Karen Cathell

Karen Cathell of Ocean City has run races all over the country including five Boston Marathons. Read about her journey from 5Ks to ultras and see what she says is crucial to training.

How long have you been a runner?
I had always been very active in many team sports growing up. Around early middle school age, I started running with my dad around the neighborhood on his easy evening training runs. My dad was training for marathons at this time and I was curious to see what running was all about and wanted to spend time with him.

I ran track in high school for 2 years. Then, as a freshman in college, I tried Cross Country for the first time. After school, I fell out of running, life happened, and I did not run for about 10 yrs. I started back up 2009 with a few 5ks, then decided I wanted to train for my first half marathon (Hidden Treasures in Salisbury). I thought it would be my one and only!

Is the marathon your favorite distance and when did you run your first one?
I don’t really have a favorite distance. I love them all for their own reasons. I run the marathon distance most frequently. I like the journey, challenge and the pace of the marathon distance. In 2014, St. George Marathon in Utah was my first marathon which also happened to be my dad’s last marathon in his quest for one marathon in every state.

Your goal is a marathon in all 50 states. How many so far? Do you have a target date for finishing?
I have run a marathon in 19 different states. I try to get 2 new states each year and I am aiming to complete all 50 around the age of 60-65.

Congratulations on completing multiple Boston Marathons. How many have you done? Another one this April?
Thank you! Yes, another Boston this April 2025. It will be my 5th consecutive Boston marathon.

How many races do you estimate you’ve run in your career?
Wow!
Hmmm, I don’t keep track of how many 5ks I have run. Maybe close to 250?

You are now a DUC! You completed the Delmarva Ultra Challenge, a 100K. Tell us about it!
DUC!!! So much to say…. it was absolutely amazing! It was perfect!

About 2 years ago, after completing all 24 5Ks at Pemberton, I hesitantly thought I could tackle the 100k distance. However, the night time miles kept me from signing up. I do not like trail miles in the dark!! My night vision is terrible and I’m terrified of falling and causing an injury that would put me out a few weeks or months.

Last year, I thought about it more and more. I wasn’t sure how many more years DUC would continue and I thought I got to give it a try.

Brian Outten, a friend of mine, for a few years had been very encouraging in my ability to give DUC a try. He had no doubt I’d be able to finish it, and finish it well! Brian assured me if I signed up, he would too, running alongside me. So here we go! Brian and I snagged two spots before it filled up.

I had that feeling that this year’s DUC would be run on the Blades trails or the beach. (Roads work, too.) I couldn’t think of what else could be left to run in the area.

Friday evening, when I saw we would be running the beach, I was so excited! The fear of needing 3 lights (headlamp, chest lamp, and a waist belt lamp) to see all the roots wasn’t an issue anymore! I went down to one headlamp, which I only needed about half the time! I also comfortably wore my road shoes!

The journey started, and I totally felt like I had home field advantage and was running in my backyard. I recently had run from Indian River Bridge inlet to West OC on the roads on Christmas Day. Also, that was followed by another run from Fenwick to OC inlet on the beach just a few weeks prior to race day. I knew exactly where we were and the miles flew by! I live only three miles from where we finished. The tailwind was quite helpful as well!

Brian stuck by my side, and we decided to switch to a run-walk interval around mile 16. We made sure to have gas left in the tank for the second half at Algonquin. We finished together on the boardwalk, still full of so much energy and excitement!

When I toed the line for Algonquin, I felt amazing! But, I reminded myself to take it easy so without a doubt, I’d finish to get that 9th mug. I started the race with a walk/jog routine for the first half.

At the halfway point I felt really good and my legs wanted to run so I picked up the pace quite a bit for the following 10 miles, or so! The rain picked up and I started to become uncomfortable with my footing. I slowed my pace, reminding myself, just finish! The last 5k was tough, but I finished with another signature leap over the finish line!

It seems to me your injuries are rare, if you have any. How do you stay healthy?
Yes, knock on wood. I’ve been injury free!

About 8 years ago, my IT band was nagging me for a few weeks while marathon training. My training never stopped. I just lessened up my mileage a few weeks before building it back up again. I sprained my ankle during Pemberton 2024 and continued to run 10 more 5ks with it pained. That would really be my only injury that has sidelined me. I rested for 10 days.

I have no magical recipe for staying healthy other than, I love rest days, sleep, and I know run streaks are not for me! If I run more than 4 days in a row, it is accidental.

I’m not a good example of stretching, lifting, eating, or drinking, etc. I would rather be under trained and well rested, then over trained and burnt out.

Any words of advice about training?
Consistency, sleep, and running buddies are key!

Solo runs are mentally strengthening, but running with a buddy and that accountability is what makes running so enjoyable!