Kay Drew has been running since the late 1980s, and ran her first marathon in 1994. She has completed a marathon in every US state, and qualified for the Boston Marathon more than once. To encourage new runners, she started a running group. It still meets weekly 19 years later, although they run less than they used to. She documents her journey through her Twitter account.
What is your proudest running achievement?
I’ve got two achievements that I am truly proud of: setting an even speed as a pacer to help runners overcome their mental blocks, and bringing new runners into the sport.
What has running taught you about yourself?
Running has taught me that following a plan, step after step, will get you to where you want to be. It may not lead to consistent, steady progress, but the overall trajectory will be improvement in either speed or endurance, or both. For example, you have to knock off today’s three-miler in order to cross the marathon finish line four months from now.
What is the most ambitious running goal you’ve ever set?
There was a time I considered building up to a 100-miler, but I no longer think that’s for me.
How far in advance do you plan your running races?
When I was running all the states in the USA, I sometimes had to plan up to a year or more in advance.
What is the most miles you’ve ever run in a week?
I came close to 70 miles one week, but only because my schedule caused me to run two long runs in a shorter time. Training for a 100km race would make me complete a long run followed the next day by a medium-distance run.
What is the longest period you’ve ever trained for a race?
I talked five runners into running their first marathon with me at my last US state marathon. We trained for a full 20 weeks with a slow build-up. I did that for my first marathon, and probably for the Pikes Peak Marathon. Otherwise, I run marathons often enough that I don’t change much other than building up my long-run distance.
What has been your most serious running injury?
I have been incredibly lucky. I’ve only had a couple of falling injuries. I was out for four weeks with a broken wrist in 2018 when I slipped on ice on a trail run. I also tripped on an uneven sidewalk in January 2019 and required some stitches and new teeth. But it was a terrible Wisconsin cold snap that kept me from running rather than my broken face.
What cross-training exercises do you commit to?
I commit to swimming, yoga and cycling – one of those activities once each week.
What would persuade you to work with a running coach?
I’m still happily running at 56 years old, but after 25 years of marathons I think most of my “things to train for” are behind me. Maybe I would look to a coach if I wanted to try to qualify for the Boston Marathon in my next age group, or take on a Half-Ironman.
What does running mean to you?
Running has become so much a part of my identity that I don’t know what it will be like when I have to start saying “I used to”.
Grounded Runner Coaching 