Kathryn grew up on a farm in Southwest Missouri and dreamed, not of being a farmer, but of becoming an aerospace engineer. “I want to be a computational fluid dynamasist!” Well darn if she didn’t make it happen. After a Validictorian effort at Pierce City High, she attended the University of Missouri—Rolla and received her degree in Aerospace Engineering. However, she didn’t stop then. Masters Degrees in Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Management from the University of Maryland and Washington University, as well as attendance in such universities as Stanford and John’s Hopkins, have suited her well in her career as an aerospace engineer and software developer.
So, she sounds pretty smart, but even with that large brain, she still made a decision to marry into the Flaspohler family. One unexpected benefit of that union was that she became eligible to join Team Flash! She has tried to stay in good shape these many years, participating in aerobics, spinning, yoga, and weight training, but didn’t run much because she was prone to easy injury. About a year ago however, she discovered motion control shoes. Talk about a life changer—those babies cleared up her nagging injury issues and she became a runner!
But she had another major life changing event in 2008. After running six miles on a Sunday morning, she packed her bags and headed off to the airport to fly off to a job. After going thru security, she had the unimaginable happen. She suffered a heart attack! A 40 year old women with no family history and no risk factors. Thank goodness, the paramedics were there immediately; got her to the hospital and they treated her quickly and properly. She left the hospital with two arterial stints and a lot to think about.
But she is nothing if not loaded with perseverance. Three weeks after her heart attack she walked a 5K, and nine weeks after she ran in a half marathon! She now has no activity restrictions (except that her cardiologist wants her to maintain a reasonable heart rate while exercising).
Goals:
Run another half marathon, while keeping her dodgy heart healthy
She also wants to stay in aerobic shape and spread the message of heart disease prevention and treatment
Run one, count ‘em one marathon
