National University of Health Sciences was well represented at the Big Sur International Marathon on Sunday, April 26.  ND student Kaley Burns crossed the finish line in 3:35, proudly wearing NUHS colors. She beat her personal record by 23 minutes, despite the hilly course and a head wind.

“My mom is my biggest supporter so we traveled out to California together. Because this is the 30th anniversary of the Big Sur marathon, it’s somewhat of a special year. I picked this marathon mostly for the experience. It is quite a scenic route and is a bucket list race for many runners,” says Kaley.

This is Kaley’s third marathon. She has been running competitively for 12 years and for the last 6 years has also been competing in triathlons, including the “Ironman Wisconsin” in 2010, which she plans to enter again after her graduation.

Kaley hopes to use her running experience in her future career: “In addition to becoming an ND, I would like to become an endurance coach.” Along with her studies in the naturopathic medicine program and work as a research fellow, Kaley trains from 6 to 12 hours per week. “The nutrition, physiology, biomechanics, and therapies I have learned at NUHS play a big role in my ability to compete and stay healthy, while also helping me manage and prevent injuries,” she says.