Boulder’s Katie Blackett will run in her third Olympic Marathon Trials in Houston, January 2012. She qualified at this month’s Eugene (OR) marathon. In this CRM athlete profile, the 34 year old CEO shares lessons learned in the span of her running career as well as her joy and fulfillment in family and the outdoors.Variety is the spice of life for the former heptathlete, nicknamed “Katie Lady”. Read on to find out how Katie keeps life interesting, and what her plans are beyond Houston.
What is your running history – high school, college, post college?
I ran for Sinagua high school in Flagstaff, Arizona. I was a sprinter, jumper, and then later heptathlete. I was State Champion in Long and Triple Jump for most of my high school career and always placed in the top 10 in the100 yard dash. Go figure, I hated distance running. I signed with Villanova University as a scholarship athlete where I competed in the jumping events and heptathlon. Villanova slowly turned me into a distance runner. After college, I was very burned out on running and competition so I lived in Spain and enjoyed life. After I came back to the States, my dad took me out for some long runs and I started to love running again. I ran my first marathon and realized I could qualify for the Olympic Trials. I qualified for the 2000 trials a month before the race and didn’t run them. I was burned out on marathoning! I went on to compete in longer distance events qualifying for the 2004, 2008, and now 2012 trials. I have won the St. George Marathon, Big Sur, National marathon, Tucson marathon, and Eugene marathon. I have also competed in three Ironmans including Ironman Hawaii.
Major running accomplishments:
Winner:
2011 Eugene Marathon
2007 National Marathon
2007 Big Sur Trail Marathon
2006 Tucson Marathon
2003 St. George Marathon
Top places in US national races:
2005 Las Vegas Intl marathon – 4th female
2004 Boulder Bolder USA team member
2004 USATF National 10K Mountain – 2nd place female
2003 Olympic Marathon Trials – 27th female
2003 USA Marathon Championships – 7th female
2002 USA Marathon Championships – 6th female
2002 Las Vegas Marathon – 2nd female
Finisher for Ironman Brazil, Wisconsin, and Hawaii
You recently ran the Eugene Marathon. Why Eugene? What was the race like for you?
After the 2008 Olympic Trials, I needed to focus solely on my job. I took the CEO position for a company that had some major opportunities (or challenges depending on how you see it!) and it took all of my time. Once I decided to get back into running and go for the 2012 trials, I needed a race that would give me enough time to get fit and was low elevation.
I liked the race a lot. Imagine running on the Boulder Creek Path for 20 miles with neighborhoods thrown in! It was pretty, great fans (it is running town USA after all) and a race I’d recommend to anyone.
This race marked the third time you’ve qualified for the Olympic Trials. What did you do the same as before? What did you do different? What have you learned over the years that keeps you mentally motivated and physically fast?
As far as my training, I did a lot differently in terms of volume, lifting, and cross training just because I didn’t have the time to train like I use to. My schedule doesn’t allow for a ton of training so I really had to focus on quality rather than quantity. I normally lift weights and cross train when marathon training and I didn’t have time to do that. The first thing my coach said to me after the race was “we need to get you in the weight room!”. I know that experience means a great deal with marathoning so I really focused on my nutrition and hydration during the race. I had to run conservative where in the past I’d go for a faster time early on and hang on. For Eugene I had to run safe for the entire race because I knew my fitness wasn’t what it once was. My years of experience helped me to dig deep during the last 10K when you wish you were anywhere but running, and I knew that I needed to be taking in a lot of calories and not pushing any surges. Staying motivated for me means taking breaks. My coach and training partners will tell you that I disappear to take long breaks and I do some triathlons to mix things up. My husband is a triathlete and I LOVE doing different sports. As a former heptathlete I get very bored with just running.
As all runners reading this will probably relate, running is my passion and life friend. I will always do it at some level. I happily accept that motivation ebbs and flows but the itch to run and race will always come back.
Why do you run?
Running is a forever life partner of mine. Running is a good friend of mine and it has helped to shape the person I am. Running gives me balance in life and such appreciation for a healthy body. I love the community. I love runners. We are goofy, friendly, and wear an awful lot of spandex but I have such a good time with my running friends. This sounds odd, but I even love the hurt of running. Managing that deep and sometimes miserable pain connects all runners in a way that I choose not to live without. I am a runner!
What does your typical training week look like?
My running mileage has gone down from about 100 + miles per week to about 70 now when I’m marathon training. I do two key workouts per week in the morning with my coach Darren DeReuck and some of my training partners (his wife Colleen has been a long time training partner of mine). I do my long run on Sunday with some added tempo in it if needed. When I’m not marathon training, I do a lot of cross training (bike, weights, swim) to mix it up. My heptathlon background makes it tough for me to just run. I get very bored with running training. I also rest a lot now. My easy days are so easy it’s almost embarrassing to be out!
