Karen has been running for eleven years. When she began, she would run nonstop around the track during her daughter’s soccer games. Her ability to keep going and going and going, fittingly earned her the nickname of the Energizer Bunny. Her track runs soon evolved into road running and races. What was once a way to pass time and stay fit has since become a way of life for her.

Karen prefers long distance running. She runs approximately 45 miles per week, many of the miles with her dog Riley. She mixes up her weekly runs with hill work, speed work and distance. She participates in many races during the year, including one marathon. Her best marathon came in 1998 at the Hudson Mohawk, where she finished strong in 3:37.

Although Karen has recorded fast times at many races and distances over the years, perhaps nothing is quite as impressive as her string of first place, age group finishes at the past four Boilermakers, including a p.r. in 1998 of 1:07. No doubt her Boilermaker performances contributed to her being named by the Utica Roadrunners as their 2001 Master Runner of the Year.

Having done so many races, it is difficult for Karen to pick a favorite. However, she has one special memory that she will never forget. As a kindergarten teacher who has been teaching in the Palermo district for the past 33 years, she was overwhelmed by the support given to her when she competed in her first Boston Marathon in 1999. Her students and community rallied around her and sponsored her trip to the prestigious race. They even had t-shirts printed for her students with her race number! They monitored her progress during the race on the computer and one parent called her time of 3:52 into a local television station and taped the broadcast for her. Karen was very moved by this touching show of support.

A member of both the Syracuse Chargers and the Utica Road Runners, Karen participates in both organization’s races as well as being an active volunteer. She competed for the Chargers on the 2001 Masters Women’s cross country team. The experience was quite the contrast to her road racing experiences. Although it was a challenge, Karen feels the trail running made her a stronger runner.

A resident of Palermo, Karen is the mother of three grown children, Troy, Kipp and Kristi. Along with running, Karen enjoys kickboxing, golf, cross country skiing and taking care of her large home. Currently, she is training for the Oceanside, NJ Marathon with her friend Debbie Smith. This will be Debbie’s first marathon and Karen is looking forward to being there to support her and run with her to the finish.

April, 2002