Sophomore year of high school, Makaelyn Glienke, joined her school’s cross country team. The story, however, was not that of a picture book.

Glienke, the summer after her freshman year, joined a morning running club. To her surprise, her high school’s cross country coach was in the club too. When her sophomore year started, and season rolled around, the coach just put her on the team.

Glienke enjoyed every minute cross country and the new people she met from it.

Fast forward a few years and Makaelyn was a college junior at Morningside College. She still had the competitive drive within her, but had nowhere to invest it. Then she crossed paths with a family friend who owned a cross fit gym, so she joined.

Makaelyn Glienke now goes to cross fit 3 times a week and enjoys every moment of it. She takes pride in her work ethic during workouts and continues to keep her athletic stature because of it.