2009 Blisters for Sisters ^TM

Meet The Runners

Hometown: Highlands Ranch

BFS 2009 Race: Rock 'N' Roll Marathon in San Diego

Donna has been the Executive Director of Dominican Sisters for the past seven and a half years and still loves her job. "I feel blessed to be able to do this work-it makes a huge difference every day in the lives of so many people who would suffer without our assistance!" She made a promise to Sister Marie Therese and Sister Regis when she first came to the agency to do "whatever it would take" to see that the legacy of the Sisters would live on-little did she know it might mean running another marathon!

Donna has been jogging for the past 20 years but only running seriously since 1996 after breaking her ankle (while running) and deciding it was time to become a "real runner" or give up the sport. Her friend Debi, who lives in California, was her "virtual running partner" when she trained and ran her first marathon in 1998, at age 42. Donna often shares with others that, "Running a marathon is a great metaphor for Life: you must set the goal, discipline yourself to do the necessary preparation, and then pace yourself-it's a long haul, but worth it!"
 

Hometown:

BFS 2009 Race: Not sure - a 10K or ½ marathon is the plan

I am the Clinical Director at Dominican Sisters and even though I'm a beginner, I decided to give Blisters for Sisters a try. I injured my knee in a "Deep Tone" class and it still gives me problems so I'm using this training program to get in shape and really work on my running which I've only been doing for a few months. As a 55-year old non-athlete my main goal is to become a 56-year old athlete.  

Hometown: Anaheim, CA

BFS 2009 Race: Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in San Diego

Debi Scott lives in Anaheim Hills of southern California with Jim, her husband of 20 years, and their two dogs, Hayley and Lucy (aka 'the Muttley Crue'). She has worked almost 30 years in aerospace at Hughes/Raytheon, most recently as a hardware reliability engineer. Debi developed a passion for distance running in the mid-90s when she ran her first marathon, and she is thrilled to be pounding the pavement for DSHHA.

"For years now," she says, "I have loved hearing Donna talk about her job; she has told me story after story of all the wonderful things the Dominican Sisters agency of Denver have accomplished with its dedicated staff of medical and administrative professionals. The innovative ways DSHHA continues to grow and expand its outreach to the community is awe-inspiring. I honestly do not know anyone who loves her work more than Donna does and is more rewarded by the fruits of her labors. There are many worthy charity organizations out there, but DSHHA is the only one I can personally vouch for; knowing Donna as I do - her integrity, her drive, her work ethic, her amazing talent as both a clinician and an administrator - I have absolute certainty that every dollar I collect for the Dominican Sisters of Denver will be put to the best use possible, and I feel truly honored and privileged to have this opportunity to support DSHHA's mission as a member of the Blisters for Sisters 2009 team."

I am Donna's oldest daughter and a longtime volunteer and staff member for the agency. I am passionate about sports like softball, basketball, swimming, dance and track & field that I participated in through high school. I developed my love for running as a college student at CU-Boulder. At the age of 21, I dedicated my first marathon to a childhood friend and fellow runner, Brian Ellsworth, lost in a car accident in 2003. I have run at least one marathon every year since.

I am an accountant at IBM in Boulder, and I love to hike with my boyfriend and two dogs, Rudy and James.

Maggie Heath

Hometown: Highlands Ranch, CO

BFS 2009 Race: Platte River ½ Marathon

I ran cross country in high school but didn't enjoy it. When I went to college this fall, I started running for relaxation and stress relief and found that I really loved it. My mom encouraged me to run a ½ marathon and I decided to join Blisters for Sisters to help raise money. My record for running without stopping is two hours at a slow speed. I've never run any race and my goals are to finish the ½ marathon and lose a little weight and you can bet someday I'll be running a Blisters for Sisters full marathon!

Jessica Olin

Hometown:

BFS 2009 Races: Pikes Peak ½ Marathon
                           Platte River ½ Marathon
                           Colfax Marathon

I am a registered dietitian working at Volunteers of America where I teach nutrition classes the low income senior population. I have been running long distances for seven years and have completed four half-marathons and two full marathons. I consider myself an intermediate to advanced runner. My best marathon time is 3 hours 48 minutes and my goal for 2009 is to improve that time. My long term goal is to compete in a triathlon or an ultra marathon.

Hometown:

BFS 2009 Race: Rock 'N' Roll Marathon (not sure where)

I teach 5th grade and running helps me clear my mind and relax after a long day with the kids. I began running two years ago and every year during the fall season, I try to run a 5K each week. I've also finished three ½ marathons. My ½ marathon time is 1 hour 57 minutes and my time goal for this year is 1 hour 50 minutes or under. Running has become my passion, my addiction!

