RUNNING Kaulen finds motivation to finish marathon

She placed fifth in her first marathon with help from husband, Matt.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
AUSTINTOWN -- Laura Thomas Kaulen of Austintown was able to dig deep within herself to muster the necessary strength and endurance to complete her first marathon this past spring.
But throughout the 26-mile, 285-yard Cleveland Marathon on April 27, she also received support and encouragement from her husband, Matt, who was riding along on his bicycle.
Now Kaulen is looking forward to her second marathon -- the Las Vegas Marathon on Feb. 1 -- and before that her fourth Youngstown Peace Race on Oct. 5.
She also will take part in a four-person relay in the first Akron Marathon on Feb. 11.
A former Youngstown State runner and a teacher at Warren Western Reserve Middle School, Kaulen, 27, placed fifth in the women's division and third among Ohio runners in the Cleveland Marathon in 3 hours, 6 minutes and 39 seconds. She won $300.
She had been training diligently for the marathon and had completed a half-marathon last October, but this was her first attempt at the longer distance.
"I did do several 20-mile runs. I knew I could finish a marathon but my goal was possibly to break three hours," Kaulen said. "But once I got started, the race took over and it was very hard. I was able to find the internal motivation to finish."
Matt on bike nearby
Her husband, also a former YSU runner and Laura's teammate with the Penguins, always was nearby riding his bicycle the entire distance to boost her morale.
"He went the whole distance, taking pictures and giving me water when I needed it," she said, noting that she and Matt had been teammates on the YSU outdoor and indoor track and cross country teams under Coach Brian Gorby.
"[Matt] helped out tremendously," Kaulen said. "There were several times that it hurt so bad that I wanted to quit, but to know that he was my by side and supporting me helped me to finish."
Serious training
A graduate of Garfield Heights High and a 2000 YSU graduate, Kaulen did some serious training for the Cleveland Marathon.
"I was doing 65 miles a week running through Mill Creek and I was doing speed workouts," Kaulen said. "And I was coaching at Mooney High School two months before my marathon [so] I was able to run with some of the Mooney High runners," said Kaulen, who coached the Mooney boys and girls distance runners this past spring under Coach Brian Gorby, Keith's brother.
Kaulen would like to continue coaching.
"I just would like to stay as a distance-running coach," she said. "I want to train with [the runners]. I think it helps them when we train together because they will do more. I think I get more of a sense of respect because I am doing it with them."
Her husband, a 1999 YSU graduate from Kent Roosevelt High, doesn't run anymore.
"He ran in college with me but he had too many injuries and running wasn't any fun anymore so now he just supports me," Kaulen said.
The couple decided to remain in the Youngstown area because "we both got jobs in the area and wanted to run with the Youngstown Roadrunners and run in Mill Creek Park," said Kaulen, who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade special education mathematics.
Her husband is a certified public accountant with Hill, Barth & amp; King LLC in Boardman.
kovach@vindy.com