{"id":1187,"date":"2025-02-05T10:54:23","date_gmt":"2025-02-05T15:54:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/recsports\/?p=1187"},"modified":"2025-09-17T15:13:16","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T19:13:16","slug":"wellness-spotlights-katie-gray-kelly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/recsports\/2025\/02\/wellness-spotlights-katie-gray-kelly\/","title":{"rendered":"Katie (Gray) Kelly"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Name | Years at Miami | City, State<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Katie Kelly | 2004-2007 | Carmel, IN<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Job Title | Current Employer<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Southport Middle School Assistant Principal | Perry Township Schools<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Education<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

2005, BS, Major- Secondary Social Studies Education, Minors- History and Political Science
2007, MA, History<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn about Katie<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n
Describe your previous role with Miami Recreation.<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>
\n

I started as a Jazzercise instructor at the Rec center my junior year of college, then I eventually transitioned into instructing Kickboxing classes my senior year, and then I became a Pilates instructor, and I taught classes throughout my Master’s work in history. While I was in Graduate school, I was a counselor at the Rec Center Kids Camp during the summer of 2006. Throughout those years, I also checked in participants for classes.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

What does health, wellness and recreation mean to you and why is it important in your life?<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>
\n

For me, health is paramount for well being physically, mentally, and socially. I have made some of my greatest friends on a long run or a long ride, and my family has made some of our greatest memories on hikes, out swimming, or riding our bikes around town. I am grateful for my time in the Rec Center at Miami for instilling this love of fitness.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

What do you do to recreate, live well and have fun?<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>
\n

I love to be active and am working to help my family develop healthy habits. Personally, I have become really involved in running and triathlon. Since graduating from Miami, I have run 10 marathons, completed 12 Ironman 70.3, and 2 Ironman 140.3 races, and I now serve on the Board of Directors for Kids Tri for Kids, which is an organization that puts on the only kids-only triathlon series in the country. My kids and I have gotten involved in Tae Kwon Do, and I earned my Black belt in December 2023.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

How did your role in Miami Recreation help you get to where you are today?<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>
\n

When I went to Miami, I didn’t have a regular exercise regimen, but once I started my freshman year, I started going to one kickboxing class a week, and my interest in fitness only grew from there. I loved the feeling of being strong and fit, so I started taking multiple Jazzercise, Kickboxing, Pilates, Step Aerobics, and Spinning classes each week. I also started running regularly on the track at the Rec Center with my CD player and then early iPod, and that love has become part of who I am. I spent 15 years of my professional life as a high school teacher ten years of which I coached high school Girls Cross Country. Miami got me the start I needed to create the healthy, active lifestyle I have today where I can pick up and run a half marathon or take my kids for a bike ride for ice cream because I have that fitness. My time taking and instructing kickboxing classes inspired me to join my boys in studying Tae Kwon Do, which has created a bond I couldn’t create anywhere else.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Advice that you would give a first-year college student at Miami today<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>
\n

Go out and find a way to move your body that makes you happy, then make it a priority to do it more days than you don’t. You won’t regret building those kinds of habits into your life.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Favorite Miami Recreation Memory<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>
\n

When I was a camp counselor at the Rec Kids Camp, we decided to have a Pirate Week, and we had a blast organizing lots of pirate-themed games, activities, and contests for the kids. However, I’m pretty sure that we as counselors had more fun than the kids planning, dressing up, and pretending to be pirates.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Awards \/ Recognitions \/ Personal or Career Accomplishments<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

National History Day in Indiana Teacher of the Year
Richard Saucedo Distinguished Alumni Award
2x Ironman Finisher<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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