Jul
14
Predawn Profile – Kym Klass – Running to Recover
I have had the privilege of “interviewing” some inspiring people to date in these profiles. This interview is particularly moving. Please follow along as we learn about Kym Klass, a wonderful woman and mother who had her running taken away from her for awhile, but has now claimed it back, and puts her talents to such good use in support and memory of her family. I have written before about running for a purpose, and Kym demonstrates better than anyone I have “met” what that can mean. You can follow along on Kym’s journey on Twitter, Dailymile, or on her blog, Running Around.
Predawn Runner: When did you first start running, and what were some of your earliest accomplishments?
Kym Klass: I first started running when I was around 11 and in the sixth grade. I didn’t run a lot, just a little with my dad. When I turned 12, I joined my middle school’s cross country and track teams in Rockville, Maryland. Running came naturally to me, and it gave me something to look forward to. Growing up a military brat, the sport allowed me to make instant friends at new schools. I ran throughout middle school (two schools) and high school (five schools in four years). I won a lot, but never was the best (my fastest mile was only a 5:47). Throughout my years in high school, I was awarded MVP, captain (of cross country and track teams), and Most Inspirational. I was awarded the Bonnie Bell Circle of Excellence award my freshman year (fall, 1985), and was the lone freshman girl on my school’s state cross country team in Hawaii. I won the Far East Cross Country Championships in Korea my sophomore year (fall, 1986), and I ran the Footlocker Cross Country Championships my junior year in high school in California (fall, 1987).
PR: Can you share what happened that caused you to mostly give up running for 14 years?
KK: I was approached at knifepoint during a run through a park, and was handed a note that read, “If you keep quiet, you MAY live.” I was led to a wooded area in that park, and raped. That was 19 years ago; I was 20 years old. It affected me enough that I only ran a handful of times in the next 14 years. Going from running full-time – and being competitive – to having so much fear in me that I did not want to lace up my running shoes … those were significant years in my life in so many ways. My story on the attack was published in the newspaper I write for, the Montgomery Advertiser.
PR: How did you start getting back into running, and what has it meant to you since you started?
KK: How? I decided to. I finally chose to. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about the rape, and during those 14 years, not a day went by that I didn’t think about wanting to run again. On that morning (July 19, 2005) that I took those first steps again, it was almost a now-or-never point. The day before, I bought some running shoes, a jogging stroller (my daughter was 2 years old, and I was then a stay-at-home-mom), and some clothes. I didn’t know what to get, so I stuck with the basics. I also didn’t know how to train again! I started with a walk/jog mile – it took a full week to run a mile without stopping. What has it meant to me since? Freedom. Control. Passion. Power. Really, everything I lost when I was raped. It means goals, friends, family, strength, happiness.
PR: You have run for some causes very close to you in the past. What effect did that have on your level of commitment and motivation?
KK: A lot. I ran in five Susan G. Komen races almost two years ago in memory and honor of my mother, Pam Klass, who died of breast cancer in November 1988 at age 40. Her strength, and the support of so many people, pulled me through. I did these runs as part of a blog project through the Montgomery Advertiser. And while the races were ‘only’ 5Ks, traveling to those races, coupled with a family, full-time work, and the emotion behind each race … I was exhausted when the series was finished. What happened at the end of the “project,” though, was that I found peace. Twenty years after my mother died of breast cancer, and it takes five 5K races and a lot of miles traveling to find the peace that was missing. Who knew? It was an intense time, but after, any guilt I had was gone, and the sadness was replaced with ‘just’ missing her. It was an amazing journey.
PR: You have written a bit about your daughter, Jenna. I know that part of why you get out early is so that it doesn’t interfere with your time together. What do you hope she gains from your running?
KK: Oh, my daughter. I love her more than anything in this world. What I hope she gains is a love for something that turns into her passion. I hope she learns that achieving and succeeding takes hard work. I hope she gains an appreciation for dedication and that she learns how to set goals and achieve them by taking baby steps to get there. My proudest moment is when she asked one day, “Can I get up with you at 5:30 a.m. to run?” And I told her that that is when I started running, and she said, “Then I’ll get up at 5.” She wants to train for her first kid’s triathlon. I hope through this experience – and from watching me – that she learns how many rewards come from training and competition, and that “rewards” don’t only come in the form of ribbons, trophies or medals.
PR: How did you come to start your weekly column in the Montgomery Advertiser?
KK: I was asked if I would start writing one almost two years ago by my then-sports editor. He asked me to start writing it after my Komen project. I hesitated, and thought, “But who would care, and who would want to read it?” I wasn’t even creative enough to come up with my own column name. My sports editor did – The Extra Mile. Since I started writing it, I have received a warm welcome from the running community. Writing this column has afforded me the opportunity to tell stories – mine, others – and to offer advice to a lot of new runners … on training, shoe-buying, and even digging in when it hurts most.
PR: Having looked over several of your posts, it is clear you are providing valuable advice to runners of all levels, so thanks for that. Now for you – what are your goals for this year, and can we check back later to see how things have gone?
KK: My goal this year is to train smart. To stretch like I’m supposed to, and to eat better. I also have a goal of breaking 1:50 in the half marathon. I love being in the under-2 club, but would love to break this barrier. I missed it by three seconds last year! If you check back later, then you’ll be holding me accountable. So, certainly!
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