SACRAMENTO, CA-

“Marathon running is not a sport of vanity.  We chafe, blister and puke—then sign up for the next race.” - Deena Kastor, 2004 Olympic Medalist Marathoner

My first try as a runner was at a 5K back in October.

I was passed by an 89-year-old speed-walker and an eight-year-old girl.

Both finished long before my 38:15 time.

But I wasn’t disappointed by my performance.

Instead, I was inspired.

The energy inside that pack of 1,000 other runners at the start line was like nothing I’d ever felt before.

I had been nervous leading up to race day because I thought I was going to do horribly and look foolish, but as soon as I was inside the throng of runners I forgot about everything else.

I can’t explain very well what the high was like, but I do know I was hooked on it.

And I finally understood what it is that drives marathoners, ultra runners and triathletes to endure so much pain to compete in their sport of choice.

I used to see specials on TV with marathoners and triathletes collapsing at the finish lines because of dehydration or hyperhydration.

They’d have terrible blisters on their feet and bloody arms from rubbing against their clothes for 26 miles.

And then they’d say something like, “I’m looking forward to August’s race.”

Deena Kastor is one of these athletes.

I discovered her as I’ve been researching training tips for a half marathon I’m running in May.

Kastor was named fastest woman in America last year. She’s beaten a number of U.S. and World running records, including the fastest marathon finish for an American (2:19.35).

In 2004, she became the first American female to win an olympic medal in marathon running since 1984, when it was won by Joan Benoit-Samuelson. It was in Athens she also beat her first American record, again set in 1984 by Benoit-Samuelson.

She is among the top picks for winning this year’s Boston Marathon. The other top females are Jelena Prokopcuka and Latvia and Rita Jeptoo, who actually placed above Kastor at the New York Marathon last year. (Although they beat her in that specific race, all were at least five minutes slower than Kastor’s fastest time, and U.S. record.)

And even while she’s training for the Boston Marathon, which is only about three weeks away, she took the time out to answer some of my questions about running and her career:

I read that you run between 120 and 140 miles per week. How long have you been training at this mileage? Would you suggest this type of training for an amateur runner?

I train between 100 and 140 miles a week only during marathon training.  I have been running for 23 years and have built up my mileage gradually. Only in the past five years have I been training with this much mileage.  I balance out this taxing high mileage by taking my easy days very easy and also taking one month off after a marathon.  A lot of running personalities can’t take time off, so I wouldn’t recommend this work load.

What are some tips for beginning runners?

Beginning runners should make all the decisions that will keep them in this sport. I think running is fun and social, so I love being surrounded by a team of athletes with common goals.  I couldn’t do this alone.  But, for some people, going out for a run is the only bit of solitude for the day and they cherish this time.  Find what conditions make you thrive and follow it.  It is so invigorating to see how incorporating running into your daily routine can have such a positive effect on everything you set out to do.

Most people can only dream of placing first in a marathon, but you’ve won quite a few and received best debut time for an American in your first race. How did that feel? And what type of training did you do beforehand?

Winning is nice, but the greatest gains come from the journey of getting there as well as the defeats.  I ran 6 marathons before finally winning my first marathon in Chicago in 2005.  I have the goal to win when I get on the starting line, but there are days when I can appreciate just getting to the finish line.  26.2 miles always has a lesson in store for you. Patience.  Perseverance.  Emotional Control. Hydration.  We are always learning, so we keep entering these races in hopes we get it perfect the next time.   I don’t think the perfect race is out there, but it shouldn’t discourage us from trying.

I’ve read about people getting injuries, like bleeding feet, or bleeding body parts from their clothes rubbing. Have you ever experienced these type of injuries? Are they common? Is there any way to prevent it?

(I’m so not looking forward to this)

Marathon running is not a sport of vanity.  We chafe, blister and puke then sign up for the next race.  In my first marathon, ING NY City in 2001, my sponsor ASICS made me special shoes.  I got a huge blister in the 8th mile of the race.  It was painful.  Now, I wear the Ohana Racer that anyone can purchase at their local running store.  I make sure I’ve worn the shoes in at least three workouts.  I use the same socks I will race in.  In the marathon, you try to control all the conditions that are in your control.  Practice in the clothing.  Practice with the carbohydrate drinks and gels that sponsors the upcoming race so its not foreign to your body on race day.  There will always be elements that take you by surprise, you just try to limit these instances.

(In case you didn’t read that: She got a blister in the 8th mile of a 26.2-mile race. I don’t know about you, but I’d have called it a day at that point. She finished that race with the best debut time for an American.)

What is your routine leading up to a race? What do you eat/drink? Do you train differently?

I don’t try anything new leading up to the marathon.  I continue to go to eat dinner early, go to bed early and run at the same time.  Pasta isn’t my favorite meal, but the week leading up to the marathon, I try to get in some good carbohydrates.  To do this, I scout out a great place for pesto pasta.  I may add a piece of salmon to the dish, but I really enjoy a well made pesto.  I drink Cytomax Peach Keen flavor.  I’ve tried a lot of sport drinks over the years, and this drink won me over.  I look forward to every bottle!

I find running to be a competition against myself. It’s easy to wake up and say I just don’t feel like running today, and it’s difficult for me to fight that urge. Do you ever just feel like not running some days? If so, how do you work through that feeling?

Some days it is more challenging to get out the door and train.  The mere reflection of my goals is usually enough to inspire me.  I also know that my teammates are relying on me at practice.  For evening runs that are usually by myself, if I am lacking the motivation, I grab my MP3 player.  A good beat usually has me running swiftly in no time at all.

Do you ever get bored while you’re running? How do you keep yourself entertained on such long runs?

I never get bored in a run due to having a very witty training partner, Mike McKeeman.  He keeps me entertained and amused daily.

This year will be your debut at the Boston Marathon. Why haven’t you run it before? And are you nervous about running against Jelena Prokopcuka and Latvia and Rita Jeptoo after they placed above you in New York last year?

This is my first year running Boston…so many marathons, so little time to squeeze them all in.  I only run two marathons a year so that I may train and recover properly.  I am excited to run this year, I am preparing to win, but also respect the accomplishments of the other women racing.  It won’t be easy, but it never is.

Also, a woman hasn’t won the Boston Marathon since 1985. You beat a 1984 record when you won the Bronze at the 2004 Olympics, and you took over the U.S. women’s record. Do you think this will be the year for another 80’s record to be replaced?

An American hasn’t won Boston in a long time because winning a major marathon is an extraordinary accomplishment.  You can also name many other countries have not won here.  I hope to break that streak, but if I don’t, there are plenty of upcoming American distance runners that I have faith in to do the job!

One last question. It’s about gender and running. I’ve seen studies that show a number of reasons why women aren’t as good at running as men. But I’ve seen your scores and they’re comparable to men, and you’ve placed above men in a number of competitions. What do you think about the myth that women can’t run as well as men?

Women and men are different on so many levels.   I still like to honor the tasks that each excels in.  Looking at World records, women are slower than men from the 100meters to the Ultra distances, but women can still run inspiring races.

Now you’ll all have a reason to watch the Boston Marathon, and you’ll even have someone to root for, if you’re into that kind of thing.

I’ll be watching, and wondering if Kastor is going to beat another record.

Oh, and wishing I can one day have a six-minute mile.

Until then though, I’ll be happy with making it to the finish line.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 28th, 2007 at 4:10 pm and is filed under Health & Lifestyle, Interviews, Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.