Jen Byrne

Hometown:

BFS 2009 Race: Platte River ½ Marathon
                          Steamboat Marathon

I'm a teacher, coach and workout lover. Running gives me a way to channel some of my competitive spirit. It's also the best way I know to let off steam from a rough day or just get out and enjoy the outdoors. Running my first half and full marathon will be exciting and I'm really looking forward to it.

I'm an intermediate runner, having run three 10Ks and lots of 5Ks. My time goal for the half marathon is 1 hour and 55 minutes and for the full marathon is 4 hours 25 minutes. I've been running for 17 years and have two rebuilt ACLs including one less than a year ago.

Hometown: Golden, CO

BFS 2009 Race: Colfax ½ marathon

I have been a runner for 11 years and have run 3 marathons and several half marathons.  I run because I love the sport and what it does for me.  I have never been comfortable soliciting donations from my friends and family...until now.  I have been so moved by the work of the Dominican Sisters Home Health Agency that I will be running a half marathon to raise money and support for this worthy cause. 

The first time I ever heard of the Dominican Sisters, I was working for the Volunteers of America Senior Nutrition Program.  I was visiting one of our Meals on Wheels clients, a very nice elderly lady living in subsidized senior housing.  She had difficulty speaking and answered all of my questions with one of three responses: “yes”, “no”, or “Dominican Sisters.”  I did not know who the Dominican Sisters were, but I knew that they must be very special!  I had the opportunity to get to know the Dominican Sisters during my time at Volunteers of America and I learned that “special” is a colossal understatement!
 
 I am currently a nursing student at Regis University.  My favorite runs are Matthews/Winters Park and Apex Trail in Golden.  My favorite running buddy is my dog Owen.

Hometown:

BFS 2009 Race: San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon

I am Senior Vice President Mission for Exempla Healthcare. We operate three large hospitals in the Denver Metro area (Saint Joseph, Lutheran and Good Samaritan Medical Centers) and many physician offices, a hospice, behavior health treatment center, and long term residential facility. I am a psychologist, and previously worked as a psychologist and administrator in two east coast specialized treatment centers. I’ve authored three books, most recently Healing With Heart: Inspirations for Health Care Professionals. My wife is employed full time as a Chaplain with The Denver Hospice.

I began running at least weekly at age 26. I’m now 72. I’m a shuffler, not running for time, but because I enjoy it and feel good afterward! That said, running along side all these youngsters is a hoot. I’ve run oodles of 5 and 10K, one half and two full marathons. Last year, I had a hamstring and groin injury but healed enough to run the Saint George Marathon. This year I hope to go injury free and run the San Diego Marathon in under 5 hours!

I am on the board of the Dominican Sisters Home Health Agency and am proud to be able to raise funds for an organization that does such wonderful and needed work!  

Hometown:

BFS 2009 Race: Steamboat Marathon

I am a mother of four and small business owner in family-owned and operated construction business. Married to Brent for 14 years, our children, Kaitlyn, Connor, Brenna and Calahan, keep me busy and life with kids sometimes leaves me without personal goals. Through soccer, I met Lisa Bradford (of Ascent Therapy Clinics) who opened the door of opportunity for me to grow as a person, not only for me but for my family by having goals and good habits.

I’ve run two 5K races and I hope to be able to run the Steamboat Marathon and stay with this training program. I am a beginning runner and I also like to ski, bike, walk and swim. I am excited to go through the training and have found peace in running! I am nervously looking forward to the finish line and am happy to be raising money for a great cause, too!

Hometown: Denver, Colorado

BFS 2009 Race: Colfax Marathon (or ½ )

Peter has served as Vice President for Communications for the Daniels Fund since January 2004. Prior to serving at the Daniels Fund, Peter was executive director of the Solidarity Institute, a nonprofit organization focused on providing greater educational opportunities for at-risk students in Colorado. Peter previously served as editor of the Denver Catholic Register, which at the time was the third largest newspaper in the state by paid circulation. He oversaw the launch of a separate Spanish-language publication, El Pueblo, which now has a paid circulation of over 10,000. His work was recognized with numerous national awards and he was named one of Colorado’s top 100 media figures.

Peter grew up in Central City before his family moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming. He then attended the University of Wyoming in Laramie and Pierce College in Los Angeles before earning a degree in philosophy from St. John’s College in Camarillo, California.

Peter has been married to his wife Janet for 17 years and they have four children: Lauren, Mary, Kateri and David. Peter has been an active runner since taking a course in college on long distance running. "I run for enjoyment and exercise, so this will be my first attempt at running a marathon. I love being outdoors and find the experience of running to be relaxing and a great way to focus my thoughts and energy."

