Much like hikers, runners have their goals and milestones. It’s no different for Kelly Brandt of Woodstock, who is off to Berlin, Germany, later this month to run her second marathon and work toward her goal of becoming a World Marathon Majors six-star finisher.
Hikers have the Four Thousand Footer Club where they aspire to hike all mountains that are at least 4000 feet. Runners have their goals and milestones as well. One of the crowning achievements is the World Marathon Majors, where a marathon finish in Tokyo, London, Boston, Berlin, Chicago and New York is a crowning achievement.
While running just one marathon is a lifetime goal for many and an honor just to cross the finish line after 26.2 miles, Brandt plans to complete her second and third in relatively short order. She’ll run in the Berlin Marathon September 26. Then she’s running the New York City Marathon November 7.
That’s no ordinary feat even for seasoned athletes, but it’s extraordinary for someone like Brandt. After a drunk driver hit Brandt on her bike when she was a teen, doctors told her she’d never run. She defied those predictions, starting out gradually with a couch to 5k regimen that involves starting with a brisk walk and working up from there. Kelly has run 30 half-marathons and countless 5k and 10k races. “I got addicted,” said Brandt, a Dutchess County native who lives in Woodstock with her husband, Ed. She has a son, Connor, who is 23. “It’s a sport which is inclusive to everyone. You’re not competing with anyone but yourself,” said Brandt, who has been running since 2009.
Aside from overcoming her injuries as a teenager, Brandt considers it a lucky break to have been selected to enter the Berlin marathon. All of the World Marathon Majors have a lottery. “I didn’t expect to be picked,” said Brandt, whose first marathon was Chicago in 2017.
“I like to push myself. I like to always have a goal,” said Brandt, who initially didn’t know what it took to run a marathon. “It takes a lot of work behind the scenes,” she said.
And then there’s the training regimen, which in Brandt’s case is 16-18 weeks where she runs no less than 5 miles in a day. Twice a week, she runs 6-8 miles and on the weekends, she runs 13-20 miles. Brandt had just completed a 20-mile run before taking the time to speak about the upcoming Berlin marathon.
Brandt and her husband, Ed, had hoped to attend Oktoberfest in Munich, since they’re going to be in the country, but were disappointed to find out it’s been canceled due to COVID-19. Still they plan to take in some of the sights and be tourists for a bit as they will be in Germany for a week. One of the highlights of the Berlin Marathon is the runners will pass through the Brandenburg Gate, she said.
Running as a stress reliever
Brandt is just happy her job allows her to take the time off and that she can afford to travel to Europe with her husband.
She’s a project coordinator for HDR, an engineering firm specializing in large public works. She recently worked on the new Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, though like many in the area, she still calls it the Tappan Zee Bridge.
Brandt has used running to relieve stress from the job, though the opposite can also be true. “I use one to relieve the stress from the other,” she said.
The marathon training can be grueling and often involves days that start at 4:30 a.m. to beat the summer heat. Getting in a run in the winter can also be a challenge, she noted.
Music is key to a good run as well. To keep motivated and focused, Brandt relies on a fast-paced playlist of Irish punk music featuring bands like Flogging Molly and a Boston-area favorite, Dropkick Murphys. She said though its grueling and punishing, the hills of Woodstock and surrounding areas have improved her running abilities.
Overcoming mental barriers
When training, Brandt said she has focused on talking herself into staying the course. Your mind will play tricks on you, she said. It will try to convince you to quit. “It’s a function of overcoming the pain. When you’re tired and it’s hot out, it’s a lot of self pep talks,” she said.
As a tip for other runners, she recommends not looking at your watch or fixating on a number. “Don’t worry about that. Get to the next lamp-post or whatever it takes,” she said.
“It’s a lot of mental games with yourself. You have to overcome that. You know if your body can do it.”
Steps before a race
Loading up with carbohydrates the night before a marathon is a big thing. Usually a pasta dinner is provided as part of a package when a runner registers, which can be fun as it gives an opportunity to converse with other runners. But Brandt notes you need to be careful what you eat. “You’ve got to eat what you’re used to eating,” she said, noting the last thing you want in the middle of a marathon is any kind of gastrointestinal distress.
Just as important is aftercare once you finish. “It depends on your level of running. Every body is different,” she said. “I like a good ice bath. It helps with the inflammation in your legs. I do a lot of stretching. I take a nap.”
Eating protein is important within 30 minutes after a marathon, she also noted. “And don’t sit down right after a marathon. I learned that,” Brandt said. “It’s really hard to get back up.”
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