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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Monday, April 11, 2005

FITNESS PROFILE
Fitness teacher always on the run

By Michael Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

If you can catch her in a spare moment — and no guarantees on that — Honolulu resident Kelly Noonan will tell you perpetual motion requires perpetual maintenance.

Kelly Noonan, 42, runs 55 to 60 miles a week training for the Boston Marathon, besides working out at a gym and taking martial arts classes.

Photo courtesy Kelly Noonan

At 42, Noonan, a part-time fitness instructor and full-time University of Hawai'i student, keeps up a personal training regimen that would cause recreational athletes half her age to combust.

One of the top age-group runners in the state, Noonan logs up to 60 miles running six days a week. With guidance from coach and husband, Tim, Noonan has blazed through marathons in Honolulu, Chicago and Boston.

And just because she runs, don't think Noonan can't fight if she has to. The petite mother of two holds a black belt in tae kwon do and a purple belt in karate.

"Ever since I was a little girl, I always loved to exercise," Noonan says. "I've always been very active.

"To me, good health is the No. 1 thing," she says.

Name: Kelly Noonan

Age: 42

Profession: Fitness instructor at the Oahu Club and student at the University of Hawai'i.

Workout habits: "I run six days a week, about 55 to 60 miles per week, training for the Boston Marathon. I work out at the gym three times a week. I also go to karate classes at UH twice a week, and (Minakami Karate Dojo in Kaimuki) once or twice a week."

My good foods/bad foods: "Diet is very, very important, so I try to eat healthy every day. For breakfast, my husband and I eat oatmeal with blueberries, strawberries and bananas. We eat pasta before races for energy. For protein, I eat salmon and other fish, sometimes chicken. Sometimes we'll have a beer the night before a race. I think it's OK because it has carbohydrates that you can use for energy."

My biggest motivator: "When you're 42 years old and you have two kids, you have to stay in good shape to have all the energy you need."

My biggest roadblock to fitness: "I like to run at night, but if I work I'll run in the morning instead."

My next challenge: "I'm running in the Boston Marathon on April 18, and right after that my husband and I are going to do the Swamp Romp (an off-road obstacle race) at Kane'ohe. We've done it the last few years and I love it. You get dirty all over, but it's so much fun."