (Michael

Chris Eder with friend Kerena - 1st Run Together

Faber), Stephanie Plum novels (Janet Evanovich), political espionage (Vince Flynn, David Baldacci).  I also like historical fiction.

Favorite quote: A lot from The Simpsons and South Park that I shouldn’t repeat since they aren’t family-friendly!

What do you like best about walking and/or running?

The feeling of accomplishment when it is over!  I am always amazed at what I was able to do, and that my body was strong enough to do what I asked it.  And, the feeling of getting better, stronger, faster!  With the FitSchool classes, I like the camaraderie of the women, and they inspire me to keep running and striving towards more goals!  It is so much fun to run with these women – much more fun than running on my own!

What inspires you to keep a regular exercise routine?

So many things … I like to walk with Guy and the dogs, I like the feeling of going farther and/or faster, I like the feeling of being more toned and having my muscles start to show!

What are some tips you have about eating a healthy diet?

I completely changed what I eat a year ago, and I eat mainly whole and organic foods.  I feel fuller faster and my appetite has lessened, because of the whole foods and increased fiber intake.  I also try to eat often.

Chris Eder walking in Waikoloa Village in Hawaii

What is the biggest obstacle you have overcome (this could be exercise related, career related, or anything in your life)?

A year ago I was diagnosed with multiple food allergies, and had to completely change what and how I eat.  I had been an ovo-lacto vegetarian for at least 15 years, but stopped eating gluten, dairy, eggs, peanuts, almonds, cane sugar, and many other foods due to the new-found allergies.  I had to learn how to adapt recipes to make them gluten-free, vegan and without any of the numerous items I am allergic to.  It was really hard at first, but became easier as I learned more and tried out more recipes.  My family has been really supportive and helpful.  In the long run, this has turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened to me because I feel so much better, I have lost weight, I feel more toned and have much more energy.

Your favorite place in the world you have walked/run/hiked:

I like to walk pretty much anywhere I am, but my favorite place to walk is Waikoloa Village on the Big Island of Hawaii.  I love walking in the warm sun and breeze, looking out over the Village and down the slopes of Mauna Kea and the ocean.  I love the tropical plants, the beautiful homes, and the smells!

Anything else interesting about you:

I love to scrapbook and paper craft.  I can easily spend hours creating scrapbook pages and cards.  I like to scrapbook vacation albums (Disney World!) and make cards to give to friends, for birthdays, celebrations, to send cheer, etc.  I love to travel too.

Chris's Favorite Place in the World to Walk

Silvana Clark with flower at Eureka Springs

Name: Silvana Clark

Age: 58

Where you were born (Hometown): Munich, Germany

Family: happily married for 34 years. 2 daughters

Career, business, volunteer… Professional speaker and author of 12 books www.silvanaclark.com

Favorite music: I’m tone deaf, so I can’t tell if it’s heavy metal or country

Favorite quote: “You have to earn your spurs” Sandra Day O’Connor

What do you like best about walking and/or running?

It feels good to get my body moving. My husband and I usually take a long walk at least four times a week so it’s fun to be together.

What are some tips you have about eating a healthy diet?

Try not to center your life around food. I think as Americans we talk and think about food waaaay too much. Seeing people in developing countries who eat two meals a day changes your perspective. They see food as something they need, but not as something they think about when they are depressed, or need to celebrate or plan weeks in advance.

Your favorite place in the world you have walked/run/hiked:

We hiked Machu Piccu on a glorious sunny day, loved our bike ride through Harlem and had an amazing hike up a volcano in Peru where we jumped over flowing lava and then slid down the mountain on pulverized lava.

Anything else interesting about you: Love to travel to the extent I have no need for a “regular” house. Am happiest when I’m traveling or exploring some place I’ve never been before. We spent last Christmas helping at a nursing home run by Guatemalan nuns in the remote jungles of Costa Rica.  No presents but a great experience.

Nancy Durant

Name: Nancy Durant

Age: 50

Where you were born (Hometown): I was born in New Haven CT home of Yale University and the best pizza on earth (and pretty much the best food).  I grew up on Long Island Sound swimming, fishing, and playing sports.

Family: I have 2 older sisters who still live in CT, 1 younger brother who abandoned the New England snow for the sunshine of Florida, and lots of extended family in the New Haven area.

