If you’ve leafed through the pages of the most recent Runner’s World issue, you’ve already seen Kara Henry.
As a marketing guru at Newton Running, Kara works, eats, breaths and sleeps running. Her aggressive competitive nature has allowed her to recently take her accomplished road running resume to the trails, where she’s already gaining ground and earning top honors.
Her win and course record at the Bear Chase 50 Miler last Fall was her first ultra. Now she’s setting her sights on this August’s prestigious Leadville 100.
Needless to say, this down-to-earth, beer-and-burger girl is taking the trail and ultra world by storm – all powered by her homemade bacon energy bars.
Quick Stats
Name: Kara Henry
Age: 27
Hometown & Current: Elmhurst, IL & Boulder, CO
Professional & Educational background: Butler University (under grad), University of New Mexico (grad school) and I now work at Newton Running
Sports participated in: Cross Country, Track & Field, trail and ultra-races (I’m a one-trick pony)
Years in current sport: I’ve been running competitively for 14 years
Racing Team: Team Alchemy
Sponsors/Affiliations: Newton Running
The Long Run
What are some of the biggest highlights in your racing career?
Recently, it was winning the Bear Chase 50 miler and breaking the course record by 40 minutes. It was my first ultra and I did pretty much everything wrong. I had no plan going into it and had been very sick the week leading up to the race, I almost pulled out at the last second. I learned a lot that race (mostly about what NOT to do) and really surprised myself.
Back in the day it was winning the Illinois state cross country title as a team and receiving all-state honors as a sophomore. It was a long time ago but those are the memories you hold on to.
I’ve also had a lot of memorable moments racing in college; I got to travel to a ton of cool places and met most of my lifelong best friends. However, I pretty much spent the whole time injured…so moving on….
What are your long-term goals? What do you want to achieve as an athlete?
My only goal at the moment revolves around the Leadville 100 this summer. I actually haven’t thought past that point. It’s like my brain thinks I’m not going to live through it anyway, so why bother planning….
Why Colorado? What makes Colorado so special for endurance athletes? What makes Colorado special to YOU?
I live across the street from some of the best trails on the planet, I can literally leave my house and run anywhere, it’s ridiculous. You don’t get this in the Chicago suburbs.
Middle Distance
Take us through a “day in the life,” what type of training regimen do you follow?
I am NOT a morning runner. I’m trying to be better about it though, so stop judging me.
I try to get to yoga before work but even that’s a struggle.
Anyway, I roll into work around 9 and jump into whatever craziness Newton is throwing at me that day.
I love to go out for an easy 6 miles at lunchtime (some days it’s just not possible depending on my schedule). And then I’m out the door after work hitting the trails again for anything from 5 to 15 miles.
I throw in a long/hard tempo once a week and a solid long run on Sundays (between 20-30 miles). Once or twice a month I’ll do a big double on the weekend – 20 miles on Saturday followed by 30 on Sunday in the mountains. That leaves me pretty beat by Monday morning.
My training schedule is very flexible. I’m not a full time athlete and have to figure out what I can fit in when I have time. Some weeks I’m travelling or just absolutely buried in the office so I’ve learned not to stress out about getting particular workouts done on particular days…just go with the flow and get out the door when you can.
What are one or two things you currently do in your training that are keys to your success?
- Listen to my body – if I feel worn down or something isn’t quite right, I know it’s time for a day off. You’re only as good as your last recovery. This has helped me avoid many injuries in the last couple of years and something I wish I paid more attention to in college.
- Have fun with it – if I’m not having fun then what’s the point? Yes, sometimes you need to be serious about racing but I like to keep those moments few and far between…
Do you follow any specific nutrition plans? What are you favorite recovery meals, drinks, etc.?
Do burgers and beer count as a nutrition plan??
But really – I TRY to eat healthy…sometimes…except on BBQ Thursdays and Donut Fridays. I can’t help it, running makes me hungry.
However, I have actually been making my own nutrition bars for long runs and ultra-races because my stomach isn’t great with the pre-packaged chemical goop. Bacon is one of the main ingredients.
What is your biggest challenge, and what do you do to manage this challenge?
My biggest challenge is my extreme/unrealistic competitiveness. I don’t show up to a race and shoot for anything but first. This includes races that I sign up for at the last second, races that are much shorter than I am training for (I no longer have any speed), and races that I am just downright not prepared for. It’s unrealistic for me to win a 5 miler in the midst of training for a 100 miler…I realize that right now, but somehow that reality gets skewed when the gun goes off.
What are your favorite races in Colorado? Why?
The Bear Chase 50 Miler was a great experience; it was very well organized and had some of the best volunteers out there.
The Boulder Marathon also has a great vibe and post-race scene.
Sprints
Favorite running shoe: Newton Motion
Favorite post-run/race beverage: Beer
Favorite post-run/race meal: A big burger and fries
Role models: I work with some incredible (and slightly insane) humans who wake up when it’s still dark, get in a big workout before dawn, and then are in the office for 60 hours a week and STILL make time for family and friends. These are the people I think about when I’m feeling overworked or lazy and it makes me realize I could always be doing more.
Day job: I work in marketing at Newton Running. I’m ridiculously lucky to work with a company full of runners who are just as nuts as I am.
Solo runner, running partner or team/group? Solo runner
Favorite Restaurant: Pizzeria Locale on Pearl St. in Boulder
Favorite Coffee Shop: Tea & Cakes (not for the coffee but for the donuts)
Favorite Bar: I’m a dive bar fan – I love anything full of sketchy locals and pool tables
Favorite Running Store: The Newton Running Lab
Favorite non-running activity: A porch, a beer, and a good book make me incredibly happy.
Favorite TV Show: I cancelled my cable a few months ago because I realized I never turned my TV on!
Favorite book: Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres
Podium
Have you experienced a breakthrough, and if so, what led to it?
Maybe this isn’t a breakthrough, but I won the first race I ever ran. I had never played any sports before and joined the middle school cross country team to suck up to my science teacher in hopes of getting a good grade. I actually had never even run a step in practice, I just walked everything. The night before the race I remember I couldn’t sleep because I was obsessed with the thought of winning. I had never even trained! But this overwhelming competitive side of me came through and it hasn’t gone away since. I don’t know where I’d be today if I’d never discovered that.
What was the best advice you were ever given?
‘Get out of your head and get out the door’
Do you have a saying or motto that you live your life by? That you train by?
Fake it till you make it.
What keeps you motivated? Where do you draw your inspiration from?
My motivation really just comes from the love of the sport. I absolutely love feeling fit and fast and competing against strong, awesome women. I also just love having an incredibly chill, lovely run in the mountains. I can’t imagine a time where I don’t enjoy getting out the door and running every day.