Interview Tuesday: Meet Kentucky and Masters Runner Michael Kersey

Ft. Knox Run for the Red - 10K - First in AG

I think I may have first met Michael, in person, at a Running Soles Tuesday or Thursday run or maybe at a race, not exactly sure but is good to se him at races and runs when I am out E'town way.   Michael is another of the many runners in my area that have a great story and I wanted to share his with you this week.


Tell us a little about yourself not necessarily related to running: age, where born, education,
area you live in, etc…..
I was born in Covington, Ky., in 1959 (I turn 59 next month). I earned a degree in Journalism in 1983 from Murray State where I also studied fine arts and military science. I joined ROTC while in college and entered the Army as second lieutenant upon graduation, serving three years on active duty, mostly in Germany. After moving several times when I was a child, my family eventually settled in
Hardin County, Ky., in 1972 and I have made it my home after leaving the military in 1986. My wife of 34 years and I have raised 5 children on our little 15-acre slice of heaven and currently share it with four dogs, three cats and six chickens.

What is your profession?
I worked as a reporter and photographer for a few years after getting out of the army. I then followed in my father's footsteps and began working in the heavy construction field, becoming a skilled heavy equipment operator and laborer. I was promoted to project superintendent in 2000 and have been managing people, resources and equipment ever since. In short, I plan, problem solve and tell people what to do....and no, it doesn’t work at home.  I am a general superintendent for a local site contractor, specializing in large commercial and government projects. I’ve worked on many state highway projects, schools, churches, sports complexes as well as a variety of projects on Fort Knox. While I no longer operate heavy equipment all day or labor down in the trenches, I spend a large part of my day outside on a job site somewhere.

How did you start running and what prompted you to begin?

9-11 Flag Run

In 2001, I suffered a collapsed lung. The physicians said it was just a spontaneous event but I’ve always suspected it was brought on by the large amount of dust I inhaled on a daily basis while operating a large drill rig used for blasting. It didn’t help that I had been a smoker for 17 years. Three weeks after the first collapse, it happened again and this time I underwent surgery to remove the upper lobe of my left lung. The remaining part of the lung was patched up so that hopefully it would not leak again. 17 years later, the patch is holding! While recovering from surgery, I began to put on weight. Ironically, I had quit smoking the year before and had already put on a few pounds but I soon tipped the scales at 230 pounds, up from my usual 180. Determined to get healthy after that brush with death, I asked the surgeon if it was ok if I began jogging. I hadn’t run since leaving the military but knew it was best way for me to lose weight and get back in shape. I fell in love with it and ran my first marathon 18 months after surgery. I made every mistake along the way, over training and developing a bad case of plantar fasciitis, making my first marathon a painful slog...but I finished.

How long have you been running?
17 years off and on. Chronic plantar fasciitis forced me to quit running for a year after my first marathon and sinus problems a couple of years ago sidelined me again. After two sinus surgeries and the subsequent weight gain, I got serious about running again and got involved with the local running group, organized by world-class ultra marathoner Will Rivera and centered around his shop Running Soles. I am now 60 pounds lighter and can average a sub-8 minute mile on club runs.

Did you participate in any other sports over the years?
I’ve played them all. Played some football, wrestled and ran cross county in high school. Enjoyed playing two-man beach volleyball for a few years and played in various leagues and pickup basketball games well into my 40’s. I was never the star athlete on any team but have always been able to hold my own and be competitive, except for golf...I was not good at all.

Did you run in grade school, High School or College? If so where?

Lovin' the Hills 15 Mile Trail Race

I ran cross country at North Hardin for a couple of years, mainly for conditioning for wrestling. I did a lot of running in the army, for training but not for time. 

So we get an idea of where you have been with running can you share your PR’s for:
5K, 10K marathon and any other distance you may have run in the past.
I have no idea how fast I was in the past but most recently, I ran a 23:50 5k and a
4:14 marathon as well as finishing 19th overall in the Back Yard Classic, logging 35.3
miles in 8 hours. I hope to run a sub 4 hour marathon next month at Tunnel Hill.

What is your most memorable race or races and share a little about at least one of
them?
My first marathon in 2003, the Derby Festival Marathon in Louisville, Ky. I trained alone and knew very little about distance running, other than what info I could find on line or in magazines. My goal was to finish, hopefully running and with a smile on my face. My brother ran the mini, and shortly after we split up around mile 12, my plantar fasciitis flared up. Every time my left foot hit the ground, it felt as though every bone in it was breaking. But I finished and will never forget the feeling of relief and exhilaration at the end. This past Spring, and 15 years after my first, I ran the Derby full again and finished 26 minutes faster than I did in 2003.

