Pequot Lakes ladies run for fun and fitness

Wendy Rickard’s, TDS senior coordinator-order management, desire to stay fit has become somewhat contagious at our Pequot Lakes, Minn. office. She recently began running in her spare time and now has her coworkers doing races with her. But not just ordinary races—themed runs. With two under their belts so far, they’re already looking for more to try.

It all started when Wendy wanted to do a “mud run”—an obstacle course type of race that happens, as you might expect, in the mud. She asked around the office to see if anyone wanted to join in saying, “I thought a bunch of us could go and have a good time.” Sue Galligan, Renae Miles, Leigh Ann Roggenkamp, Kyann Shamp, and Amy Wark agreed it sounded like a blast and joined her.

They had such a good time, when Wendy found out about a new running event happening in nearby Brainerd—the Kaleidoscope Run—the team of participants grew. This run was a “color run” where, at intervals along the course, runners are showered with different colored powders so they finish plastered in color. Not only did three of the first group of ladies sign up for the run, but nine more (and some of their family members) decided to join the team.

Merrilee Ackerman, Holly Albert, Lynette Clevinger, Shari Curell, Lynn Daudt, Tammy Douglas, Shannon Hilts, Nichole Johnson, Tia McMonigal, Renae Miles, LeighAnn Roggenkamp, Wendy Rickard, Amy Wark, and Shannon Zook had a great time at the race. In total, 21 people were on the TDS team for the Kaleidoscope run (see additional photos below).

Now that they’ve done two runs, the Pequot Lakes ladies are already looking for their next. Wendy said, “I’m hoping we’ll find more and keep it going!” In fact, she recently found out about the Electric Run happening in St. Paul on August 31st. You run at night, and there’s music, glow lights, and special lighting effects throughout the course. But, if they don’t get organized in time, you can bet Wendy and the other ladies will be looking out for other opportunities to be active and do something a little off the beaten path.