Career, business, volunteer…After I graduated with a degree in Computer Engineering, I spent 14 years with Pirelli Tire in various IT positions.  I had the good fortune of moving around the country and working in tire factories in Nashville, TN and Visalia, CA.  I know that doesn’t sound like ‘good fortune’, but I really enjoy factory environments, machinery, wiring computers to machines, and watching things get built.   One day I got a call from a recruiter who said he was from Microsoft and wanted to talk to me about my resume.  I thought he was joking.  I was living in central California and my mom was sick and in CT so I wanted to get a job back on the east coast to be closer to my family.  After a few phone calls and a quick flight to Charlotte, NC, I became a Microsoft employee and relocated to Charlotte NC.

I held 3 jobs in 3 years, progressing to more management positions.  I was offered a position in Bellevue so I jumped on it and relocated to Kirkland.   The job didn’t go as well as I had hoped, the stock market had crashed and I was burnt out.   I made a decision to leave Microsoft, take some time off and hopefully find a new position.  I took a well deserved break and spent time doing yoga, rollerblading, hiking, and generally recovering from being a workaholic.  I met the woman of my dreams online and we dated for a 1 ½ years before she finally convinced me to move to Bellingham in Oct 2001.  East coast girl meets small town charm.  Yikes.

Much to my dismay, jobs were scarce in Bellingham.  I did some sales, office management, and technical support.  Coming from the east coast, we have a propensity to eat.  Eating is a social event to us where we spend hours dining (and drinking) with family or friends.  I love to cook and entertain so I researched the culinary arts program at Bellingham Tech and decided to become the oldest member of the 2004-2006 class.  I loved going back to school at a more mature age and graduated at the top of my class.

Cooking for a living is not as exciting as it seems.  It involves hard work, long hours, little pay, and unhappy customers.  After a summer of cooking at a local restaurant, I was happy for the experience but longed for a day job where I could be on the same schedule as my friends.

Now I’m back in the corporate environment working as Project Manager for Operations at Ryzex, a global mobility solutions company.  I enjoy my job because I get different projects and I support a wide range of groups.

In my spare time I like to be outside, go to movies at the Pickford, check out restaurants, entertain friends,  read, play scrabble, and generally stay busy always doing something.  I also volunteer my time helping friends and neighbors with their computer issues.

Favorite music: All across the board.  Country, Classic Rock, Classical, Jazz, old school rap.  Always open to new sounds

Favorite book: Mary Doria Russell, The Sparrow

Favorite quote: “I’m a true believer in karma. You get what you give, whether it’s bad or good. ” Sandra Bullock

What do you like best about walking and/or running?

The challenge to run a little bit more every time, enjoying nature

What inspires you to keep a regular exercise routine?

I’ve lost 30 lbs so far so losing weight and controlling my health is a big factor as well as mentally feeling better about myself, the challenge of it, and being active and outside.

What are some tips you have about eating a healthy diet?

Don’t starve yourself.  Try to keep a healthy diet during the week and give yourself a treat on the weekend.   Think before you eat.

What is the biggest obstacle you have overcome:

A few years ago I struggled with alcoholism and bipolar disorder.  There were many difficult days and I wasn’t sure if I was going to survive them.  With a caring, supportive partner by my side, some very good therapists and  doctors, and medication to control the mood swings, I am in a much better position and enjoying life with a clearer perspective.

Your favorite place in the world you have walked/run/hiked:

Hiking with partner Pam in Kauai along the coast to hidden swim holes in rock formations.  Here she is in the jeep rental she loved and one of the swimming holes.

Pam and Jeep in Kauai

Swimming hole in Kauai

Melinda Herrera

Name: Melinda Herrera

Age: 34

Where you were born (Hometown): Laredo, TX

Family: Youngest of 3 and only girl. I don’t have children, yet. The majority of my family lives in Texas and my mom lives in Ferndale. I do however have a dog and that is like having a child. His name is Toby and he a 5 year old Chihuahua.

Career, business, volunteer…I work at North Cascades Health and Rehab, I’m the Admissions Coordinator and Director of Sales and Marketing. I’ve been here about a year and half and I love every second of it. Knowing that our elder population is well taken care of makes me very happy. I like to volunteer as much as I can. I sit on the board for 2 non-profits. One is Elder Service Providers (www.elderserviceproviders.org) connecting people with appropriate services for their elder loved ones. The other is Communities In Schools of Whatcom County, (www.whatcomcounty.ciswa.org) we are a dropout prevention education program.

Favorite music: I listen to just about anything. Some of my favorite artists are Jack Johnson and Bob Schnider

Favorite book: This is a hard one as I love to read and have read hundreds of books so to narrow it down would be hard but I’ll share my favorite as a teenager and continued to read it throughout college, Forever by Judy Blume J

Favorite quote: I am right now where I am meant to be. It’s my mantra and I say it on a daily basis.

What do you like best about walking and/or running?