Secondly, the Backyard Classic 8-Hour endurance trail run this past August was my first ultra attempt. Despite stomach problems, cramping and an hour long thunderstorm delay, I managed to amass 35.3 miles. The farthest I had ever run in one day.


Do you have a favorite workout you do?
Group runs with Running Soles. Camaraderie, advice, inspiration, laughs and competition,
(not to mention the occasional post run cold brew with friends).

How about a favorite route you like to run?
The trails around Freeman Lake and the Nature Park in Elizabethtown. I’ve logged so many miles there that it’s just like visiting with an old friend each time I run there.

What is your favorite distance to run and race?

Backyard Classic

No real favorite as they each have their unique challenges. Longer distances seem to suit me better as of late. Not sure if I will ever attempt a 100-miler but I can see myself doing a 50. After running 35 plus in the BYC, 50 doesn’t seem that unreasonable.

What shoes do you run in and what do you like about them?
Altra Torins, Escalantes, and Lone Peaks. The wide toe box and zero drop was the answer to my neuroma-induced foot pain last spring.

Do you have any long-range plans?
Stay healthy, train smart and keep pushing the limits of what I can accomplish at my age.

What do you like best about living and running in KY?
Kentucky has some of the most beautiful and varied running terrain. Rolling hills of the bluegrass, flat farmland in the west and mountains in the east.

Anywhere else you would like to visit to run?
I love running in New England but would like to explore some trails out west.

Do you have any bucket list races?
Boston is the obvious answer, although my chances are qualifying are slim.

What do you struggle with most with regards to running?

Bluegrass Cellular 5k - 3rd in AG

Finding time. It’s not unusual for me to work 12 hours a day during the week and a lot of Saturdays as well. I also struggle with the urge to compare myself to other runners. I’m competitive by nature and have to remind myself to just keep striving to be the best version of myself that I can be. I was heavily involved with the John Hardin High School cross country team for 12 years, when my kids ran there, and would always tell them the same thing. Try to win the race, but realistically, you really need to focus on bettering your performance each meet. Do that and your placing will improve as well as your times.

What do you see as a trend in running?
No question, trail running and ultra distances.

If you had one, well maybe two or three, things to say those that are running to encourage
them what would it be?
Be patient, listen to your body and try to remember how much fun it was to run as a child. My brother and would chase each other through the woods, seeing how fast we could scale hills, hurdle logs and navigate stream crossings. Trail running today can rekindle that feeling of childlike exhilaration.

Pay attention to your running style and get the proper shoes. I struggled with injuries for 15 years before shortening my stride, quickening my cadence and finding the proper shoes. A former heel-striker, I now employ a mid-foot strike style.

Examine your training regimen and assess what your goals are, long and short term. If your aim is to lose weight or maintain a level of fitness, that's perfectly acceptable. If you seek to improve times, be competitive in your age group or point to a specific event, you will have to put more time and attention into your running.

The most difficult part of any run, is that first step out of the door or onto the trail.

At Work

Do you have a website or other social media site you would like to share?
I use Strava and get a kick out of checking out the training and racing posts of fellow
runners. It's a great tool to analyze your runs as well as serving to motivate you
when you see what others are doing. I'm on Facebook as well.

Any closing comments?
I have always been hesitant to draw attention to my running. After all, like the vast majority of other runners, I seldom reach the podium in a race and there are plenty of others who are more talented and accomplished than I. Running for me has always been a mostly solitary pursuit. But after I began posting more of my runs on Facebook and talking more about running with others, I've found that I may have influenced friends, co-workers and relatives to begin or return to running. 

It is so important for people to stay active, especially as we age. After 20 plus years of not running, my wife recently started again, which brings me great joy.  Running with friends and family is a large part of my life. It’s impossible for me to be in a bad mood and run. I can only hope that others find the same joy that I do. 

Lastly, I’m eternally grateful that I’m able to continue to run. Never take your health for granted. I’m also thankful for the local running community here in Elizabethtown. I never tire of hearing their latest running exploits and appreciate all of their advice and encouragement. You all inspire me greatly. Thanks for letting an old man tag along.