Keri – Rock Climbing

• name: Keri
• age: 29
• occupation: Program Director for Disabled Sports Organization
• sport: Rock Climbing
• currently live: Chicago, IL
• workout favorites: tank tops with built-in bras and fitted capri pants with zipper pockets

Keri got the chance to rock climb when she was 9 at a summer camp in Pennsylvania. She first learned on a climbing wall and then got to try the real thing at the Gunks in PA. She has quite an athletic background as she played basketball and lacrosse in high school and rode on the Little 500 bike team at Indiana University. Today, she still finds a way to do it all and excel at multiple sports.

Currently, she’s training for the Hustle up the Hancock in February 2010 (a 96 floor stair climb), the Chicago Triathlon, the Boulder 70.3 and the Chicago marathon! This calls for working out 6 days a week to get in her swim, run, bike, paddling and lifting weights. She’s looking to finish in the top 10 for the Hustle up the Hancock and finish the Chicago Marathon in under 4 hours. (We know you can do it Keri!) For events like this, Keri has tons of great friends and training partners that she leans on for inspiration and motivation. She loves the idea of being able to work together to conquer similar goals. “It makes the process so much more meaningful and enjoyable.”

To her, being fit is all about “feeling good, being active and in shape. I like to feel healthy and that I can play!” She does believe in New Year’s Resolutions, but also thinks that you don’t need to wait until New Year’s to make them! “One of mine last year was to be able to touch my toes (I am not flexible and don’t stretch nearly enough). This was a great resolution because it was one I had to continue to work on throughout the year. Just because I could touch my toes one day/week didn’t mean I would be able to do it again the following week without putting forth the effort. This will remain on my list this year as well as a few others. I like goals that are continuous and not a one shot deal where if you break it, it is over. I love setting goals and being able to really work towards them.”

Some of her proudest moments are finishing 7th in her age division in the 2009 Triathalon and completing a September 11th ride from Ground Zero to the Pentagon in 3 days…an experience that she calls “truly amazing.”

Besides being an amazing athlete, Keri also loves spending time with her friends and family, being outdoors, shopping and just enjoying life. Plus, treating herself to her favorite food – frozen yogurt with SPRINKLES!

Workout advice from Keri:
Consistency! It takes so long to get to a certain level of fitness and so short to lose it.