Krissie and the infamous “Big Hand”
Krissie Bentley a RRCA Certified Running Coach. She has ran one marathon, ten official half-marathons, a ridiculous number of 5Ks, and has the closet full of t-shirts to prove it. Krissie is the coordinator of LexRunLadies and offers running, accountability, and life coaching through Committed Coaching. This is her fifth round of in-person 5K training.
I love running. I love how it makes me feel. I love the community of runners. I just love everything about the sport.
Yup. You heard me. Running is a sport.
Growing up, I had zero interest in sports. I was afraid of being hit by balls. I was afraid of being made fun of when I was slow and awkward on track and field day at school. Even into my twenties, I was the girl who wore skirts and flip flops to my boyfriend’s (now husband’s) co-ed softball games so I had zero chance of being pulled onto the field. Any potential for anyone to judge me and my lack of athletic ability created anxiety and a desire to just escape the situation. I had no connection with my body and what it could do.
In my thirties, I took up running. And running has turned this uncoordinated, chubby girl into an athlete.
ATHLETE.
It wasn’t a seamless process for me. I restarted Couch-to-5K many, many times over two or three years. I let fear in. I let fear limit me and my belief in myself. I was doing it by myself. I had no one but myself to talk me through my doubt. And, in August 2009, it finally stuck. I started C25K for the final time. I ran two 5Ks for “graduation.” Four months later, I ran my first half-marathon. And I haven’t looked back. I’ve had some challenges and some setbacks, but I am still running.
Running has become an integral part of who I am. There’s something about crossing a finish line that I doubted I could make that changes me. My first 5K. A 5K at my goal time. The finish line of the incredibly hilly Run the Bluegrass Half-Marathon. Having a marathon medal hung around my neck. The feeling of accomplishment, of knowing that I physically completed something without anyone’s legs but my own propelling me. This has carried over into all aspects of my life. I know who I am. I have faith that I can do anything I put the work into.
I am a different person because I run. I don’t run fast. I rarely run alone. Sometimes I whine. But running has changed me. And running has taught me who I am.
And that is why I became a coach. I want others to know what running can do. I want to provide this experience to anyone who will listen.
This spring, I am offering two different training groups for the MidSummer Night’s Run. The first plan is one I have ran multiple times – a Newbie program. This is for runners who don’t run at all – yet. This is a learn-to-run program. We will run and walk in intervals (starting with one minute runs) to build you up to running a 5K. You will learn to run in this program. The only requirement is that you can walk for 30 minutes. That’s it.
The second program is a Speedster program. This is for runners of all experiences who want to run faster. We’ll do speed drills and a few speed drills. I’m really excited about this group. I do ask that you are able to run (or run/walk) 3 miles mostly comfortably. That will make this process smoother and we’ll actually be able to work on pace.
Both groups will meet on Sunday evenings in Lexington starting on May 19. If you are unable to meet with us for geography or scheduling reasons, feel free to sign up. You will still get the training plan and the interaction with the group and with me. I have had runners from other states sign up for these training plans that have completed their goal races!
Registration and additional info can be found here. And feel free to email me at Krissie@committedcoaching.com with any questions.
As a coach, I am also available for creating training plans, general running questions, or other training needs. Please keep me in mind when you are training for your next race.
I hope to see you on the roads!