A little about Dottie: Dottie is a native Californian. From age 2-18 she was a foster child in the California "welfare" system due to the death of her mother when Dottie was age 2. Her father couldn't raise 6 young children on his own. Foster parents report Dottie always demonstrated an independent spirit, a sense of adventure, and the ability to identify and obtain goals. When she reached age 18, she joined the United States Air Force with the goal of obtaining her college education and to see the world. During her 9 years in the Air Force, she accomplished that and more. She achieved her Bachelor and Masters degrees, was station in Germany for 2 years, and traveled throughout portions of the US. After an 18 year break she joined the United States Air Force Reserve to complete her military career and to earn a retirement. She is a Vietnam, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom Veteran, active in the local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 1900 and American Legion Post 76. In 2013 she retired from the Air Force Reserve, having proudly served our country as a First Sergeant and achieved the rank of Senior Master Sergeant (E-8). Her professional career has primarily been in the rural non-profit and health care world. She dedicated over 20 years to the domestic violence movement, having coordinated four battered women's women's shelters, served on the boards of the Arizona and California Alliances Against Domestic Violence and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Her history also includes many years developing social programs, writing and implementing grants, serving on local, state, and national committees advocating for the needs of others, especially in rural and underserved communities. In 1983 Dottie started her running as a lifestyle. Her first affiliation with a running group was with the "Fun Runners of Globe-Miami" in Arizona and her first participation in a running event was a Valentine's Day 10K. She says she had no awareness of what a 10K distance was ... not a clue!! She also says that, for her, as a single person, this was just a safe & social way to meet other people in a rural community. With the support of the club members, she finished her first 10K. And she was hooked! While not a fast runner, she is a persistent one and always completes every event she starts. She has completed 10 marathons (the most recent, at age 58, the Athens Marathon, Greece). However, her favorite distance is the half marathon. Dottie & Gordon met in Globe, Az while working for the same non-profit agency. She introduced Gordon to the sport of running. They celebrate special occasions by traveling the world and completing events in various places, the most recent when both completed the Athens Marathon to celebrate their 28th wedding anniversary.
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Now about Gordon:
Gordon is a native Minnesotan, growing up in rural northern Minnesota. He served six years in the Army Reserve. After playing baseball from the age of nine, his athletic career ended with four high school letters in baseball, or so he thought. When he met Dottie, his life changed in several ways. Becoming a runner was one of those significant changes. From running his first 10K in basketball shoes, he progressed quickly to real running shoes and a life-long commitment to running as both an athletic endeavor and a social lifestyle. After numerous 5K & 10K races in Arizona and California, Gordon has completed 12 marathons and 6 ultra-marathons. As part of relay team (organized by Dottie), Gordon participated in two Calistoga to Santa Cruz relay events and has been was one of Gordon's special running experiences. Gordon's other unique running experiences include the Goofy Challenge, a 12-hour run in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, and a south-north rim-rim crossing of the Grand Canyon. Goals for the future include running in all 50 states (38 remain). Before moving from Minneapolis/St Paul to the warmer climate of Arizona, Gordon began his professional career as an accountant. While working for a privately owned company, he learned the techniques of decision making one person has decision making authority. After moving for a new job in Arizona, he learned how to complicate decision making by working for non-profit and government organizations. As his career in government evolved, he developed a fascination for the process of local government. He retired in 2013. Now, along with Dottie, he is taking on the less stressful challenges of (LOL) operating Ready, Set, Go! and Run The US Club, dedicated to fitness as a lifestyle and to organizing tours and travel to running events. |