The Running Mom

Most mother's of four have little energy to crawl into bed after a typical day of being Mom. Kelly Knight on the other hand gets her four kids – ranging in age from 8 to 18 – off to school and her day has just begun.

Knight is an Iowa Western Community College sophomore studying to be a paramedic. Oh, and she happens to be ranked nationally in the 3,000-meters for the Reiver track team.

To say Knight, 37, took an unlikely path to college long distance runner is putting it mildly.

Knight never ran track on any level or as a high school at Missouri Valley. She never really ever gave running more than a thought as more than a means to staying in shape for her first love, karate. That might have been all she ever did with her running skills had she not heard Iowa Western was starting up a track and cross country program.

“I was running pretty good times and I wanted to go to college and figure out a way to pay for it,” she said. “So I went up and talked to the coaches.”

Stan Croft, then Iowa Western coach, gave her a scholarship on the spot, much to Knight's surprise.

“I knew my times were good, but not great but I figured, they're starting up a new program and any runner's better than none,” she said. “I asked if he had a scholarship, he asked me what my times were, and he gave me a scholarship right there.”

Her times were about 12 minutes in the 3,000-meters. Not bad, she admits, but improvable. During the indoor season this year Knight set the school-record in the 3,000-meters at the UNI Open with a time of 11:07.40.

In addition to running the 3,000-meters in the indoor season and the 10K in the outdoor season, she also runs the 5,000-meter on the Reivers' cross country team in the fall.

Knight admits she's typically the oldest competitor at meets by 15 years but enjoys the fact most of her competitors don't know that.

“I don't want to be a skeptical I just run and sneak up on them. No one usually knows unless coach tells them,” said Knight, who is six months older than head coach Elliott Statzer.

She bristles at the notion her age has given her the role of “team mother” but she was voted a team captain her first season. It's a role she is comfortable with even if it doesn't completely fit her personality.

“I'm sort of goofy and have fun (with teammates) but I guess I am (a leader) a little bit. I try and help,” she said.

Knight's first love is still karate, but running, she said, is creeping up there.

“There are some days I just don't want to run, like when I'm really wiped out, but I still love it,” she said.

She runs five to seven miles everyday. And in addition to being a second degree black belt, she also teaches classes at White Tiger Karate with instructor Jon Williams. Knight credits Williams with her new found love of running.

“Jon (Williams) pushed me to run faster and I like that. I give him credit for that because I don't think I'd be where I am if it weren't for him pushing me to run faster and faster,” she said. “In karate they make you feel like you can do anything. And that's what we try and do with the kids. Can't is a four letter word.

“I want to make a difference. It makes me feel good to show other kids they can do this. I want to show them if I can do it at 37 then they can do it.”

All of Knight's four children share their mother's competitiveness, she said. Daughter Nekol, 18, and son Nathan, 16, are both varsity starters on the Glenwood soccer teams. Both Kaleb, 11 and Wynter, 8, do karate. Wynter was one of the only girls in the Glenwood Wrestling Club program this past year.

Knight will complete her IWCC eligibility this season. While she hasn't given running at a four-year college much thought she does has a goal in mind. She's nearly done with her studies for paramedic training and plans to apply for the Council Bluffs Fire Department.

As part of her paramedic training, Knight will have to ace the Candidate Physical Agility Test (CPAT). The arduous test requires candidates to pass a written exam and a battery of physical tests while wearing a 50 pound vest.

“The hardest part is carrying a 75 pound weight up stairs,” said the 5-foot-2, 100 pound Knight.

Track training has helped her conditioning but she admits she's a little nervous about the physicality of the CPAT.

“I'm not real big so its hard for me to do some of the things a 200 pound man can do,” she said.

Some how, I think she'll do just fine.