Zika (Janes) Rea is a co-founder of the ZAP Fitness Foundation. Zika grew up in the suburbs of St. Louis, MO and attended Mary Institute St. Louis Country Day School where interest in running started.… + See More +
Zika (Janes) Rea is a co-founder of the ZAP Fitness Foundation. Zika grew up in the suburbs of St. Louis, MO and attended Mary Institute St. Louis Country Day School where interest in running started.… + See More
- See Less - Zika (Janes) Rea is a co-founder of the ZAP Fitness Foundation. Zika grew up in the suburbs of St. Louis, MO and attended Mary Institute St. Louis Country Day School where interest in running started. After high school she attended Emory University in Atlanta, GA and received a BS in Biology. While at Emory her interest in running became a passion and soon after graduation she decided to make running a priority and set the goal of qualifying for the Olympic Trials in the Marathon.
It was at this time that she and Andy Palmer began to dream of a way to create a training center for Elite Runners that included programs and Running Camps for recreational runners.
In 2002 Zika and Andy moved to Blowing Rock, NC and began making their dream a reality in ZAP Fitness. While buildings were being constructed and business plans put on paper, Zika attended Appalachian State University for a Master's Degree in Exercise Science.
In February 2002 Zika was in her last semester of Grad School and preparing to run her first marathon when she lost Andy to a heart attack. She was determined to go on and make ZAP Fitness a success as well as find success in her own running. Just weeks after Andy passed away Zika completed her first marathon (Motorola Austin, TX) knowing that Andy would not want her to stop chasing her dreams. ZAP opened that summer and a year after running her first marathon Zika returned to Austin, TX and qualified for her first Olympic Trials. Zika continued her running success with a second place finish at the Twin Cities Marathon (US Marathon Championships) in 2005 and a PR of 2:41:06.
Zika is the President of the ZAP Fitness Foundation and Director of ZAP Fitness. She handles the "business side" of ZAP including the administrative work, management of the resident ZAP athletes, and camp director responsibilities for the ZAP Running Camps. She puts her Exercise Science background to good use giving talks at camps on Nutrition and Exercise Science as well as Lactate Threshold testing on the ZAP athletes. She enjoys hosting hundreds of runners at ZAP each year and thrives on the energy they bring to ZAP.
Zika's running career was sidelined in 2006 with an injury which continues to hinder her running. But injuries can be a blessing in disguise and this one allowed Zika to focus on something new, being a mom. She and her husband Pete welcomed their first child into the world on March 17, 2009 Elyse Franziska Rea.
Mark, I don't know if you ever read all the comments people dedicate to you and your absolutely terrific work but I shure hope you realize the great things you do!! I just want to say thanks for all the work you put into Flotrack! Great Video! If you can get any news from Zap Fitness next time your in NC that would be awsome! I look forward to seeing new stuff. Take Care!
Good work Mark! I don't know if you remember me (I'm the belgium girl). It was great to see the guys from ZAP fitness again and to see where they train and how they live. I think the idea of ZAP fitness is amazing. Something like that would not be possible in Europe. Hope to visit you guys one day!
ZAP is an amazing place but the best part are the fantastic people involved. Pete/Zika have done an amazing job with selecting those that they surround themselves with. The scenery runs a second to everyone involved. The Adult runnin camp was more that I would have ever thought. My only regret is that I waited so long to attend for the first time. I would love to be back next year to meet a new group of runners and maybe catch up with some old camp friends. Keep up the great work and we will continue to support any way we can.
HOW AMAZING IS IT TO BE SITTING HERE IN THE REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA ON THE RUSSIAN BORDER WATCHING PETE AND ZIKA AND THE ZAP ATHLETES? I ATTENDED THE LAST TWO SUMMER CAMPS. EVERY CAMP ADDS SOMETHING TO MY MENTAL AND PHYSICAL ABILITY AND TO MY CORE KNOWLEDGE OF RUNNING. THAT WEEK KEEPS ME RUNNING THE WHOLE YEAR.
I was at the last camp and would recommend it to adults of all ages who want to learn how to get better & meet the inspiring gang. Still working on my cadence.
God dammit I hate watching these young folks in good shape running around pain free. I have no cartilage left in my knees and getting out of a rocking chair feels like a marathon at 4:40 pace.
Hanson Brooks Trains At 7MMlol September 18, 2007 at 11:19am
what happend to the refreshing welcome to this episode of flocasts..... all refreshing. I just noticed that the other day like back in may i enjoyed flotrack more and that was the reason why. Please continue to use the welcome to this episode of flocasts:-)
How good do you have to be to get involved. I am from Wilmington NC and interested in becoming a world class runner, but I have no body to train with. Email me with info to
Hey mark, well done on the video. It was great having you guys down here. We've been inspired to finish that last bridge. Keep up the good work.
To anonymous; you heard right. Word on the street is the Hansons are looking to take back their Club XC National Championship Crown. Well, I'll tell you what. The day some court jester uniform wearing, spiffy new saturn bus drivin', shoe retail sales marketing, heart monitor/fanny pack sportin', double caffeine gu chuggin' road runner guys beat us is the day I quit Zap and start up an all-weather beauty salon. To tell you the truth, we'd be more worried about 'See Jane Run' putting together a guy's team. Bring it Hansons.
Great behind the scenes look at ZAP! Very disappointed with your choice of music though. Surely you realize that many of your loyal viewers are offended by these lyrics?
I have always respect ZAP Fitness and what they do. This video just reinforces how important it is to U.S. distance running to have groups such as ZAP.
Zap Fitness is a non-profit elite running group that operates in Blowing Rock, NC. They asked me to come and see how they train and live and I was blown away by the sense of community by all the runners. I had a great time and I hope the video does it justice.
The first song is by Knec and you can check out his myspace page at myspace.com/knec.
The second song is by the Eels and you can check out the music video of Mr. E's Beautiful Blues September 16, 2007
ZAP Fitness Foundation (ZAP) was founded in 2001, as a non-profit training center for post-collegiate, Olympic hopeful distance runners. Zap located in the western mountains of North Carolina in Blowing Rock. Zika Palmer the co-founder and owner and Head Coach, Pete Rea asked Flotrack to come by and see how their athletes live and train. Zap is a beautiful place with great people and food. Zap supports it's athletes through adult running camps, high school and college team visits and donations. It's a relaxed, fun and great place for US distance running. Check out their website (zapfitness.com) for more info and here on Flotrack as we give you more videos in the coming weeks from Zap and follow along with some of the Zap runners as they blog here on Flotrack.
Zap Fitness
i wanna go there
Keep Running!
Steve
Looks like I'll need to brush up on my ping pong for our next encounter...
Check out the vid. I edited a little.
I hope its better.
Mark
To anonymous; you heard right. Word on the street is the Hansons are looking to take back their Club XC National Championship Crown. Well, I'll tell you what. The day some court jester uniform wearing, spiffy new saturn bus drivin', shoe retail sales marketing, heart monitor/fanny pack sportin', double caffeine gu chuggin' road runner guys beat us is the day I quit Zap and start up an all-weather beauty salon. To tell you the truth, we'd be more worried about 'See Jane Run' putting together a guy's team. Bring it Hansons.
Thanks for responding to me and understanding where I'm coming from. This is the best running site out there.
Yeah, maybe I should of used a different song. Sorry about that. That's my bad and I will be more careful next time.
Mark
I herd Hanson brooks were gunning for you guys....
True?