Thumbs Up Thursday....Kelly

This week's spotlight is on Kelly of Running (Kell)ometers (here).  Kelly just recently started blogging so after you read her interview head on over to her blog and introduce yourself!!

Jodi:  How long have you been running?
Kelly:  Since I joined the high school track team when I was 14 years old.

Jodi:  Why did you start running?
Kelly:  I had family members that were into running and thought I would give it a try. This was high school, the big leagues! I wanted to give it a try. When I made the team and figured out I could go fast, I was hooked.

Jodi:  How many years have you been racing?
Kelly:  I ran the 400m race in high school but didn’t do any distances much farther than that. I ran my first 5k in 2006 and have been doing them ever since.

Jodi:  What is your favorite distance to race and why?
Kelly:  If you would have asked me this a year ago, I would have said the 5K, hands down. I love to run fast so a quick 3.1 mile run was perfect. However, since completing my first marathon in 2011, I’m much happier with a 5 mile, or 8-10k distance. But with how many half marathons I’m considering in 2012, that distance may change yet again!

Jodi:  What is your favorite race memory?
Kelly:  There are so many to choose from, it is hard to think of just one. Aside from finishing my first marathon (which is also my proudest moment), I’d have to pick the 2010 Shamrock Shuffle 8K. I always run this race with 2 of my friends. We drive there together, but most times we don’t run the race together. Based on the different paces and feelings that day, we’ve never finished the race together. That year, we had a lot of weddings and weren’t in the mode to go out fast and PR, so we decided to run the race together. For the entire 8K, we were 3 across (and probably annoyed others behind us trying to pass us). Two of us weren’t racing for time, just encouraging each other along the way. Our friend that was racing for time, PRed, and felt great afterwards. We crossed the finish line with our hands in the air, showing the sign language letter K (because all 3 of our names start with K… Kelly, Kate, Kate). It was a great memory that we all share, together.

Jodi:  What is your least favorite race memory?
Kelly:  Sitting in the medical tent at mile 15 of the Chicago Marathon. I threw up at mile 13 and knew I had to stop based on the heat, etc. I walked into the medical tent with no sweat (despite temperatures in the high 70’s) and immediately needed an IV. I know I made the right decision, but that didn’t make me feel like less of a failure at that time. However, I didn’t give up. I had to complete my marathon and Chicago just wasn’t my race. With the support of my husband, family, and running buddies, I signed up for Grand Rapids the very next weekend. I was determined to finish.

Jodi:  What is your proudest running moment to date?
Kelly:  This one is easy. Crossing the finish line of the Grand Rapids Marathon in 2011, completing my first marathon. I couldn't have done it without my outstanding support group. The race was 3 hours away, and despite the distance I had quite a crowd there to cheer me on. My husband was there along with his mom and 3 cousins. They made signs and t-shirts too! My friend Amanda, who I started with at the Chicago Marathon, also drove up and surprised me! (She completed the Chicago Marathon the week before!) She met up with me at a spot where I was really struggling and she helped me through to the end. I was disappointed with my time, but Amanda helped me to stay positive. I still completed a marathon, no matter what the clock said!

Jodi:  What one item do you absolutely have to have with you on a training run?
Kelly:  My Garmin (Forerunner 405). If I don’t keep track of the time, I feel lost. There is a sense of accountability and accomplishment when you have a diary or journal of the training runs and races you’ve completed.

Jodi:  What is your favorite fuel during a race?
Kelly:  For the longer runs, I couldn’t live without my Gu Roctane Pineapple. But during shorter runs, I really love the taste of plain lemon-lime Gatorade. Even after all the training and all the years, it is still my favorite flavor.

Jodi:  What is your favorite post race snack?
Kelly:  Banana, hands down! When a race doesn’t have them, it is like there is something missing.

Jodi:  Do you have a favorite quote?
Kelly:  “There will be a day when I can no longer do this. Today is not that day.”

Running an unexpected PR at the Hot Chocolate 5K

Kelly's running buddy

Jodi:  Finish this statement: When I run a feel ____________.
Kelly:  refreshed and inspired.

Jodi:  Who do you admire most and why?
Kelly:  The running community overall is very inspiring. I’ve met lots of folks through my Chicago Marathon training group, my friend’s Team in Training marathon training group, my local running group, and now the blogging community. There are so many folks out there rooting for you to do a good job and meet your goals. Runners, we are our own kind of animal and we understand each other. There is always support when you need it, whether you need to ask or not. It really is quite amazing.

Jodi:  What is your current goal?
Kelly:  I have two current goals. 1) to finish the Shamrock Shuffle 8K on March 25 in 40:00 or less (previous PR is 40:49 in 2009), 2) to complete the Southwest Bank Half Marathon on May 6 with a time around 1:45 (I completed a 10 mile race at 1:28 also in 2009)

Jodi:  Please feel free to add anything that will motivate others to lace up their shoes and get out there and run!
Kelly:  I feel like there is no “can’t” in running. If you want to, anything is possible. I took a year off from running in 2010 while I was planning my wedding. I could barely run 1 mile in January 2011 and completed a marathon in October 2011. Anything is possible if you put your mind to it! Getting out there and running 0.6 miles is still getting out there and running!!

Thanks again for the opportunity to give you a Thumbs Up Kelly!  Bewst of luck achieving your current goals!

Keep running, you're simply the best, and Kelly YOU inspire ME!!