a2a Champ Kim Perkins Retires from Inline Racing

Racing News:

Ultra-distance Champ Kim Perkins Announces Retirement From Inline Racing

a2a Champ Says She Is Ready to Move on to New Challenges But Will Continue Coaching Skaters

(Page 2 of 2)

Perkins raced in one event after the a2a: last month's National Capital Marathon in Ottawa, in which she finished third.

But she had not trained for the race and only decided to skate it at the last minute "to see what would happen."

"It kind of confirmed the idea of retiring for me," she said.

"Usually 20 miles into a race, I'm just getting warmed up and saying, 'OK, now what are we going to do.'

"But this time, 20 miles in to it, I was thinking about breakfast and coffee."

Perkins said that while she is leaving inline racing, she will remain active in the sport, both as an editor of the new inline magazine Race & Roll and as a personal coach and trainer.

Perkins is a certified personal trainer and a member of the staff of Wenzel Coaching.

"I've been doing a lot of coaching and at this point, watching other people's progress is just as satisfying to me as watching my own."

Perkins is also considering returning to school to earn a graduate degree in psychology.

"There are a lot of different avenues I would like to explore," she said.

"Yes, I'll miss racing. But when it's time, it's time. And for me, it's time for a new adventure."

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(posted June 21, 2005)

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