Please help me congratulate Niki Kellogg - the July T3 Athlete of the Month! Niki might be a new T3 member but I know she will build many great connections with the team - she truly embodies what T3 represents. Sport and life send us many challenges. But, Niki consistently sees opportunity in challenges as opposed to setbacks. This positive approach allows her to leave every situation with something she didn’t have prior. She has a brave willingness to try new things (including learning to change what seems like an unfair number of flats) and demonstrates an honest respect and understanding of smart work vs. just hard work. Niki is sharing her journey with family in a way that involves them and allows them to participate in her wins along the way.

A:   Niki Kellogg, Glens Falls, NY

A:   37

A:   Orchestra teacher at Shenendehowa Central Schools

A:   About 4 years now

A:   10 fantastic weeks by Coach Haspela!

A:   As far as triathlons, Lake George olympic, as it’s something that I do with my mom every year! It’s a lot of fun to see her out on the course. Next to that, the Smuttynose Half Marathon in Hampton Beach that my twin, mother, and I have participated in every year for the last 7 years. We even kept our condo and went and did the virtual run on our own along the beach last year when it was cancelled due to COVID.

A:   Dean is going to be so proud, swim cords! This was a game changer for me when I couldn’t get into the pool or handle the anxiety that trying to reserve a lane was causing this past winter. It was really cool to see my “stroke” out of the water and work on my form while building strength during my lunch break.

A:   Well, I was recently hand-selected by my coach to represent him in a very exclusive “secret one-woman olympic triathlon,” which, as the only competitor, I did in fact win.
In all seriousness, I used to get moved to tears at the start line of every race because I couldn’t believe that I was actually “one of them…” An athlete! My first cycling endurance event was a fundraiser where the SAG car was literally waiting for me to pass so he could pick up cones. I was dead last. It made me feel so defeated that I just quit about half way. Now, I’m getting ready for my first 70.3 IM! Seven years ago, I didn’t tell anyone (other than my family) that I was running my first half-marathon because I was afraid I’d never actually be able to do it. Now I’ve taken a full hour off that time and run races all over the country with my twin as a fun getaway! Every race seems to be a highlight in the big picture.

A:   Easy. I want to end each race saying, “Let’s sign up for another.”

A:   Race as long as I can with my friends and family!

A:   Kodiak Dark Chocolate Protein Pancakes, Peanut Butter, Two good vanilla yogurt.

A:    Everything from Stevie Wonder, Busta Rhymes, Mumford & Sons, and my favorite, Weezer’s cover of “Take On Me.”

A:   Athletes come in all shapes, sizes, gender, age, ethnicity, speeds, gear/equipment types, you name it. This is one of the most inclusive and supportive environments you may ever see amongst strangers. It’s actually quite beautiful to witness.  If you’re out there, you are an athlete, the crowd will cheer for you, and you very well could inspire someone.  Just remember to have fun.

A:   Try to do the bulk of your training in the morning. Never in my life did I think I would be setting my alarm for 4:30 every morning, but it’s so peaceful and calm in the morning, like it’s “your time” while the rest of the town is still asleep.

A:   Hill repeats! Just kidding. Any run that requires me to do a “loop” at different paces back to the house. My 11 year- old son got into this routine where he woke himself up extra early every morning before school. Everytime I would pass the house or come down the driveway to do my drills or calisthenics, I would hear his little voice “wohoo! looking good mom! great job!” shouting from the window. Sometimes he would come out and join me on my final cool down lap and we would walk and talk together.

A:   I want to say a very special “thank you,” to my coach, Dean Haspela. Before joining T3, I found myself feeling very isolated teaching virtually through a pandemic and adding hours of training out on my own. Trying to follow a free online training plan that I couldn’t understand or losing sleep in fear that I was going to oversleep and miss out on the opportunity to reserve a lane for the next day left me feeling riddled with anxiety and overwhelmed. Dean is truly one of the most magnificent people I have ever met. He has pushed me to make gains that I didn’t know were possible. He believed in me more than I believed in myself and his feedback and guidance is always so genuine and inspiring. He always has a way of making me take a breath, take a step back, and be happy with what I’ve just achieved whether it was my best workout or not. When he tells me that he’s proud of me, I sincerely believe him, which just makes me want to keep making him proud. I am not even close to being the same athlete that I was 10 weeks ago and I could not be more grateful for having him as my coach. He has become a household name, here in Glens Falls, and my family is equally thankful for all of his encouragement and support!