What is your most memorable run/race?
I love so many races, but the Big Sur trail marathon sticks out because I surprised my husband with the race while we were on vacation in Carmel. Neither of us was in shape and our longest run was about 12 miles at that point. I figured it would be the first time we would ever get to jog, talk, and enjoy the scenery in a race rather than race it so hard we didn’t look around. Boy was I wrong! You can’t fake a marathon and after being out there for almost double the time we usually are, he turned to me and said “next year just get me a card honey.” The other race was Ironman Hawaii. Both my husband and I qualified the same year. We went to Hawaii with some of our good friends and family. The day was hard and crazy as expected, but there is truly something spiritual about Ironman Hawaii and racing in the lava fields. After the race that evening my husband and I ran on the golf course naked to celebrate!
Do you have any running mantras?
My newest one is from a card my husband wrote to me before the Eugene Marathon “Be Proud and Present.”
Who or what inspires you?
My family inspires me because we grew up with a love and appreciation for the outdoors. Our family time was being out in the landscape. I take my inspiration from the outdoors around me. I’m also more and more inspired by parents, full time workers and athletes who have little time to train and put family first, but still have that drive. I don’t think I appreciated the delicate balance of training versus life as you get older. I actually think they should have separate categories for athletes; those that have time to train 20+ hours per week and the rest of us who struggle to fit 8 hours per week in!
Do you enjoy trail running or road running and why?
I love them both. Trail running is so relaxing, pretty, and fun for me. The roads are more serious, more uptight, but a lot faster. The pain is different for both. I like to mix them up to get strength from the trails and speed from the roads.
What do you do to prevent injury?
I don’t overtrain and I take my easy days very easy. I am not the type of athlete who can’t take a day off or they stress if they miss a workout. My motto is quality versus quantity and that has prevented me from serious injury my entire career. I cross train, lift, eat and sleep as much as I can, and it helps that my husband Matt Schneider works in Sports Medicine!
Have you ever been injured? If so, please describe.
I had an SI joint injury and Plantar Fasciitis, but nothing major. When I feel niggles that don’t go away, I rest to prevent a full blown injury.
Do you have any pre or post race rituals?
Pre race is to either shop or see a movie. I can’t lay around all day so I either hit the shops in whatever town I’m in or I go see a movie. Before Eugene I saw “African Cats” so I thought back to the Cheetah’s once or twice during the race.
Post race involves a celebratory cigar (I did not inhale) and some tasty libations. I take a hot bath which is probably not the best thing to do after a race, but I love it.
What races are on your calendar in the next year?
My husband signed me up for some local triathlons this summer which will be a lot of fun. Next year to gear up for trials in Houston I’ll be hitting the road race circuit to get some halfs, and 15K type distances in.
What are some of your goals and dreams as far as running?
Man I sound old, but I have hit all my running goals. Because I have always been realistic with my sport, I knew I wouldn’t make the Olympic Team. I never wanted to dedicate that much of my life to running so my goal was to qualify for 3 Olympic Trials. I also wanted to win some big marathons which I have and to race Ironman Hawaii. I have loved what running has given me in life and I’m very proud to say that after the 2012 trials I will probably not be racing many competitive events. They will be for fun and maybe even pushing a baby stroller, who knows!
Pushing a baby stroller? So is starting a family in your plans?
my husband and I are thinking seriously about kids. We have a really great life right now and know from friends and family that it is a very hard (although rewarding) job. Somedays I am 100% sure it will happen and other days I barely have time to think so I wonder how I could do it all. I know we would be great parents, and knowing I have a great partner makes the decision more clear. Stay tuned!”
Any goals or dreams you’d like to share that are not-running related?
My goal/dream was to have my family nearby me for a long, long time. Within the last two years I have succeeded in getting my entire family, and even my mother in-law to move to the Boulder/Denver area. I can’t begin to explain how happy I am to have my family, who is very close, to me. They are the loud and loving Italians cheering for me on the side. Yes my mom brings pom-poms and calls me Katie Lady.
My career is something I had always dreamed about (those who know my company are saying be careful what you wish for) but I always wanted to be the CEO for a company. It meant more for me to balance a full life (career and family) with my competitive running career. That is what I’m most proud of in my athletic and professional career.
My goal or dream going forward is to continue to have a happy and loving marriage, and strong family bonds. I like working, but I wouldn’t mind winning the lottery either so I could work just a little less….
If there is anything else you would like to share?
Running and racing in Colorado will be a life experience that tops the charts for the rest of my life. It’s fun for me to see my co-runners at races and watch the joy they have with running too.