Spokane Swifts Running Team
Heather grew up on Whidbey Island, WA, where she graduated from Oak Harbor High School. After being told she was too short for volleyball or basketball, she spent most of her high school athletic career as a varsity tennis player, and then took up XC running her Senior year where she place 14th in the State 4A Chamipionships. Heather went on to Gonzaga University where she was the captain of the women's cross country and track team from 1992-1995. She placed 4th at the West Coast Conference Cross Country Championships in 1992 and went on to earn All West Coast Conference honors in cross country from 1992-1995. She specialized in the 10,000 meters in track and went on to break the school record in 1993 with a time of 37:20 (it has since been broken) at Husky Stadium. Heather earned a... Read the profile >>
Jenni grew up on a small farm near the town of Adrian, Oregon. In high school, Jenni competed in every sport available to her: Volleyball, Basketball, Track, and Softball. The tight knit community of teachers, coaches, farmers, parents, and neighbors inspired her to work hard to achieve her goals. After high school, Jenni attended Gonzaga University where she majored in Exercise Science and became part of another great community of leaders. She gained several lifelong friends that share her love of GU Basketball and travelling. In 2008, Jenni began developing fitness classes designed specifically for women of all fitness levels. She called the program “Farmgirlfit” to reflect her “keep it simple, get it done” mentality towards exercise and nutrition. The success of her... Read the profile >>
Spokane Yoga Shala
Katie is a mother of 3, a dedicated yoga practitioner, community builder and an aspiring writer. Katie founded the Spokane Yoga Shala in 2003, and it has been growing and providing Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga in Spokane ever since. Katies work in the community through the Yoga Shala includes bringing internationally known yoga teachers through workshops, teacher trainings and kirtan to Spokane, founding Mindful Mama’s, a parenting support group, and now Yoga People Care (www.yogapeoplecare.com). “As a yoga teacher I meet so many other teachers and yoga students who are aware and compassionate – and willing to help others who are in pain…YPC is an opportunity for us to practice that our thoughts, words and actions matter.” In 2011, after 7 years of study with her teacher David... Read the profile >>
Lori Buratto has been a high school science teacher for 14 years, a runner for 26 years and a resident of Spokane for 41 years. Lori began running in high school, but did not turn out for the cross country and track teams until her junior year. She loves the camaraderie of a team, but also enjoys the meditative quiet of a solo run. Lori started running marathons at age 19. With a goal to break 4 hours, she ran the Seattle Marathon in 3:58. Now a veteran of over 50 marathons, she ran a personal best of 2:57 run at the age of 41. Getting older and (so far) getting faster, Lori started doing yoga to build a strong core and hedge against potential injuries. Bikram is her favorite style. She originally enrolled in hot yoga to help acclimate for a spring marathon and found that she loved the... Read the profile >>
