Half Marathon

Being on the line for race day with my brother never gets old for me.  We talk a lot about how much this brings Kyle on the line as an athlete, like the rest of us but for me I get the same sensation.  This was our first race in our Eagle Racing chair so we were pretty excited.  Kyle and I got a 5 minute head start with the other wheel chair racers and we took off in the early morning darkness.

Off to the races!

Kyle and I like to set goals and today was no different.  We started with a goal of 1:42 but by the time we got to the start line we somehow thought 1:41 was the new number.  Through 9 miles we were looking good and both of us were focused and pushing each other towards the goal.



Look at Kyle's face.  Guy is focused!!

Kyle and I rocked some Gu Energy Gels and kept moving forward.  We had some great bike escorts for the day and they pointed out all those Atlanta potholes and helped keep us safe.  I didn't get to properly thank those guys but it was great to have them in tow.  As we neared Georgia Tech and some of the hardest parts of the course we really worked hard to stay on track.  I felt the mind fighting my body and remembered why we do this and tried to stay focused on our goal. As we neared the finish we saw we had it and even better we could make it at 1:40!! As we flew through the finish tunnel we got some great cheers and an even louder KPeasey yell as we crossed the line.  We hit the finish line at 1:40:35 good for a PR for Walking With KPeasey. 

Right across the line

I was spent but super excited at the day and even more excited to do it again.  I've told Kyle that I like to race but I enjoy it even more when we are on a team together.  The entire weekend was a great experience and what a way to cap it all off.

-Brent

I love to race, and when that National Anthem played I got goose bumps all over.  I was like a horse right before the Kentucky Derby ready to go off to the races.  We hope to sponsor many more athletes like Jake and Austin but today was my turn and I was pumped.  5 am wake up call came early but my dad (our Sherpa) had me going early and helped lace up my Newton Running Shoes.  When we got to the race site we got all situated and saw some of our Dynamo teammates who wished us well on today's race.  Brent and I talked a few more times about the goal of the day and then we both settled in to get focused on our task.  Crossing that line as quickly as possible was the goal.  We want to get faster not only for our own sense of personal accomplishment but to hopefully inspire others to join the movement and share in our journey.  We hit the ground hard and did one of those fast first miles.  The guys on our bike escort were super friendly and for a little while we kept up the conversation.  Once we were pounding through midtown though it was all business.

Hug those corners.  Love this new racer!

The miles kept ticking away and I kept urging Brent on.  We saw JD and our dad out on the road snapping photos and making sure we had what we needed.  It takes an army and we got some good ones in our corner.  As we hit the final miles we both pushed hard for the goal and when we crossed the line we had it.  1:40!! I let out a big yell as we came across the line and even managed a few smiles for the camera.

1st and 2nd place wheelchair and Former World Champion Zola Budd

Being out there and pushing my body to the limit is such a great thing and being an athlete and pushing the limits with everyone else is something I plan to do as often as possible.  Many thanks to all our amazing sponsors and a special thanks to all who ran and raised money for The Kyle Pease Foundation.  This was a special weekend and I am even more excited about my first Half Ironaman (next month) than before!

Congratulations to all who competed and thanks to all who continue to shower us with support.
We all have a gift and it's up to us to open it up and share it.

-KPeasey

Happy Hours ALL Around

So great to be with so many friends at our Happy Hour a few weeks ago.  We couldn't ask for a stronger community behind us as we head into our first race sponsoring special needs athletes.  It was very encouraging to see so many people raising their glass to Kyle's dream and where KPF is headed. 
-Ben Spears, Board Chair, Kyle Pease Foundation

The Family Dog who hosted the event!

Even better was to line up a few weeks later with Austin and Jake.  Austin, 15 from Atlanta lined up with KPF to run in his first 5k and was all smiles all the way.  Austin had never run that far before and spent weeks preparing for this occasion.  We were thrilled to share in Austin's joy and were glad to have him as one of our athlete's!

Austin as a CHAMPION!

Also alongside us were Jake and his mother Amy to get their first look at our new Jogger and give it a test run.  Jake did great and his mom didn't do so bad either.  Almost instantly the questions were about which race was next!  We are so lucky to have such wonderful families join us on this journey and are thrilled at how far we have come and how far we can go!

Brent Pease, Vice Chair, Kyle Pease Foundation

THE KPF TEAM POST RACE

The event at The Family Dog was very impressive and overall a phenomenal event.  Big thanks to The Family Dog for their willingness to provide a great atmosphere for family and friends.

Some of the youngest KPF Fans

Special thanks to Parker Smith and Michael Chesin for sharing some quality music and of course getting brother Evan on stage for some family fun!

New meaning to washboard abs!

The 5k was an even greater day for me and why I started The Kyle Pease Foundation.  I wanted to share my dream of becoming an athlete with as many other disabled persons as possible and seeing it come together Saturday was truly special.  Even with a 5 am wake up call it was thrilling to be having our first big day with our athletes and putting months of hard work and fundraising to work.  Seeing Austin and Jake cross the finish line was super inspiring to me and was exactly what I had envisioned for the foundation.  We are looking forward to many more events and plan to have some more athletes alongside us soon.  Congratulations to all and thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of your love and support.

KPeasey, Founder and Executive Director, The Kyle Pease Foundation



Great new heights!

This past weekend I went with big brother Brent back to The Charles Harris 10k where it all first started for us a year ago.  I was pretty amped for this race for a lot of reasons.  For one there was a lot of downhills which meant we could really go FAST and another was all of my great Dynamo Teammates racing as well.


Love seeing Dynamo Teammates rocking the KPeasey Gear.  Check out friend Michael Kidd



As we lined up on the start line Brent and I inched our way to the front so we could have some clear road.  This was a race we had run before so I wasn't as nervous but I still wanted to do well and being around so many fast people made it exciting as always.  If I could do cool picture art like Haley Chura then I would point myself out but you will have to find me below.

Can you see me right up front with all those elite runners?

 Before the gun went off the photographer got a great shot of me and Brent rocking some All3sports gear and my brand new Newton Running Shoes



Need the warmth of spring to get here already...

 Then it was off to the races.  Brent and I tore out of the gates and flew past the first mile marker.  My face was getting a little cold but man were we moving.  This is why we train and race and race and train.  I told Brent I wanted to race every month this year, and to me that will only help better prepare me for a 70.3 mile day later this spring...as we came up through the finish area our newest sherpa (mom) was waiting and snapping photos for us.  Of course she told us we didn't look good for the pictures but I guess that's what happens when you go for new heights.



Right before the finish.  Great day and a tough day.

After the race was over it was time to get onto the real fun.  Our foundation was getting ready to sponsor our first two athletes.  Jake and Austin (plenty more on them to come) will be joining us at the Cutie's 5k in Centennial Olympic Park.  The dollars so many of you shared with us at our bowling event last fall will help purchase the equipment needed for these young athletes to compete with us and guess what? I think I might just do the 5k and 13.1 that weekend!!! 
We are hosting a happy hour at The Family Dog on March 2, 2012 from 6-9 pm, to recognize and promote our next event so please come out and join.  Even better the friendly folks at TFD are donating 10% of the drinks sales to our foundation!! So please come out and get your new KPeasey shirt for 2012, share a drink and hear all about our newest additions to the KPeasey team!!

Even more excited than before at what 2012 has to offer and cannot wait to get out and race again!

-KPeasey