So, did you have a fun and healthy New Years holiday? The team at Excellence Health and Fitness did. We attended Portland’s “First Run” 5k.
There is a strange feeling when you are putting on your running gear and you know the rest of the world is dressed to “The-Nines”. Even walking through the hotel hallway was almost unnerving, but when the elevator door opened it was full of other participants headed toward the race.
The race was very exhilarating, with all of the participants counting down the end of 2008, but also counting the seconds toward the beginning of the race. While most people are thinking about their experiences of the year past we drove, with all of our strength, forward.
Team Excellence already has two first place finishers in 2009! Kirsten Nesholm and Jane Nelson both took first in their age groups.
Kirsten set a new personal record with a 21:50 finish time. This is her second first place finish in two months and she has been placing high in her recent half marathons. She is currently training for Phoenix “Rock-n-Roll” half marathon and is looking forward to the upcoming triathlon season. She trains 3-4 times per week with her personal trainer Byron Dondoyano, ACSM, CSCS, our sports performance specialist , and personal trainer Teresa Nelson 1-2 per week for swimming and cycling training during the tri season.
This is Jane Nelson’s first gold medal finish! Her consistent training routine of 3-4 runs per week combined with 1-2 weight training sessions with her personal trainer Byron Dondoyano is paying off.
I think we are finding a pattern with athletes and Byron Dondoyano! He has helped many athletes take their game to another level.