Michelle Kitze-2005           

• Graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Dietetics (1989)

• Started running in 1978

• Began competing in triathlons in 1983 due to running injury problems and inspiration from Julie Moss’ crawl across the finish line in the 1982 Hawaii Ironman event

• Completed two Ironman races (in two attempts). Hawaii, 1992 (10:48) and Wisconsin, 2002 (10:30)

• First femlae finisher in U.S. Duathlon Championships (Chicago, 1995)

• Third amateur in the World Duathlon Championship race in Cancun, Mexico, 1995

• Raced over fifty times per year during most of the 1990’s.  Has continued to race over thirty times annually in the 2000’s

• Won well over ½ of the running races in which she has participated during the 1989-2004 timeframe

• 2001 ORRRC Athlete of the Year

• Won the ORRRC ½ Marathon nine times, including six consecutive (1990-1995)

• Won the Lou Cox 5K twice and the Miamisburg Turkey Trot

• Won Columbus’ Susan Komen “Race for the Cure” twice

• Personal best times include:   5K Lou Cox  17:11 (1998), 10K Columbus 10K  35:19 (1998)

                                                        Marathon Detroit Free Press  2:52:29 (1998)

• Most amazing day: On her 30^th birthday Michelle raced three 5K’s, winning in Bellbrook at 8:00 a.m., taking second at Wright State University (despite running 17:45) at 9:00 a.m., and finally completing her day by winning the Miami University Red Brick Run at 2:00 p.m. (18:15).   

• Most amazing weekend:      Memorial Day Weekend, 1993; Won Indianapolis 5K on Saturday (18:13), Finished 6^th in the professional division in a major Columbus duathlon event on Sunday, won the Lou Cox Memorial race on Monday in a then PR of 17:34