Pain is Temporary, Pride is Forever! by Kathy

“Pain is temporary, Pride is forever” Well, not that running is always painful! But the thought of it might be to you. I’m here to encourage you, and hopefully inspire you to achieve your running dreams. And I say dreams because maybe that’s all they are right now. Just dreams. Not goals because you haven’t committed to a race or a distance or even just running, yet! I too started out with running dreams. I had a dream of running a marathon one day. And now, in the last 10 years, I have run over 20 road marathons, countless races of all distances: 5k’s, half marathons, 50K trail races, and one 50 miler (I am planning on increasing that number of 50 milers, and even increasing that mileage!). So I’m proof those dreams can become reality!

I have always run. Even in high school. I did track one year and was injured almost immediately (my first lesson in the necessity of having the right equipment, no matter what sport you are playing). But I always ran on my own. Just a couple miles, three to four miles max, four or five days a week. I did that for years and years. I was always in awe of runners who could do long distance. But there was no way I could do that.

After Sydnie was born in 1998, I registered for my first 5k race with my BFF (who still doesn’t run, but did that one race for me!). It was a Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, and I finished in ­­­_______. I don’t remember it being easy. But I do remember feeling such a sense of accomplishment. After that I dabbled in 5k’s and 8k’s. But I was hesitant to try anything longer. And I had three young children at home, and a husband who was a workaholic. Training time was non-existent.

After Noah was born in 2003, I decided it was now or never. I had started running with a newly formed group of amazing women runners, called the Ladies Creamery Running Group. I was inspired by Morgan and Teresa’s tales of marathons. So in 2004 I decided to sign up and run the Baltimore half marathon. I decided if I could run that distance and not feel like dying, I would continue training through the winter and run a spring marathon. Well, I finished, and I didn’t die. And I even came in under my two hour goal. That said, I did not feel like I could have run another 13 miles, but I also hadn’t trained for another 13!

I kept training through the winter, using a very basic beginners training plan I found online. I did most of my weekly training early in the morning on the dreadmill because of family constraints. But on the weekend I would get outside for my long run. In March 2005 I completed the Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach. And I qualified for Boston with my time of 3:40:49. My first marathon, in a good time, with a Boston qualifier. I didn’t really even know what that all meant at the time. And I threw up and had diarrhea the rest of the afternoon! (that goes to my hydration and nutrition needs not being met, things I have learned about since my novice marathon, and things I will share with you so you don’t suffer the same J)

I have since gone on to run countless miles. I was hooked. I have run Boston 5 times, but qualified for it more and just didn’t use my qualifier. I have a 19:08 5k PR, a 1:37 half marathon PR (on the Mt. Nittany ½ course… not an easy one!), a 3:16 marathon PR (multiple times, just can’t seem to break 3:16!), a 5:30 50K trail PR, and a 9:11, 50 mile PR and a 5^th place finish for USATF 2010 50 Mile Championships (well, I’ve only done one 50 miler so it was and still is my PR!). In the last couple years I’ve started doing many more trail races than road races (the boyfriend only does trails….. ;-), and love being in the woods, scrambling over rocks and roots, getting scratched up by the brush, and muddy from the dirt.

I’ve also had my fair share of bad races. While the elusive PR is always on the table, but you never know what you’re going to get on race day. Weather, level of fitness, sickness, tiredness, stress… anything can throw you for a loop on race day. But it doesn’t mean you quit, or give up. It means you learn from your mistakes (if you made some), and get out there and do it again!

If you already know me, you know I LOVE running. I am so passionate about it. When I am asked what my perfect job would be I will always say to be a professional runner. Unfortunately I’m not THAT fast. Unless I am injured, I run 6 days a week. It might only be 3 miles, it might be 20. It all depends if I’m training or just running. That doesn’t mean I love every run! Many days it is hard to get motivated. I’m tired, it’s cold, I’m hungry, it’s hot, I don’t have the time, I’m not in racing shape…. But I still do it. And I never regret getting a run done. I do regret not getting one done. And that is where I want to help you. You don’t have to love running. You don’t even have to like it. You will J You just have to do it. I’m here to help you with training questions, food and nutrition questions, to encourage you, and even to run with you! I’ve started the process of becoming a certified running coach because I do want to share my passion with others and hopefully get them passionate about running too. My own running coach helped me go from a decent runner to fast. Not because I’m that special, but because he gave me the tools I needed to succeed. That’s what I want to do for you. Give you the tools you need to turn your running dream into a goal, and then succeed. It’s going to be fun!!