A different woman coming to Fifth Season race
Kris Ihle-Helledy is coming back to Cedar Rapids for the first time since winning the Alliant Energy Fifth Season 8K in 2001.
She's a different woman in 2009.
Ihle, the last name she uses professionally, now is a mother of two young sons. She earned her doctorate in counseling and psychology and she's now 40.
She's run the Fifth Season 8K four times and won it four times. Her first race in C.R., in 1997, produced a still-standing record time of 25 minutes, 55 seconds.
Will she get No. 5 on July 4.
"Oh, God, no," she said with a laugh. "I'll consider myself blessed if I can pull of the masters win."
Not only is her life different these days, so is her perspective. She said she'll do the best she can on July 4, but won't be upset if her time isn't on par with her previous performances here.
"It's just a different chapter in my life," she said. "I'm in a totally different life stage.
"I feel like I'm about 20-something, but I run like I'm 40-something."
Look for more on Ihle-Helledy next week during our preview of the 24th annual Alliant Energy Fifth Season 8K.