Kristen Zaitz

I grew up in a suburb outside of Dayton, Ohio.  I was always involved in sports, whether it be gymnastics, dance, tennis or running.  My favorite quickly became running.  I began running my sophomore year in high school and by the time I graduated I had earned an Ohio State title in the two-mile.  I went on to run for the University of Miami in Oxford, Ohio.  While there I became the first freshman in the Mid-American Conference to qualify to the NCAA cross country meet as an individual.  I also went on to earn Academic All-American honors.  With those successes also came many injuries.  I graduated in 2003 with a degree in Sport Organization and a minor in Coaching, determined to continue running competitively post-college despite a six-month lay-off from injury.  I coached high school distance teams and slowly got back into shape.  

Two years later I moved to Boulder, Colorado where I felt my running could be nurtured further.  I qualified for the 2008 Olympic Marathon Trials in my first marathon in 2007. Since then I have run on a World team representing the United States in Nanning, China and I have also earned the qualifying time for the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Marathon Trials.

I will continue to chase after childhood dreams of mine on this road as a professional athlete.  I am blessed to have the opportunity to follow my passion and chase after dreams.  May I tackle each and every day with Excellence!

“Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise; risking more than others think is safe.  Dreaming more than others think is practical and expecting more than others think is possible.” – Unknow

~Kristen Fryburg-Zaitz