Compared to the rest of her family, Katie Kobak Stuart was a bit late to the Patch Sprint party.  Nevertheless, since first trekking in 2010, she has embraced the event with great enthusiasm; last year, she and her kids traveled from the St. Louis area to take part.  The Stuart’s will again be on hand in 2012- with Katie’s husband Steve in tow - making the historical Patch Sprint count for the Kobak-Stuart-Daley-Taptick-Galloway-Zimmerman family of participants an impressive total of 26.

What is the best part about the Patch Sprint?
The best part is seeing all my old friends and coming back to poko, which has been a huge part of my life for so long.

What is the hardest part for you?
The hardest part is the climb up Pok-O. It  is soooooo steep and I am so worm out by them! Plus, I am the least impressive hiker of all the Kobak siblings, and I'm always thinking to myself "Jimmy and Marcie have already gotten up this so much faster than me!"l

What are your 2012 goals and how are you training for them?
Like every year, I just hope that I can finish the course. I had back surgery a few months ago, and I just started running again a few weeks ago. Of course, there are no mountains or even real hills in Edwardsville (Illinois), so the course is a shock to the system anyway.

Each year you travel 1,500 miles, with your family, to be here.  Why?
I travel to the sprint because it's always such a great event and a chance to see so many friends and family.


What advice will you give to your husband, attempting his first Patch Sprint in 2012?
I think Steve will enjoy trekking along with me and the kids and hopefully the Canning group again. My advice is to just hope for a dry, cool day and eat some bananas the day before so he doesn't get calf cramps, which have made an appearance during a lot of our hikes together. Also, don't hike near our daughter Hannah, because she never stops talking and it will drive you crazy!