The Minnesota native began chasing her dream of becoming one of the world’s greatest runners nearly thirty years ago, only to change the direction and focus of her life after leaving an indelible mark on the running world as a collegiate champion at the University of Wisconsin. Stephanie left her NCAA records behind to pursue an MBA, an illustrious career in marketing- with some of the nation’s largest companies, including AT&T and IBM- and to raise a family of five. But she’s still running… running her own company, Marketing Introductions; running her household, in Atlanta, GA; and running- usually in the lead- in US Championships and in many of the world’s premier distance races.
Mother
Though the athletic community knows Stephanie best as a world-class distance runner, and the business community recognizes her as an accomplished marketing professional and entrepreneur, ask her and she’ll tell you she’s a mother first. Stephanie and her husband, Jim Lucke, have three vivacious children, daughters Katie and Madeline and a son, Daniel. Maintaining a healthy family life for and with their children is the couple’s primary preoccupation. Stephanie, when planning her return to competitive running in 2006-2007, managed to fit in 100 miles of training each week, but not on the weekends, which she reserved for family activities. In her day-to-day life, and in her varied pursuits, her commitment to her family and her role as a mother is evident and pronounced.
Runner
Stephanie’s running career has spanned the better part of three decades, beginning in 1984 as a freshman at the University of Wisconsin. Stephanie was a member of the University’s National Champion cross country team her first semester, and went on to win the Big Ten 10,000 meter title in the spring of 1985. In her sophomore year, she set the indoor NCAA record in the 3000 meters, another in the outdoor 10,000 meters, and was the national champion in a third race, the 5000 meters. All told, Stephanie earned 6 All-American Awards, 7 Big Ten titles, 5 NCAA Championships, 4 consecutive Academic All-American awards, and Big Ten Athlete of the Year honors in 1985-86. When Stephanie returned to competitive running in 2007, she didn’t miss a step. In the past three years, she has won the Masters division at the 5k, 15k, 20k and 25k US Championships, finished as the 3rd Master at the 2008 Olympic Trials in Boston, and as the 2nd Master in the Chicago Marathon. In March 2009, she was named Master Runner of the Year by the Road Runners Club of America.
Stephanie is currently active and training daily, and will appear in several races over the course of this year.
Motivator
If Stephanie busied herself with just these two aspects of her life and personality- devoted wife and mother and elite runner- she would still be considered remarkably accomplished. But she doesn’t stop there. Stephanie is also a career woman with an impressive track record and impeccable credentials. She holds an MBA from her alma mater, the University of Wisconsin, and her resume includes upper management stints at AT&T and Western Publishing. She has gone on to open her own marketing firm, Marketing Introductions, based in Atlanta, which offers a full line of marketing strategy, branding, new product development and promotional services. Her clients include the University of Wisconsin, SBC, ABS, CRM Systems, AgeNet and emerging internet companies.
By sharing the secrets to her many achievements and her energetic, fitness-first lifestyle, Stephanie aims to motivate women across the country and around the world to Get Out and Get Active.