Get to know Run Oregon: Teresa Wymetalek

I grew up swimming, not running and really only ran in P.E. class or for suicides in volleyball. My mom took up running, probably around the time Kenneth Cooper was big. I remember running the Starlight Run with her and my dad when I was in Junior High. We dressed up as dogs and my dad was ‘running’ us on a leash. I was so grateful to have a dog mask on, so no one would recognize me. My dad wasn’t as fortunate. I laughed the entire run and still do every time I think about it. I ran off and on for years, a Hood to Coast relay here and there, Mt. Rainier to the Pacific one year, but mostly just ran when I felt I needed to get in shape or had an event coming up. I definitely didn’t run daily and pretty much every time I did, I ended up being sore, which means I clearly wasn’t running much.

Fast forward 3 boys later and I would say that I run now for my sanity. The seed my mom planted took a while, but it definitely took off. There are days I love to run and days I hate it, but it’s convenient and such a part of my life now, I can’t imagine NOT running. I take it pretty seriously nowadays. I’m no longer laughing my way through a 5k dressed up as a dog, though I’m not above that if someone asked me. I know it’s a much needed stress release and so do my boys. It’s not fun to hear, but my guys will suggest a run for me if I’m cranky.

I love half marathons (like everyone right now) and triathlons and will throw a marathon into the mix a couple of times a year. While many people love the feeling during a run, I love the feeling after a run. Honestly, my favorite part is the shower when I’m done. You’ll rarely find me hanging out after events, since I pretty much race to the shower. Come to think of it, I seem pretty anti-social at runs. I’m nervous and quiet before the race, focused during and take off after, but actually that couldn’t be further from the truth. I love to chat, a trait I got from my dad, the guy not embarrassed to be running with a bunch of dorky dogs. I love to talk about running, with runners and with runners –to-be.  If you’re in the Beaverton area and want to run early on Tuesday or Thursday mornings, send us a note.  I’m planning to re-start a Run Oregon group run with the new year. Make me run fast and it will limit my chatting, but here’s my list about me- all things we can talk about.

Favorite running shoe: Pegasus (NIKE) and Supernovas (Adidas)

Favorite time of year to run: Spring- upper 70’s, dry and sunny, maybe I should say an Oregon summer

Favorite running tech gadget: None, technology is not my friend

What do you carry with you on your run: As little as possible, my phone is too heavy.  I always have my iPod

Pre-race routine: I pick a ‘lucky’ color for each race and always polish my nails

Go to pre-race food: Oatmeal (half Quaker Apple/ half steel cut oats) and Tazo AWAKE tea

Favorite running destination: Sunriver, the beach,  the country

Music: Always

Favorite running song: Changes daily, but every race starts with Aerosmith’s ‘Back in the Saddle Again’

Speed work: I don’t, but I should

Cross training: Definitley! Pilates, weights, plyometrics  and lots of old school push ups

Treadmill: I call it the dreadmill for a reason and only use it if it’s icy

Running Pet Peeve: Bad manners, in regular life too

Favorite non-running outdoor activity: hiking

Funny running experience:  I thought it would be fun to try the foam stuff that I kept seeing girls wear as headbands with all sorts of bright colors.  I decided to wear it for the Iris Half Marathon in Keizer. Epic fail, I ended up with long yellow streamers flowing from my head for most of the run.

Something Run Oregon readers don’t know about me:  My bike is named ‘Lucy’ cause I’m a huge I Love Lucy fan and it’s red. I’m addicted to mantras and inspiring quotes. I’m a cancer survivor.  I got my first tattoo at 42, after talking about it for about ten years and I only grab water at aid stations from volunteers holding it from the bottom.