Featured Runner “Krystle Dalke” May 2016

May 4th, 2016 Tags: amazing, badassery, Be Epic, Featured Runners, motivation, perseverance, ultrarunning, unstoppable, why
Posted in Featured Runners, Inspirational, Motivational, Personal Philosophies, Preferences & Opinions

Krystle Dalke attended Washburn University and double majored in Criminal Justice and Psychology.  Krystle then moved onto law school and graduated from Washburn Law School in 2008. Krystle picked up her mileage during law school as a way to destress and go over school work in her head. She completed her first half marathon while in law school. Following law school, Krystle clerked for the Honorable Monti Belot of the United States District Court for the District of Kansas from August 2008 to January 2012. After her clerkship Krystle joined the Law Office of Michael P. Whalen at the end of January and practices appellate work and criminal defense. Krystle’s first marathon was the Abilene marathon and her first 100-miler was Heartland in 2012. The year of the crazy storms!

THE BASICS

Date of Birth:  June 4, 1982

Place of Birth:  Newton, Kansas.

Currently Residing:  Wichita, Kansas.

Marital Status: Married

Job(s): Associate Attorney at the Law Office of Michael P. Whalen.

Children: One son, Jace.

Height: 5’3”

Weight: 125

Shoe Size: Measure a 7 to 7.5.  Wear a size 9 running shoe.

Best Physical Feature: I like my arms and calves.

Worst Physical Feature: Sometimes my meaty calves are just too big for cute boots.

Religion: Christian – mostly Baptist.

Political Affiliation: Probably a Liberal Republican.

Educational Background: Undergraduate degrees from Washburn University in Criminal Justice and Psychology.  Law degree from Washburn Law School.

Personal Strength(s):  I have a “get her done” and “take no prisoners” type mentality.

Personal Weakness(es): Not patient at all.

Make Of Car You Drive: Infiniti QX60

Make Of Car You Would Like To Drive: Audi

Pets: Sarge the Newfoundland, Nana the Great Pyrenees, Meeko the Golden Doodle, Garage Cat the cat that lives in our garage, and two fish.

FAVORITES

Favorite Author:  I like James Patterson.

Favorite Book: I like the NYPD Red series.

Favorite Non-running Magazine:  Probably People because I like to know the gossip.

Favorite Movie: At the moment, Zootopia, because I can so relate to that little bunny.

Favorite TV Show: In Living Color was the Bomb.com.

Favorite Actor/Actress: I don’t have a favorite, but I love Jim Carey, Johnny Depp & Sandra Bullock.

Favorite Music: It varies – Rock, Pop, anything that sounds good at Mile 50.

Favorite Musical Performer: Lady Gaga! Best concert I have ever been to.

Favorite Artist: I don’t know that I have one.

Favorite Spectator Sport: Gymnastics – I get so nervous for them.

Favorite Subject in School: Science

Favorite Game: Nertz!

Favorite Vacation Destination: Kennebunkport, Maine.

Favorite Time Of Day: Morning

Favorite Item Of Clothing: Goose down jackets

Favorite Non-Running Leisure Activity: I like to go for a good walk.

Favorite Running Shoe: At the moment Brooks Ghost, but I switch off between Brooks, Pearl Izumi, and Newtons.

Favorite Food/Drink Before An Ultra: A tortilla wrap with a Quest protein bar and peanut butter warmed up and eaten like a burrito.  Yum!

Favorite Food/Drink During An Ultra: Nutella wraps.

Favorite Food/Drink After An Ultra: Sweet potato with lots of peanut butter and quest protein bar broken up in pieces on top.

Favorite Crew/Pacer Person(s): Favorite Crew is my mom Donna Stucky and aunt Lorna Ludlum – I have had too many terrific pacers to have a favorite, but big shout out to Hannah Nesbitt, Niki Dudeck, Scott and Jennifer Hill, Kristen Wheeler, Dave Meeth and Adele Jordan, and of course, my mom.

Favorite Place To Run:  Probably Lake Kanopolis at Rockin K tops it so far.

Favorite Type Of Running Surface: The soft gravel that is on the Prairie Spirit Trail.

Favorite Famous Quote: “Everybody wants to be a diamond, but very few are willing to get cut.”

ULTRA STUFF

Number of Years Running Ultras: Four years

Number of Ultras Finished:  I am not sure.  Over 25 at this point.

Best Ultra Performance(s): Rails-to-Trails Fall Ultra Extravaganza 100 Mile, October 2015.

Most Memorable Ultra: Rails-to-Trails Fall Ultra Extravaganza 100 Mile, October 2015. Scott Hill pushed me to have a great time and my son Jace Dalke finished with me.

Typical Training Week(s) Before A Major Race: It depends on how consistent I have been.  I don’t really follow a “training program” but try to maintain a 50k base and cross train 4 times per week.

Injuries: None so far.

Ultrarunning Idol: No idols.  I just love all of my ultrarunning friends.

Why Do You Run Ultras:  I love the people.  And I feel better starting at mile 25.  Marathons suck.

Advice For Other Ultrarunners:  I have been running ultras for 4 years now and every race is different and a new experience.  You will have good days and bad days.  Also, it doesn’t matter if it is 5 miles or 100 miles.  When I am scheduled to be done, then I want to be done.  It is just the mental game as to what distance or how many hours you tell yourself you are going to be running that day.

ACHIEVEMENTS / GOALS / MEMORIES

Personal Hero:  I don’t have a specific hero.  There are several qualities that I love and admire from several different people. Other than Jesus, no one contains every single quality that I deem important.

Personal Philosophy:  When it comes to ultra running, I ask myself.  Will I regret this?  If yes, then keep going.  If no, then I probably should have stopped 20 miles ago.

Short-Term Goal: Finish Lake Tahoe in July.

Long-Term Goal: I really do not have one in mind. Basically keep up my running and have fun with new challenges.

Most Prized Possession: World War 1 army coin from my great-grandfather. It was spent, so it has a hole in it.

Most Proud Achievement: It WILL be raising Jace to be a successful young man. Please wish me luck!

Happiest Memory: I think it was my dad bringing home Hercules, my Newfoundland puppy in the middle of the night when I was a child.  I was woken up by my parents to a black bundle of fur.

Secret Ambition/Fantasy: I want to be a princess!

Greatest Adventure:  Gorilla Trek in Rwanda, Africa

DISLIKES / FEARS

Least Liked Subject:  Math

Least Liked Household Chore:  I hate to vacuum or do any type of landscaping outside

Pet Peeve(s): people who waste my time with matters that they should know how to take care of themselves.

Greatest Fear: I am stuck somewhere else or hurt/dead with my son Jace in trouble in another location or simply where I cannot get to him.

SPARE TIME

Book Currently Reading: The Obsession by Nora Roberts

Hobbies:  I like to dance, but don’t seem to have time to do that much anymore.

Collections: I have a small Lululemon addiction, but I don’t necessarily save the clothing.

What’s next: 100-Miler at Lake Tahoe in July 2016

Krystle cruising at Freestate!