Today, I sat down with myself to get some answers about my running:
At what age did you start running?
My parents had me in Track and Field as a young child until I was about 10. I was never any good, and I hated it. I spent many years feeling uncoordinated and non-athletic. I remember going for jogs here and there, but I really started running regularly when I was about 25 years old.
What are your favorite running shoes?
Used to be Adidas Supernova, but I recently switched to Saucony Guide. They are padded better, and my heels thank me for it.
What is your favorite time of year to run?
I don’t like it hot. Probably my favorite running temperature is 50-60*F. I don’t mind rain at all! It keeps my face cool.
How many days/week or miles/week you run (or mileage/year)?
For the past four months I have taken an injury recovery break from running with very very few runs. When I’m healthy and whole, I run 2-3 times per week with at least 30-40 minute runs. Since I’m slow that comes out to about 10-15 miles per week.
Do you have any favorite running tech gadgets?
I’m relatively low-tech. I have a Garmin 305 for distance and speed measuring, and I listen to podcasts or audiobooks on my phone.
What do you carry with you on the run?
Phone, both for entertainment and safety reason. Water or Nuun if it’s hot/far, fuel if it’s even farther.
What’s your go to pre-race food?
Bagel or bread with Nutella, or PB&J.
How about post-race food/beverages?
Whatever they’ll give me! I’m now quite used to bread, soup, snacks and beer after a race 🙂
What is your favorite race and/or distance?
I like the 5-10k distance. I have run several half-marathons, but I’ve been getting injured and need to scale back.
What is your favorite running destination?
The Columbia Gorge Half Marathon was one of the most beautiful route I have run. I’ve lived in some great places in the US, and running across bridges has always been special to me. A few bridges I’ve crossed were the Pensacola Bay Bridge, the Coronado Bridge in San Diego, Astoria Megler Bridge, and several Portland bridges.
What was your first race?
A sunset run in Pensacola, FL. It was very hot!
Group running or solo running?
Most of the time I run by myself. For long training runs, it’s nice to be in a group, but I don’t necessarily need someone right beside me.
Music or no music?
I listen to podcasts or audiobooks. I haven’t found music to help me with cadence or speed.
Do you do speed work?
Much less than I should. Maybe that’s why I’ve been getting slower.
How do you cross-train?
Ideally I’d keep up my swimming schedule that I had leading up to a triathlon last spring. In reality I don’t cross train much, except that in November I started Taekwondo, which gives me the strength and flexibility training I never did on my own.
How do you feel about the treadmill?
No go! I do have an elliptical for extremely foul weather though.
Do you have a training plan?
I have followed a variety of training plans for my half-marathons, mostly to know how to safely increase my long-run distance.
Running pet peeve
People that run two or three or four across at a race, while going much slower than those around them.
What’s your favorite non-running outdoor activity?
Camping, and all that comes along with that.
What you do when you aren’t running or blogging?
I’m a wife, mother of two boys, computer scientist, who currently teaches technology at an elementary school. I like many outdoor activities, and I love reading.
Something Run Oregon readers don’t know about me:
I was born and raised in Germany and moved to the US in the late 90’s after I got married to a Navy Officer. We moved all around the country for ten years, and now have been in Oregon for the past eight years.