Hometown: in Minnesota

BFS 2009 Race: Steamboat Half Marathon

I grew up in Northern Minnesota playing all kinds of sports. In high school, I competed in basketball and volleyball. I graduated in 1988, went on to the University of North Dakota and Moorhead State University for my undergraduate work and got my M.S. in Communication Disorders from the University of Wisconsin. I have been working as a Speech Pathologist in the Jefferson County Schools for 10 years. I am a single mom of three kids, Cameron, Courtney and Cassie.

I am really a beginning runner. I ran short distances with other athletics in high school and I’ve just started seriously running in the last month. My goal is to finish the half-marathon in my time of 2 hours and 15 minutes. This is my first race but I will possibly think about running another race. Right now, my goal is to be physically and mentally ready for Steamboat in June.

Hometown:

BFS 2009 Races: Platte River Half Marathon
                           Steamboat Marathon

I am the President of Ascent Therapy Clinics. I’m married to a wonderful man, Neil, for 14 years and mother of two amazing daughters, Jenna and Jocie. My hobbies include biking, reading, karaoke and recently – running! I love my job and the emphasis on wellness and prevention.

I consider myself somewhere between a beginner and intermediate runner. I’ve run lots of 5Ks and four 10Ks and in March I ran 13 miles in 2 hours. That is definitely a Personal Record (PR)!! My goals are 2 hours for the Platte River Half and 4 hours 22 minutes for the Steamboat Marathon.

Hometown: New York City

BFS 2009 Races: Colfax Half Marathon

Raised in New Jersey, educated at Dartmouth College and graduated from MED School of Cincinnati in 1974. I was married in 1981 to the guiding light of my life, Joyce Puschel Reitman, a psychiatric nurse practitioner who works for the Colorado Department of Health. We have two children, Emily and Andrew.

I realized the value of running in keeping my self esteem where it should be and relieving tension. I completed the Denver marathon in 1979 in just over three hours and ran the Mr. Evans Hill Climb that summer. My goals include finding the time to run six days a week, run the Bolder Boulder in under one hour, run the Vail Golden Peak Hill Climb in the Fall, and for next year run the New York Marathon and Bay to Breakers Marathon.

I became interested in Geriatrics by working in Nursing Homes where I learned the importance of the simple things of life; listening to others, realizing that everyone has a story, and the importance of relationships in helping people heal. I became involved with the Dominican Sisters over the last ten years because I was impressed by their persistent support of individual patients who had little else to provide a sense of caring and stability in their lives. My current position is as a Kaiser continuing care physician working with people transitioning from serious illness in hospital to home or other setting.

Now, I run for a higher purpose – to remind people of the importance of organizations like Dominican Sisters that, by helping those in need, improve the lives of us all
 

Gisela Steinbeck

Hometown:

BFS 2009 Races: Steamboat Marathon
                           Harvest Moon Triathlon
                           The Ironman

I began running about five years ago when I decided to try my first triathlon. Running is that hardest part for me; and I need the most work in that area. I have a swimming background and have always been an active person. Running has never been easy for me. It is a challenge in itself. I enjoy pushing myself to the next level. I have done  five Half Ironman races (1.5 mile swim; 56 mile bike; 13.1 mile run) and numerous sprints and Olympic distances; all of which I have enjoyed crossing that finish line. I thought I would take it to the next level and go for a full Ironman. Since I have never done a marathon or run further than 13.1 miles, I thought I should do a marathon to see what I have gotten myself into.
 

Hometown: Denver

BFS 2009 Race: Steamboat Half Marathon

I did not start running until I was 40 years old and am now 58. I have only run a dozen 5 – 10 K’s, and some relays. I am training hard for the Steamboat Half Marathon and hope I make it through. I am very excited about this opportunity to be a part of raising money for the Blisters for Sisters as the Dominican Sisters Home Health Agency has a special place in my heart.

I am a native of Denver and attended John F. Kennedy High School. After pursuing a degree in Fine Arts at CSU, I decided that being a starving artist wasn’t my favorite career. After teaching art in Elementary schools, I became an Executive Director of the National Association of Remodeling Industry, Assistant Director of IMCA. I have an amazing husband, who is my best friend (Dave) and we backpack, golf, run, ski, and everything else in-between together. I also have a wonderful daughter and son-in law (Kelley and Chad), granddaughter (Peyton) and twin girls on the way (Kinley and Avery), and a marvelous son, Ryan and his significant other, Jill.

I love to travel, have taken flying lessons and recently my husband and I both received our sailing certificate for bare-boating. We just returned from a sailing trip to the Caribbean visiting 10 of the Leeward Islands. The picture is of me (in the red ball cap) and a friend running on the Island of St. Vincent. The challenges were the steep hills and the bamboo bridge! – but great for my training.