One of the many things that bonded Kel and me was our desire to stay active. Staying home with young ones brought us countless joys and many challenges, but our commitment to fitness kept our humor and patience intact… most days. In the early years of our friendship, before our kids were in school, we would meet up at the gym for “7pm spin”, or “7:15 body pump”. Today, I’m often in my PJs at that hour, but back then having a workout partner like Kel ensured a consistent routine. On days when she was really tired, Kel would call me in the morning and say, “I’m already in my workout clothes, so there’s no excuse to skip it”. For each of us, the hardest part was getting out the door after a long day. We really enjoyed our workouts together. It was a sacred time that we carved out just for us, and we benefited greatly from it. Over time we tackled new fitness adventures that took us out of the gym and out of Oak Park. Kel had a “go big or go home” spirit that was contagious, so we went on to complete a 6+ hour Urban Frog Adventure Race, in which we ran, biked, paddled, and puzzled our way through a hilly course in and around Milwaukee, WI. Through the years we also stair climbed some of the highest buildings in Chicago, including the 94 floor floors of the Hancock Tower, 80 floors of the Aon Center, and 105 floors of the Sears Tower (Willis who?). I love how Kel always kept me challenged, pushing me out of my comfort zone, and teaching me to find adventure in everyday life.
