What are your favorite sprorts to do as a family and individually?

When Emily was a toddler we bought a "Rails-to-Trails" guide, a couple of mountain bikes and bike seat.  Since that time we have biked all around Pittsburgh and western PA.  Scott and Karen's favorite activity is the bike while Emily's' is swimming.
Biking with the group on Sunday mornings has been an adventure to say the least.  It's amazing to see the area that we live in, up close and personal.  Some mornings it's like you are on a vacation while you're only twenty minutes from home.  Some mornings you just wish you were on vacation!

How has these sports brought you together as a family?

We've always felt it is important to find activities we can enjoy as a family.  Being active helps to keep our family energetic.  Participating in races allows us to work as a team.  Logistically we cannot all train for and participate in the same race.  Our approach is for one family member to race while the other two are in "race support" mode.  We always make a point of going out for dinner together the night before a race, because we really like to eat!  We especially enjoy overnight trips where we can spend time with other members of the DC/GFF team.   We are looking forward to more race travel in our future!

What is your favorite restaurant to eat at?

No favorite restaurant.  We enjoy "local" joints and have been to many establishments featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.  The Kavanagh's are not picky eaters and will eat just about anything!!

What are your favorite foods?

Emily - Salmon
Karen - Pizza
Scott - Corn Flakes

What's the best part about living a healthy lifestyle and being a family who
worksout together?

By sharing the same hobby we can have family conversations where we can all relate and participate.   It's fun knowing we can all find something to do on a Saturday morning at the Y for a ridiculous number of hours!   We have also enjoyed the opportunity to meet other families who share our excitement for exercise and activity.  It has been great to surround ourselves with such positive influences.

What's the toughest part about living a healthy lifestyle and being in a
family that likes to workout and race?

Scheduling without a doubt!  With Emily's school, activity and social calendar, Scott's travel schedule and Karen's work, chauffeur and volunteer schedule, it is difficult for both Scott and Karen to commit to a training schedule.  We generally take turns training for races and attending run club activities.

What are your favorite races to participate in and be a spectator at for
other family members?

Emily enjoys participating in swim meets.  Karen enjoys participating in triathlons and Scott enjoyed his half in Pittsburgh last spring.  Scott and Karen enjoy watching Emily's Triathlons.  Those kids are a true inspiration to watch!  Both Karen and Emily really enjoyed watching all of the runners in the Niagara Marathon.  It was amazing to watch the runners persevere to meet their goal, including Scott!

How has Get Fit Families helped your family this past year?

We have been overwhelmed by the amount of positive and supportive people we have met over the past 18 months.  There are also many inspirational stories that can be used for motivation on a daily basis.  We also like the fact that many (not all) of the social events are not just adult or kid oriented but family oriented.  What a great environment this is for Emily.  Talk about positive yet crazy influences!

If you could give advice to other families trying to live a healthy
lifestyle, what would it be?

Do something, anything, but just get started.  We began by walking a 5K.   Be an active participant in your life and family life.   Don't just sit back and watch life pass.  Doing things together helps to keep you close as a family.  Start sweating and find yourself laughing and having a good time in no time!  Ok... there's not much laughing while doing hill repeats in North Boundary followed by core, but you can laugh the next day while watching each other struggle to sit up in bed the next morning!  Now that's funny!

If Emily could answer the following for my Get Fit Kids article, that would
be great.

What sports do you participate in?

Swim, Triathlons, Volleyball, XC

What is your favorite sport?

Swim

As a dedicated athlete, what is your motivation to work so hard at such a
young age?

I want to swim for Pitt. I like to beat boys and adults. I also like to be with my friends.

If you were to participate in a sport as you get older, highshool, college
and after college, what would it be and why?

Swimming because I love to be in the water.  Also it's a sport I think I'm good at.

Who inspires you to work hard and to reach your goals and why?

Joella--she works really hard and is really good.  I love the way she is at all the races always cheering us on.
Marleah - she's fast and I like to try to catch her.

What's your favorite activity throughout the year to do related to your
favorite sport?  (for example a specific race, training, game, camp, etc)

I really liked the Dam Tri this year because I liked doing the open water swim.  Tri camp is fun when we get the whole Zelie pool to ourselves.

What do you eat to stay healthy and help you perform at your best?

I like to eat any kind of fish (especially salmon) and water.  This summer we got vegetables from a farm.  My favorites were all of the different kind of lettuces, zucchini, squash and potatoes.  My mom says if I eat healthy I can have dessert.  I also learned that you have to eat before a swim meet and that a walking taco is not good to eat before a swim meet.

What are your future goals in your favorite sport?

I would like to swim for Pitt and drop lots of time in swimming.

What advice would you give to other kids who want to reach their goals?

If you put your mind to it, you can do anything.  Never give up and keep trying.

What do you want to be when you grow up?