Eight Questions with Jenny Van Drunen

Gallup Family Fitness Series Event Director

Q.  Jenny, what got you interested in working with the Gallup Family Fitness Series?
A. The desire to see events in the Gallup area that the whole family can participate in – including everyone from grandparents to young kids.

Q.  What do you enjoy most about the Fitness Series so far?
A. I enjoy thinking through how to make these events attractive.  It’s fun planning events and trying to figure out the details.  I also like to participate in events with my own kids.

Q.  What is the biggest challenge?
A. Trying to get the word out in a way that is understandable to people and known to be available to everyone in the community.

Q.  What is the next event in the Fitness Series?
A. Pack the Peak happening on Sunday, October 16.  This will most likely be one of our signature events.  It will be fun to get a lot of people on top of Pyramid Rock, which is such a classic symbol of our community.

Q.  Where do you see the Fitness Series in three years?
A. I would hope that the series will continue to grow and include a variety of different types of events that will attract different people within the community.  We would like to have an array of different events where people could come to all of them or they could choose the ones they enjoy.

Q.  What do you enjoy doing in your off time?
A. I enjoy being outside.  I enjoy hiking, biking and being with my family and that’s probably why I think having a series like this is valuable to a community.

Q.  What is your favorite movie?
A. A Japanese movie named My Neighbor Totoro. It’s about a little forest spirit in the countryside of Japan, where I grew up.  My children are the age where they are fascinated by the imaginary world.  The movie is about two little girls and their interaction with this little forest spirit that only kids can see.

Q.  If you could trade places with a famous person who would it be and why?
A. Mother Teresa always jumps into my head.  She is someone who lived outside of herself and was able to live such a satisfying life and somehow be removed from the busyness of life.  She lived a calm, purposeful, driven life that appeared to be very satisfying.

Pack the Peak, part of the Gallup Family Fitness Series, will take place on Sunday, October 16 at Red Rock Park Exhibit Hall parking lot.  Registration 1-3pm, $5 includes event, T-shirt and snacks.  Start in waves from 1:30 to 3:00, meeting at the top at 3:30.  Live music and snacks at the bottom following the hike.  For more information email gffs2011@yahoo.com or call Jenny at (505) 862-1865.