30 Things About Me LinkUp

In honor of my 300th post to this blog (which was actually a few posts ago), I decided to participate in this link up that my blogosphere friend Jessie at The Right Fits did. It's simple and fun-- 30 Things About Me!  I decided on 30 things because I'm 30 years old and it's ten percent of 300, to celebrate my 300th post.

1. I was born, raised, graduated high school and college in Ames, IA. Central Iowa, a bit north of Des Moines.  Both my parents were also born and raised in Iowa (but not in Ames) and both also attended Iowa State University.

2. I have one younger brother. He attends school at University of Iowa and is pursuing a PhD in Biomedical Engineering. His research involves developing treatment for Cystic Fibrosis patients. My brother is amazingly smart, and also really funny. We have a very similar sense of humor.

3. In college at Iowa State University, I was a double major in Apparel Design and French. In college, I did a summer internship in Outerwear Product Development at Burberry in New York City. I also did a study abroad in Lyon, France. Both were priceless experiences.

4. I began working in retail in 2002, right after graduating from high school. I worked at Eddie Bauer, and stayed with the company for ten years before quitting in 2011.

5. While working at EB, I began as a Sales Associate, then worked my way up to Assistant Store Manager.  I started working at the store in Ames, IA, and eventually transferred to Jackson, WY, then to Bozeman, MT.  The two years that I lived in Jackson, WY were a huge learning experience for me. I wouldn't trade that time, but I also wouldn't go back to it.

6. My name is actually Katie. Not Katherine, Katrina, or anything else. Just Katie. My mom calls me Kate.

7. It was while living in Jackson that I learned how to ski! Living in Jackson and learning how to ski, and also taking up snowshoeing, made me realize how much I really do love winter and snow.

Ski selfie, circa 2008.

8. While living in Jackson, I joined eHarmony, which is how I met the man who is now my husband Jeff!

9. When I first met Jeff, I was living in Jackson and he was living in Bozeman, MT. We would drive four hours one way to see each other. Thankfully, the drive was through some of the most scenic land in our entire nation, and the drive (usually) went by quickly!

10. The first time Jeff and I met was 4th of July. We like to joke that "there were fireworks" right from the start. Har har har!

11. When I moved to Bozeman and transferred to the Eddie Bauer store there, I moved in to a condo with Jeff's sister, her boyfriend (now husband), and Jeff's best friend. Meanwhile, Jeff moved up to the farm. At this point, we began to have to travel five hours one way to see each other.

12. Jeff and I never lived in the same place until we got married in 2011. This coincides, of course, with when I moved to the farm and also quit working at Eddie Bauer.

13. I really miss living in Bozeman, but we take many trips back there because Jeff's sister and her husband live there now. We also go frequently in the fall for MSU Bobcat Football! Go Cats!

Bobcat Homecoming 2011.

14. I have no background in farming or agriculture, but now I live on a farm in extremely rural Montana. The nearest town is a 25 minute drive away and the nearest grocery store is a 50 mile drive from our house.

15. My first job after moving to this area of Montana was working in Collections at the local clinic. I did not like that job much at all, but enjoyed many of the people I worked with.

16. I am now working in our local school. My official job title is Behavioral Intervention Specialist. What this means is that I work with kids to help build skills they need to succeed at life, sort of like a guidance counselor. I teach kids about feelings, how to express themselves in a healthy way, and I work with them to build confidence. My job is really tough some days but also extremely rewarding.

17. I also have the great fortune and joy of being an Assistant Track and Field coach. This is my favorite "job" I have ever had. I love being a track coach and I don't ever want to give it up.

Me (far left, in a hat) with the other coaches and the Girls team, which took third place at State last year.

18. My love of track began in 7th grade when I first participated in track in Middle School. I found that I was a naturally good sprinter and did pretty well in track all the way through high school. I was awarded "Most Improved Athlete" each of my four years as a high school trackster, and was nominated as a team captain my senior year.

19. My sophomore year in high school, I tried out for the swim team in effort to get out of being in fall semester P.E. I actually made the team, and again improved rapidly to become a pretty good swimmer and was also elected captain of the swim team my senior year.

20. As a kid, I also participated in softball and basketball through 8th grade. Ultimately, I let my own lack of self-confidence in those sports eliminate me from continuing on with them. I now think that if I had believed in myself a little more, I probably had enough talent and, most of all, ethics to work hard in practice, that I think I would have done well in either sport by the end of high school.

21. I transitioned to distance running in college as a way to stay in shape. In 2006, I made a goal to run in a 5K race each calendar month of the year. Iowa has A LOT of race opportunities, and I think I made my goal in almost every month. This is when I ran my All Time Best 5K time of 24:04.

22. I got away from running when I moved to Jackson in 2007, but that's when I picked up skiing, hiking, and snowshoeing to stay active.

23. In February 2009 I tangled with a tree in a skiing accident and tore my ACL. I had reconstructive surgery within weeks of when it happened and began physical therapy. This is when I realized how much I missed running-- it felt at times like I could never get back to running safely again.

This is the inside of my knee.

24. In the immediate aftermath of having knee surgery, I developed a very large blood clot in my left (surgery) leg. The blood clot was more painful than the surgery and was the most intense pain I have ever felt.

25. It took me years after knee surgery to get back into running. This past year, 2014, was the most running I have done post- surgery. I ran in 9 races in 2014. Seven of those races were 5Ks and two were 10Ks.

26. I don't have much of a sweet tooth, but am more than capable of taking down an entire box of Cheezits.

27. My Co-worker at school recently gave me a t-shirt that reads: Introverts Unite... occasionally...in small groups...for very limited periods of time. This shirt is perfect for me because I am definitely an introvert. This doesn't mean that I don't like people, it just means I need time alone to recharge and being around large groups of people can be draining on me.

28. My Instagram is filled with images of runners and running. I love Oiselle and their athletes. I also have more than a few Vizsla feeds that I follow. As well as some family and friends.

29. One bad habit I am trying to give up is being too hard on myself. That's why I do Thankful Thursday posts each week. I'm trying to re-train my brain to think positive thoughts!

30. Even though it can be a hassle to live so far away from town, my husband and I talk frequently about how there's no place either of us would rather be than right where we are!