In Between Classes, Columbus Student Finds Time to Stay Active

I would like to personally recognize Kate Saltsman for her motivation and drive towards staying active while managing a rather daunting school schedule. I am able to view the Susan L. Groenwald Fitness Trail from my office and have noticed that this particular student can be found running on the trail quite often, regardless of the weather. Kate’s dedication to a healthy lifestyle could be an inspiration to all. I approached her to see what keeps her so motivated and she responded with the following:

I started running for a multitude of reasons. And when I say running, I should say learning to move at a faster pace than walking. It took me weeks to be able to go even one lap around our trail without being completely winded but it got me moving and challenged me. I came from a school where my walk to class was at least 15 minutes and I was able to hike and bike all the time. Now the drive is long and getting outside seems impossible. Also, when you’re sitting in class for four hours what else can you do to stay awake other than drink more coffee?

Well the fitness trail has been my life saver. Yes, I could walk around it and back to class in the ten-minute breaks but I never had time for anything else so I decided to start running around it. The benefits I reaped were more than I expected. The path is short, only one-fifth of a mile, making it manageable and measurable. Seeing improvement is easy. I also use it to let off steam if I’m stressed or need to clear my mind. It’s a great way to warm up. Classrooms are always cold, so a quick jog around the loop wakes you up and gets your blood moving. Being nursing students, we know the benefits of exercise as well. It’s a simple thing I do when I can to better myself and make myself stronger while having fun.

– Kate Saltsman

“Believe that you can run farther or faster. Believe that you’re young enough, old enough, strong enough, and so on to accomplish everything you want to do. Don’t let worn-out beliefs stop you from moving beyond yourself.” – John Bingham, running speaker and writer

By Nicole Woodby