It’s just over all good for you. I see lots of people who are young and have to end up in a nursing home because they weren’t active. I like the pushing myself further than I ever thought I could have. One day I will be a real runner.

What inspires you to keep a regular exercise routine?

see above

What are some tips you have about eating a healthy diet?

I try to eat 5 times a day to keep from getting really hungry and over eating at the next meal.

What is the biggest obstacle you have overcome:

4 years ago life wasn’t the best. I was living in TX and in a bad relationship, one day my mom asked me to move away from it all. It was rough, my whole life was in TX and I am a TX girl through and through, never did I think I would leave. So in the blink of an eye I quit my job sold the majority of my belongings, packed my car and drove to Bellingham. Almost 4 years later I’m happier than I have ever been in my life! Life is amazing here and I don’t take one single day for granted.

Your favorite place in the world you have walked/run/hiked:

My favorite place in the world is Sitka, AK. I have traveled Europe and many places in the US but Sitka is by far my favorite town perhaps because it holds such great memories, while there I hiked every single day (8 days total) but my best hike by far was Mt. Verstovia it’s a 2500 ft elevation in under 3 miles. It was rough but so amazing. Anytime I think I can’t do something I think back to that day when I was finally at the top!.

Melinda Herrera on top of Mt. Verstovia, AK

Tricia Bennink in Epcot

Name: Tricia Bennink

Age: 39

Where you were born (Hometown): Olympia WA

Family: Husband Dave, 14 yo daughter Emma, 18 yo son Mike

Career, business, volunteer…Self-employed in medical transcription (digital from home), medical billing/coding

Favorite music:

I love almost all music!  My collection includes a wide spectrum of genres. Raised on everything from 1940s swing/big bands to 1970s classic rock & easy listening, my own era 70s-90s, plus current artists, some hip hop, some country/western, Christian contemporary, classical violin, guitar & piano.  Pretty much anything but metal & gangster rap.

Tricia Bennink at Mickey's Halloween Party 2011

Favorite book:

Favorite book is the Bible, followed by the Narnia series.

Favorite quote:

Lots of them! One I have by my desk:  “The cure for anything is salt water – sweat, tears, or the sea.” – Isak Dinesen (pseudonym for the woman who wrote Out of Africa)

What do you like best about walking and/or running?

My favorite thing about running is that it combines fitness with friendship.

What inspires you to keep a regular exercise routine?

Two things keep me on my routine – the accountability of exercising with friends (incl XFIT http://bellinghamx-fit.com/) and the desire to improve my pace.

What are some tips you have about eating a healthy diet?

The rule I follow most effectively is moderation. (except with raw veggies, then I eat as many as I want!)

What is the biggest obstacle you have overcome:

Parenting my 12th grader thru the previous 3 difficult yrs of high school. He and I took a trip together this summer and reconnected. This school year looks like it’s going to be his best ever. woohoo!!

Tricia Bennink - Disney 1/2 Marathon Postrace Party 2011

Your favorite place in the world you have walked/run/hiked:

I want to run everywhere in the world! Every time I hear about someone doing a race somewhere I want to put it on the bucket list. But I absolutely LOVE running in DisneyWorld whether it’s a race or a training run around the Epcot resort area. running+Disney=happiness (my own quote)

Anything else interesting about you:

Besides running, I love Disney & scrapbooking. “runcroprun” is what I call my annual schedule of races & scrapbooking events. I also love helping people plan Disney vacations and sharing my knowledge of Disney parks & history with them. Someday, I plan to be a tour guide at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. Finally, I have a geeky fascination with words – grammar & spelling, pronunciation & speech, languages & word origins. (Handy for a transcriptionist.)

Tricia Bennink at Hollywood Studios

Amy Van Pelt - Cedar Tree Fitness

Name: Amy Van Pelt

Age: 60

Where you were born (Hometown): I was born in Michigan, and I’ve lived lots of places – Indiana, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Illinois, and now Washington.

Family: Husband Joe, children Sam & Julia

Career, business, volunteer… I’m a personal trainer with my own studio:

www.cedartreefitness.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cedar-Tree-Fitness/204627907138

Favorite quote:

“If you don’t do what’s best for your body, you’re the one who comes up on the short end.”~Julius Erving

What do you like best about walking and/or running?

On the good days, running makes me feel light and strong and as if I could accomplish anything.  On the bad days, at least I can still say ‘I did it’.

What are some tips you have about eating a healthy diet?

Small changes can add up to a lot if you stick with them.

Your favorite place in the world you have walked/run/hiked:

I love running on the interurban, it is such a peaceful, beautiful place.