Hakuna Matata Team Bios
Verticalchaos, aka Beth- I'm 39 and live in NYC. I teach students with autism. I'm a fairly new runner - started with the Couch to 5K program at te end of June. So far I've run 2 5Ks and a 10K - and I'm training for the WDW Half in January and the DL Half in September. And I may throw another Half in there somewhere. I've been actively working on losing weight since May and am down 19 pounds and at my lowest weight in over 10 years. No kids...just one very bratty and noisy Quaker Parrot named Benjamin Coffin the Bird (Benny for short).
Windwalker, aka Dave aka Panda- I'm 58 and live in a small town in Kentucky. I don't run I walk, race walk actually. I have qualified for another shot at the National Senior Olympics. Married to Sally.
es45 aka Elizabeth- I'm 41 and married with 2 children, DD9 and DD6. I'll ran my first 5k in July. I will be walking with my best friend in the 2011 Princess Half. If I'm ready, I plan to run my first half marathon in late October.
Pudge The Fish, aka Emily- My DH and I will be doing the DL half in Sept. This will be our first half marathon. I still consider myself new to running, though I've done 2 5k (including the 2009 DL 5k) and one 10k.
Villians_Rock, aka Eva – I am 31 years old, married to Jordan (proud WISH supporter) and have just recently had our first baby, Gage. We currently live near Cleveland, OH. I'm a full time staffing coordinator for Continental Airlines and my hubby sells Harley Davidsons. I ran my first race in 2007 and have since ran 5Ks, 10Ks, one half marathon and completed the Disney Full Marathon in 2009. Before the baby, I was most comfortable running and training at a half marathon distance.
GirltheGecko aka Hope- I grew up in the Pittsburgh area. When I was a teenager, I was heavily into martial arts, unfortunately due to school and time, I had to quit. I met Nick, moved to NH, and I gained some weight. I watched my mother struggle with obesity all her life, so Nick's family and I decided to work at trying for a half marathon at WDW.
flipflopmom, aka Taryn – I will be 35 on Sept. 5. I am a Kindergarten Teacher, working on my master's degree in my "spare” time. Married for 12 years, have 2 girls. Oldest is 10, and a competitive gymnast. Her gym is 45 minutes away, so I spend a lot of time on the road. Youngest is 3, and a tons of fun! I haven't run a race yet, but looking for a 5K.
LynnG, aka Lynn, (of Lynn and Scott)- 60 years old, retired, we are both Disneyholics. We have been members of DVC since it started. I am a walker, I used to try to run, but knee surgery last August which I am still trying to recover from, I only walk now. I have done several half marathons, mostly Disney ones. I have 2 malamutes that are my walking companions at home.
MaryJ aka Mary- I am 53 years old, and live in a small town in Southwestern Indiana. I will be married to DH (Ken) for 34 years in July. We have 3 daughters and 2 granddaughters. I walk/run my races. I did my first big race (WDW Half) when I was 52. Before that I had done only a few 5K's, mostly walking.
Motomiker, aka Mike – I have lived in and around Lake in the Hills Illinois. I have worked in the grocery business for almost 20 years. Married in 2008 to my wife (Liz). One son (Robert), working on baby number two. I was diagnosed with colon cancer in the fall of 2009 and had surgery. I am still cancer free! My other interests are varied: Disney nut, Disney pins collector, love movies (mostly Sci-fi), scrapbooking, travel, a New England Patriots fan, and 5ks . I did my first adventure race recently, and am planning some more.
Nikkilala, aka Nikki- Married to Ryan at WDW in 2007. Currently a Physical Therapist Assistant student graduating in 2012. Is a wogger (walker with a little jogging mixed in) Lives in South West Michigan where she was born and raised! Loves Disney and will do anything for an excuse to travel there, including a half marathon
Saylan – I'm from the frosty north of Canada. I'm very new to running (officially started October 14, 2010). I'm training for the Disney Princess 1/2 and it'll be my first official marathon of any length. I'm a Disney addict (been 16 times). I figured if anything can motivate me to run it would be Disney. I live with my partner (and Disney virgin) and a demon of a cat.
piglet24, aka Regina- I grew up in Idaho and married my “birthday buddy”, Kyle, in 2006. There has been a great deal of stress in my life recently that I do not have the ability to change right now, so I decided to try running to help manage the stress and give myself goals to work toward and focus on. Right now I’m working toward my first half marathon in October (Wine and Dine).
Hakuna Matata Team Birthday Calendar
For 2011
January
12th Gerry;
February
25th Kim-45th
March:
6th Ryan & Honorary Member, Nikki’s 4th Anniversary (2007)
9th Mike-42
19th Honorary Member, Nikki’s 26th
April:
25th Jennifer-22
May:
8th Robert-46th
June:
11th Denise
July:
12th Scott & Lynn's 31st Anniversary
20th Beth-40th
24th Regina & DH, Kyle-Shared Birth Date!
27th Jon (Captain Connie's DH)
August:
5th Kim & DH, Mike's 23rd Anniversary
September:
5th Saylan's 26th
5th Taryn's 35th
10th Liz
20th Mike & Liz 2nd Anniversary
October:
4th Jack’s 52nd
6th Vicky
7th Dave’s 60th
28th Scott
November:
7th Elizabeth-41st
10th Mary-54th
12th Hope - 30th
December:
1st Kiristie
1st Lynn-60th
20th Emily
31st Eva-32nd
Also a Date to Remember:
December 1, 2011 Hope & Nick’s wedding at WDW