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.
Sometimes my family runs with me! (Tonkin 5k in Wilsonville, June 2014)
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.
Columbia Gorge Half Marathon, October 2013
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.
Blue Lake Triathlon, June 2013
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.
