Spotlight

KELLY

This Environmental Scientist for Lake Mead National Recreation Area works and plays outdoors.  Last month, he organized a trail run adventure up to the Rainbow Point Overlook at Bryce National Park, and is normally found reaching new heights in National Parks across the west. 

The first time the Nevada trailrunner wore his JWalking Running Kilt, he won not just his 5K race, but also his Half Marathon later that same day.  While we like to extol the ‘power of plaid’, we know it is by-product of the powerful person wearing it.

 

ALEX

When she is not working around the world as an executive for the pharmaceutical giant, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Alexandra is literally running around the world!   

Having completed races and hikes (including Mt. Kilimanjaro) on five continents and 39 of the 50 United States, this new bride and businesswoman is celebrating her 10th year running marathons and raising monies for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  And, this July, she is continuing on her cancer curing mission - taking on the ardous AVON 39.3 mile Walk to End Breast Cancer throughout Boston, with Team Sole Mates. 

 

ATLEE

On April 1st, the ultramarthoner finished the Umstead 100 Mile Endurance Run in 25 hours and 37 minutes!  And how might one train for a 100-mile race?  By doing a 40 mile run the month before.  Cheers to you, Atlee!

 

DAN

In 2012, the Human Resources executive says he went from ‘couch potato to marathon man’ and finished the Marine Corps Marathon as a member of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training in honor of his friend’s son, “Superman Sam” who was fighting, and has since lost his battle with, leukemia.  Since Sam’s passing, at the young age of 8, Dan has continued his quest, raising tens-of-thousands of dollars, and racing hundreds of miles more, for a cure.  Next on his race calendar – the 2016 TCS New York City Marathon.

This Kilted Warrior, husband and father of two is not just working to change the lives of others; he is working hard to change his own.  Since March 2015, he has embarked on a personal transformation by changing his eating habits and lifestyle choices.  As a result, he says, he has lost more than 65 lbs and gained a healthier outlook on life. 

 

TEAM McKENNA CLAIRE

 

Pay it forward – that is the message these four perfectly plaid pretties profess as part of the McKenna Claire Foundation.  The Huntington Beach, California-based foundation was created by David and Kristine Wetzel in memory of their daughter, McKenna, a 7-year-old beauty who lost her battle with pediatric brain cancer in 2011. Among the many fundraisers the foundation holds each year is a golf tournament called “Play It Forward”, which Michelle, Ann, Janice and Jacqueline help to organize.  In 2015, the ladies chose to dress for success in our purple plaid kilts. Not only did the event raise $65,000 for research, the Kilted Cancer Warriors took home the prize for “Best Dressed”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

 

TROY

Using the hastag #DudesInRunningSkirts, the Wisconsin ultrarunner completed July's 'Junkyard Dog 50K', hosted by Trail Dog Running - a hot, humid and, sometimes, harrowing trail ultra-marathon.  In the midst of his race, the commercial photographer took a moment to capture a self-portrait - showing strength, stamina and style.

 

TEAM NATURAL STRIDES

The Georgia-based, 6-person running team ran 200 miles from Chattanooga to Nashville, Tennessee in the October 2015 Ragnar Relay.  Led by Greg Scott, the team represents his running store, Natural Strides, located in Woodstock, Georgia.  The company’s motto: Dedicated to promoting natural human movement – starting with your own.  They certainly walk, and run, the talk, and we are proud to have them as Kilted Warriors.

 

 

KHANH

The New Jersey marathoning mother of two is runs and races money for a blood cancer cure with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  In 2015, she trained for the , Philadelphia Full Marathon... by running the Marine Corp Full Marathon a month before!  No matter the miles, the Indianapolis Colts fan always sports a smile and keeps her Team in Training New Jersey TEAMmates motivated to move. 

 

 

 


DEMOE

The self-proclaimed #KiltedTortoise is racing around the country to inspire others to get up and get moving.  Whether on foot, recently finishing a seven state, 91.7 mile journey throughout the Northeast, or on wheels, cycling 468 miles through his home state of Iowa as part of #RAGBRAI, the FARST Foundation founder always sports a smile.

 

 

 


 

KANDI

The mother of two and full-time businesswoman is a Full Marathoner twice over!  A cyclist-turned-runner, Kandi completed the NYC Marathon in 2014 and the Marine Corps Marathon in 2015 - both stride for stride with our JWalking CEO, Alison OBrien, who she met in a parking lot before a 2014 bike event.  "I could not ask for a better pace partner in crime", Alison says.

 

 

 

 

IRAM

This single father does not just run marathons, he wins them - all while battling brain cancer.  Since his diagnosis at age 30, Iram's mission has been to make memories with his daughter, Kiana, before the cancer robs him of his memory.  The Texan began racing with his daughter, pushing her in a stroller through 26.2 miles; now Kiana runs beside him - along with his proud parents.  They stand strong against cancer and plan to until a cure is found.

