 Editor’s note: Not all athletes responded, so this isn’t the complete field. As race week continues, we’re featuring some of the elite runners in the half-marathon. When you start running, a 5K seems like a reasonable goal, and it is. And after you do that a few times, you move on to the 10K. The next jump is to the half-marathon, which brings a certain sexiness to it just because it has the word marathon in it. But don’t be confused: It isn’t half of one race. It’s a distance all its own, and when you race it, it can feel like a sprint, whatever your level is. Meet some of the men and women who hope to come in first on Sunday in the half-marathon. Name: Pasca Myers Age: 31 From: Fort Dodge, Iowa Family: My husband, no kids, 5 brothers 3 sisters in Kenya. Occupation: Nurse 5K PR, year, race: 16.05 2010 NCAA outdoor championships Your story: I began running in 2005, and running has brought me thousands of miles away. I have traveled to every U.S. state as a collegiate runner and now a professional runner. It paid my school fees, allowed me to meet new people and make new friends Running is my drug – without it, I couldn’t be where I am today. On the half: I love to run the half marathon and marathon because it’s fun to race the distance and it’s not demanding like shorter races. My goal for race day is to run 1:17 to 1:18. My training has been long runs of 10 to 14 miles with 8 miles every day during the week, plus temp runs or track workouts. How do you stay motivated? Everyone wants to stop at some point in a race. For me, that’s mile 10 and 11, and I tell my brain, ‘I only have 2 or 3 miles to go, keep pushing.’ In training, I remind myself that my patients and clients need me healthy so I can take care of them. After running, my brain is alert so I can face challenges. What do you read? I like to read about healthy topics and research to keep me up to date for my patients. Name: Keegan Carda Age: 23 From: Sioux Falls, South Dakota Occupation: Public relations representative 5K PR, year, race: 14:27, Grand Valley State University Holiday Open in 2015 How long have you been running, and what keeps you motivated? I have been running since I was in middle school, but I really fell in love with it my senior year of high school. Thinking about future races and my competition keeps me motivated. I set goals for myself and try to give everything I have to reach them. Favorite race to run and why? My favorite race has been the 10k, but this will be my half marathon debut, so it may change! Describe your training leading up to the Sioux Falls 5K? My training for the half marathon has been similar to what I was doing in college, but mostly I've been focusing on getting in consistent mileage and at least one workout a week plus a long run. What's your goal for race day? Come race day I want to run the best race I can, run for my family and friends, and earn some prize money. Everybody wants to stop at some point in a race -- where is that point for you, and what keeps you going? In college during 10Ks, it was always a little after halfway. I focus on staying mentally strong and positive to get me to the finish. Racing is hard, but training sometimes can be harder. Tell me about what you think about to keep pushing yourself day after day? During difficult periods of training, I remind myself that this training is going to be worth it come race day. I also think about professional runners that I look up to, which reminds me of the hard work it takes to be successful. What's the last book you read or movie you watched, and what did you think of it? I just read "The Unwinding" by George Packer. It is the story of American politics in the last 40 years told through several people's lives. Packer is able to tell such big stories through small lenses. What's the funniest thing that's happened to you on a run? About a mile into a long run, my buddy came across an unopened Budweiser on the sidewalk. We can only assume it was left there after a house party the night before. He chugged it without breaking stride and tacked on another 12 miles. Name: Christian Karels Age: 26 From: Milbank, South Dakota Family: Single Occupation: Engineer Half Marathon PR, year, race: 76:00, 2012, Fargo How long have you been running, and what keeps you motivated? 13+ years starting in 7th grade, through high school, on to the D1 collegiate level at South Dakota State (GO JACKS!!), and now as a passion/hobby a few years removed from a competitive team structure. My motivations include seeing friends and old teammates continue to have success in running as well as the SDSU XC/Track team as they continue to make themselves known on the national level, watching Team USA at the Olympics & World Champs, and lastly, my next race. Favorite race to run and why? I grew to like the cross country 8k in college. At first it was quite an adjustment from being used to running 5ks on golf courses in high school, but later realized it catered to me much more being a longer distance-oriented runner. Also part of the adjustment was the mental focus it required to be successful, especially in the later part of the race, but I was able to overcome that and had successful races and times in it by the end of my collegiate career. Describe your training leading up to the Sioux Falls Half Marathon? One of my best friends from the team in college helped me lay out a plan. My training has consisted of getting back to structured weekly mileage with workouts and doing a race every 2 weeks as was typical for the XC season in college. The racing portion of that training regimen would normally be tough to find and make work, but The 605 Running Co. of Sioux Falls couldn't have made it easier with their Summer Race Series. These series of races were purposely planned to help one train for a Sioux Falls Marathon weekend event. It is great that the guys over there recognize what it takes to prepare for such an event and how to schedule it appropriately to make it easy for someone to fit it into their training plan. Everybody wants to stop at some point in a race -- where is that point for you, and what keeps you going? I find it hard to continue to push if I get isolated late in the race, meaning there's no one around for me to try and latch onto or run with. I get through it by reminding myself that I'm still racing for myself and a goal time even if a particular placing has gone out the window. Keeping my eyes up and focused on someone in front of me also helps because chances are they're hurting, too. We had a pre-race chant/breakdown in college that went: "What are we running through today?! Pain! I can't hear you! Pain!! Again! PAIN! Again! PAIN!!" Racing is hard, but training sometimes can be harder. Tell me about what you think about to keep pushing yourself day after day? Getting out the door is the hardest part of training; especially if you train solo like I do. Losing the team atmosphere definitely made that tougher. I keep myself thinking about my goal and how each day of training is another opportunity to get better. The feeling of accomplishment and success after that race I've prepared for makes it all worth it. What's the last book you read or movie you watched, and what did you think of it? I recently went to see Dunkirk in theaters. I enjoy anything to do with the history of the World Wars. The movie was very humbling as it provided a good perspective of what the Allied troops went through being pinned on that beach just waiting and hoping for an evacuation. It truly was a miraculous event rescuing far more troops than they had thought would be saved.  Jacqueline Palfy is a longtime runner, reader and writer, marathoner, mom and board member of the nonprofit Sioux Falls Area Running Club. Her contributions to the 605 Running Co. blog will appear each Tuesday. You can follow her on Twitter @runnerJPK or reach her at [email protected]. Story ideas are encouraged.
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