Kelly Tweeddale, 49
Executive Director, Seattle Opera
Seattle
Seattle Rock ‘n’ Roll Inaugural Marathon 2009, 04:04:04
Why did you decide to give up your Marathon V-Card?
As I approached my 50th birthday, I challenged myself to come up with 50 things to celebrate, challenge, and define me as a person. (See my Facebook Countdown) The idea of running a marathon was both terrifying and well outside my comfort zone, which made it a perfect challenge. Turning 50 should be a celebration of all you are and of all you still can be.
How did you select your race?
The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon was planning its inaugural race in Seattle and my older sister talked me into signing up with her based on the caveat that when we picked up our bib number the day before, we could change our mind and opt for the half marathon. I think it was karma; they expected 25,000 participants and my bib number was 25000.
What shape were you in when you began your training?
Twenty months prior to my first marathon I barely was able to run a mile. I had convinced myself that my progressing back problem (lumbar stenosis) would mean running was off limits. I experimented with that assumption by signing up for the Danskin Triathlon and trained hard for everything except the run. The swimming helped my back immensely. Despite the lack of training, I did the best in the 5K portion of the triathlon. With that bit of confidence I trained for a half marathon that took place three months later, and ran my first marathon seven months after that.
What was your training plan?
The training plans of running guru Hal Higdon became my bible. I followed his novice plan for both the half marathon and marathon. I substituted one of the running days with swimming and my slogan was “Hal says run (fill in the blank).” I also became a devotee of Google’s g-map function and figured out quickly how to turn the elevation function on. (I live in an area where no matter what direction you run it’s up.) I have a very demanding job, so I had to figure out how to fit runs in between rehearsals, on the road, early in the morning, and reserve blocks of weekend time for those long training runs. I ended up running in Mongolia, Jamaica, NYC, and in Philadelphia (complete with doing the “Rocky” stairs.)
What was your motivation for running?
It started with a New York Times article I read in 2007 titled “See Jane Run. See Her Run Faster and Faster.” Writer Gina Kolata wrote a thought-provoking article about what happened when her son asked her if she ran just to run or did she have a purpose in mind. As she attempted to answer that question for herself, her personal experience led to the discovery that unlike men runners who on average get slower as they age, middle-aged women are posting faster running times than their twenty to twenty-four year-old female competitors. Inspired by the story I asked the question, “I wonder?” That became my new mantra.
What was your biggest mistake in training?
Not being a runner, I just assumed that aiming for long loping strides (an inconceivable reality for this 5’3” compact body) with a heel-toe technique should be my goal. I purchased a pair of discount Nike huarache runners, unaware that there were specific shoes for stability, cushioning, or whatever other attributes we can be convinced to pay obscene prices for. In a few weeks, I could feel myself getting stronger, dreading my training runs less, and believing that running at least a 5K distance was an achievable goal. That is until my stellar technique caused me to trip over my own feet and do a face plant on my neighborhood sidewalk. In addition to my bruised ego, I had to explain to friends and family that the scabs on my chin and abrasions on the palms of my hands were running injuries. No muscle pulls, joint failures, or foot maladies; I was just a victim of my own clumsiness. Eventually, after flirting with jumper’s knee, experimenting with icing and stretching, I discovered how to determine my natural gait (neutral/underpronation), found shoes that fit, and allowed myself to run naturally with a mid-foot strike.
What was your eating plan?
I didn’t have a particular eating plan. I ate whatever would keep my GI functions intact. For the long runs, I would eat a banana and yogurt 30 minutes prior to running. I ran with an electrolyte drink and tolerated GU as a long run supplement. I normally don’t do caffeine, so it was important for me to find GU without caffeine, since the introduction of the stimulant worked havoc with my GI system (believe me, that’s something you don’t want to happen for the actual marathon).
How did you deal with any injuries?
I had relatively few injuries. I amended the five running day schedule to a four running day schedule, substituting either biking or swimming to make sure my joints were not overworked. I used an IT band early in my training which I was able to abandon once my quadriceps became strong enough to keep my running mechanics in alignment. The shock of losing a few toenails was both amusing and educational, giving me the ultimate name for my blog: “Running Without Toenails.”
What was your pre-race ritual?
I gave myself plenty of time to use the port-o-potty (plan for long lines), dropped off my clothes bag at the trucks, listened to music, stretched, found my corral, and used my iphone to snap photos to commemorate the event. I tried not to do anything differently than what I do for my training runs. But the butterflies still made for liquid insides, I just tried to breath and relax as much as possible.
Be brutal, what was the race like?
The first 20 miles were just like training. The last 6 miles were pure psychological conditioning. The temperature was about ten degrees warmer than what was seasonal, plus the last 6 miles was on a concrete viaduct that exacerbated the heat issue. The promise of live bands playing every mile, didn’t really pan out, they seemed to be on break every time I ran by, so I was so glad that I brought my own playlist. I am a runner that needs both distraction and entertainment. Finally, the port-o-potties were infrequent to non-existent after the half marathon point, so that was a concern but in my case mother nature was kind to me. I envisioned myself crawling across the finish line, but I was able to finish upright, running, and managed to crack a smile for the cameras.
How did you celebrate your marathon?
After a foot soak and a nap, my family and friends attended the Rock ‘n’ Roll evening concert with Keb Mo, staged for the finishers. It was a gorgeous evening, picnic in hand, beer garden in close proximity and it was understood that the non-participants were to wait on you hand and foot. Heaven. I also purchased the post-race running cap as a badge of honor.
How many marathons have you done since?
Shortly after finishing my first marathon, my sister called me to tell me that my time had qualified me for the Boston Marathon. I seriously thought it was a practical joke. I didn’t monitor my time during the run, I just wanted to finish. But it was true. At age 49, my finishing time of 04:04:04 qualified me for the 50-55 year old women category (I turn fifty a week prior to the Boston marathon) with 56 seconds to spare. All the lifelong runners I know convinced me that it was my destiny. So, on April 19, 2010, I’ll be sporting bib number 21480 and running in the grand daddy of all marathons as a Boston qualifier.
What’s your running schedule now?
Since I’m training for Boston, I’m still following Hal Higdon’s training plan, doing a hybrid between his Intermediate I plan and his Boston Bound plan. I’ve logged 510+ training miles since August. I’ve added a bit of speed work and interval training (makes me feel like a track star) and it helps break up the monotony of the miles.
Honestly, do you enjoy running or just the effects?
I thought I would hate every bit of it, but I don’t. Here’s my reality: the first three miles of a training run, no matter how long, is hard and I feel the pain, by mile five I feel pretty good, and between miles eight to fifteen it feels pretty effortless. I am a much more sanguine person overall when I run. I like that I can fit it in almost anywhere or anytime, and my almost fifty year old body looks pretty dang good, too.
What advice do you have for first-timers?
Be patient. Follow a running plan specifically designed for beginners and for the distance you want to run. Find others that will cheer you on, train with you, or give you a full-body massage when you need it. Have fun with your playlist. Read inspirational books like Christopher McDougall’s Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen
Anything else?
You can read more about my progression from first marathon to Boston at my blog Running without Toenails at www.redroom.com/blog/ktweed
