Fit Mama Friday – Meet Kim

Meet Kim

Today on Fit Mama Friday, meet Kim Turner, proud mama to Jordan 14, and Hunter, 12. Kim has been married to her husband Chris for more than 17 years! Kim was a teacher before having her boys and deciding to be a stay at home mama. Now, she is an ACE certified personal trainer, teaches some boot camp classes and blogs every day on ‘Day With KT’. I love Kim’s blog – she is so positive, family oriented, and a lot of fun. I love checking in to see what her daily 43 will be…what’s a 43? Find out below! 🙂 (PS: You can also ‘like’ Kim’s blog on Facebook, or follow her on Twitter!)

Kim, you are such an active person! I remember reading one of your blog posts about wishing there was more time in the day…so you could work out more! Have you always been so active?

Yes, I was always active growing up – we played outside most of the day. I was always running around, riding my bike, pogo sticking, playing “King of the mountain”, playing kickball or baseball with the neighbor kids, making up games on the merry-go-round – basically I spent all my free time outside being active.

When I was a sophomore in high school I decided to sign up for track.  I went ahead and signed up for the whole year even though track didn’t start until spring.  The track coach suggested I try cross country during the fall since I was in the class anyway.  I had no idea what that meant but decided to give it a try.

My first running experience was in September of 1984 as a sophomore in high school – we were supposed to run a one mile loop around a park.  I had to walk 3 times to finish that mile.  But I stuck with it and placed in the top 10 by the District meet.  In track I ran the mile and 2-mile.  I went to college on a track scholarship and ran cross country and distance races in track season while I was in school.

I ran road races for years – through grad school and into the next years (this was the early to mid 90s before running was such a trendy sport).

Running is obviously a huge part of your life, based on what I’ve read on your blog. 

Running has been a constant in my life for close to 29 years now.  I ran the first 3 months of my first pregnancy and then my husband convinced my doctor that I was running too hard so my doctor made me stop running and just walk throughout the rest of my pregnancy.  As soon as I was cleared after having my son, I started running again. My husband is a pilot in the Air National Guard and gone a lot, so that fall of 1998 we bought my first treadmill so I could keep running.

I started teaching an aerobics class in addition to running and continued with both aerobics and running through my second pregnancy – in fact, I did aerobics the day I went into labor (6 weeks early)!

Now, I know you had a major injury at one time – I remember you commenting on one of my posts that you had sustained a stress fracture. When did that happen?

When my second son was about 5 months old, I started training for a marathon with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I did all the fundraising and really felt great with my training until about a month before the race when I started experiencing lots of pain in my hip.  I ended up having a major stress fracture and my doctor told me that if I didn’t stop all activity I would have a hip replacement. Six long months of no running or working out and only minimal walking.

When I was finally able to start running again I made the decision to quit racing and training – I just wanted to be able to run!  The year that I was 35 I started noticing that running alone wasn’t keeping my body in the shape I wanted it to be so I started cross training and weight lifting.

For the past 8 years I have done a huge variety of exercises/workouts.  Running is still my top choice but my body can’t handle running more than about 3 times a week and I like to work out almost every day.

I have done Insanity (x2), P90X, P90X2, Turbo Fire, Chalean Extreme, Les Mills Body Pump, Les Mills Combat, all of Jillian Michaels workouts, lots of the Firm workouts, TaeBo, the Get Ripped workouts, Pilates, Yoga and many other workouts.

Plus your 43’s! Time to share what the daily 43 is all about! 

So, for the past few years I have run my age on my birthday (I’m a month away from running 44 miles).  This past year I decided to take that a step further and do a move/exercise each day of the year for 43 reps to signify my current age.  Some days it is a simple move and just the start of my workout and other days my 43 becomes a complete workout.

This daily activity has really been a fun goal – so far I haven’t missed a day of 43s!!! And less than 30 days left to complete the full 365 day goal! On September 16 I will start a new year with a new challenge which will be a daily 44!!!

It’s such a cool idea! For the record, I have tried some of your 43’s in my workouts, and I’ve even incorporated a few ideas into my clients’ programs (to my clients: you’re welcome and I’m sorry!)

Now, all the videos of the 43’s on your blog, as well as lots of your photos, it looks like you do all your workouts at home, is that right?

Yes, I work out at home the majority of the time, even with my running because I’m a huge fan of treadmill running.  This summer I tried Zumba for the first time and also taught a couple of outdoor Boot Camp classes.

Clearly I like to mix up what I do – I rarely follow a set pattern with my training and I’m always willing to try new things.

When do you workout? I know the boys have started back at school now, but over the summer were you pressed for time to workout?

I often get up at 4:30 or 5:00 am to make sure that I get my workout in for the day.  My family is very supportive of all of my fitness endeavors and willing to help when they can.  My oldest son, who is 14, came to boot camp all summer with me.  My youngest son is starting cross country at the middle school this fall.

I feel guilt in many areas of my life for lots of reasons but I rarely feel guilty for working out!!!  Partly because I try to get it done early so it doesn’t affect anyone else’s day but even if I work out after the boys are up I know that the example I’m setting for them out weighs the time it takes away from them.  Plus, sometimes they will join me for part of the workout!!!

It’s so important to be an example of how exercise and treating your body well can be fun and just part of your lifestyle. How do you think you being such a fit and active mama has affected the boys?

I think that they have definitely learned how important an active lifestyle is.  They also know that we don’t tend to deny any foods – we just practice moderation. We try to eat healthy the majority of the time.  We cook and eat at home probably 90-95% of the time.  Rather than making any foods off-limits, I would rather teach the boys healthy eating habits and how to eat anything they like as long as it is in moderation.

And it’s obviously important for you, too. You have to be fit and healthy and happy in order to be the best mama you can be.

The main reason I work out is because I want to be the best version of me that I can be and that includes pushing myself every day to become stronger and fitter.  I’m very happy that at almost 44 I’m running as fast (sometimes faster) than I did when I competed in college and I’m much stronger than I was when I was younger.

 So what’s next for you, Kim, apart from starting up your 44’s very soon?

I’m training for my first ultra – a 50 mile race on October 12.  It will be through the Flint Hills of Kansas.  I’m excited about this new venture and have plans to try the 100 mile next year.

That is AMAZING! You are the first ultra-marathoner I have known! 🙂 I am so excited for you, and you really  inspire me with your dedication. I love reading your blog! Thank you SO much for being on Fit Mama Friday today!

Here are the links again for my lovely Fit Mama Friday today: Check out Kim’s blog ‘Day with KT’, follow her on Twitter, and ‘like’ her page on Facebook!

 Do you want to be featured on Fit Mama Friday? Or do you know someone you’d like to see featured? Please contact me for details! 🙂