 

 

 

 

GAIL

This Technology Training Technician and Toastmaster for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is on a mission - to complete a Full Marathon in each state in the U.S. She has crossed 23 states off (plus 1 European country) so far.  Now, 26.2 is not all that she'll do... Since her first start line in 2002, Gail has completed a cycle event, 4 triathlons and 48 half marathons. Not bad, she says, for a kid who was always hoping to get out of gym class!


SUPERDAVE

This ultra-runner, Crossfit rockstar, and Ironman triathlete has never met a challenge he will not take-on head-on.  At the May 2015 @NJTrailSeries 72-hour event, he reached his 1,000-mile milestone – miles run at that event alone!  Why be ordinary, he says, when you can be awesome? SuperDave does not just channel his unstoppable spirit and strength into exercise; the television editor puts his heart and soul into the programs he creates for CNBC and the stained glass artwork he creates at his home studio.  One of his favorite things to do is taking his beloved nephew and nieces’ drawings and turning them into priceless treasures. 

 

 STEFAN

 

Stefan is one of our first European customers and he sure stood out among 46,000 runners in Sweden wearing his JWalking Designs’ Running Kilt!  Stefan told us that his race was not easy, but it was fun, and we cannot thank him enough for sending us his photo!  Grattis på din kör (Congratulations on your run!)

 

 

LYNNE

In last 12 months, the Senior Probation Officer for the State of New Jersey completed: 5 5Ks, 1 10-K, 1 5 miler and 14 half marathons, most with the Rock-N-Roll Competitor race group.  In addition to her awe-inspiring 210.1 race miles, this new member of the Half Fanatics and the 50 State Half Marathon Club added 8 new states to her racing resume, plus a Canadian province for good measure.

 

 

 GREG

This marathoner, many times over and volunteer coach for Team in Training, logs hundreds of miles each year in a continued quest to cure cancer.  After running the 2014 NYC Marathon, Greg took on the challenge of coaching his Leukemia & Lymphoma Society team for 4 days/48.6 miles of racing at the Walt Disney World Marathon weekend.  And, two weeks later, our kilted warrior ran 26.2 more and raised thousands of dollars for a cancer cure at the Rock N' Roll Marathon in New Orleans.  The 'Big Easy' isn't easy, but he ran it in style. 

 

 

LUCIANE

A breast cancer survivor, Luciane is dedicated to finding and funding a cure.  For the last 12 years, the scientist and world traveler has walked the 39-mile Avon Walk to End Breast Cancer, raising tens-of-thousands of dollars along the way.   We are beyond honored that, in 2015, she chose to wear our “Little Black Active Skirts” throughout her weekend-long journey.





KATHRYN

An avid walker all her life, the 71-year-old foreign language teacher/tutor from Norwood, Massachusetts raced her first official 5K in March 2015 in Little Rock, Arkansas!  It was more fun, she said, than shoveling that season's 6+ feet of snow that sat on her Boston-area front steps - and she's excitedly looking forward to more (more races, not snow!)

Shoveling aside, the wicked winter weather has forced her to train inside - walking laps at the Burlington Mall, dancing in the kitchen to Bruno Mars, and lifting food donation boxes while volunteering at the People Helping People Food Pantry

 


EVANGELINA

A Texas native, teacher, wife and mother, Evangelina  completed her first half marathon in October 2013.  A year, and two additional half-marathons later, she finished her first full in December 2014 in Dallas.  

 



 

         JAMES 

In April 2013, the New Hampshire businessman and father of two watched the horror of the Boston Marathon bombing and, as a show of strength and solidarity, he vowed to run it the next year. The next week, having never run even a 5K, James began walking, then running.  He joined the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's endurance group, Team in Training, and, on April 21, 2014, completed his promise to run the Boston Marathon.  

Since then, he's been unstoppable!  He has run numerous half marathons, Heartbreak Hill Half Marathon, Reach the Beach Ragnar Relays, and the Marine Corps and Chicago Marathons!

  

 

 DONNA AND CECILIA

The pair log many miles throughout the New York/New Jersey area as members of the New York Road Runners (NYRR), USATF, Team in Training and Central Jersey Road Runners.  In the Fall of 2014, Cecilia, a business owner, completed her first Full Marathon (Hartford, CT) and Donna, a businesswoman, took first place in her category at the Timberbrook Triathlon.  In 2015, they conquered the tough NYC Marathon!  Further proof that best friends are the best fitness accessories!

  

 

 

         DAVID
David, a computer engineer, car enthusiast and dad, has yet to meet a challenge he can't overcome.  In 2014, he did a Half Marathon for 78 days straight - one for each of the days in which he battled back from a life-threatening disease, 20 years earlier.  In the midst of his 1,021.8-mile journey on foot, David threw in a Century cycle ride in Tahoe, a 63-mile ride at the Gran Fondo - New Jersey, a Triathlon and a 24-hour race for good measure. 
One of David's inspirations is his father, whom he lost to blood cancer, so David dedicates his time and effort to finding a cure.