If you’re catching up on weekend blog reading, here’s what you missed in my little neck of the woods:
My mom ran her very first race
My family celebrated my mom’s 50th birthday
I made blueberry pancakes upon Brad’s request
Another Monday strikes again!
At least it will be a short week for me. Brad and I leave on Thursday morning to attend a management retreat for his company and wives are invited too. Notice I said, “retreat”, not “conference” so the trip should actually be a lot of fun. This is our first year attending, but luckily I have some good friends going who have clued me in on what we’ll be doing and more importantly, what to wear. 🙂
I hope to post some in my absence but also plan to host a few guests Thursday through Sunday. These won’t just be any guest posts, but posts focusing on profiles of runners. Any runner, blogger or not, is invited to participate in the I am a runner posts (details as to how to participate are at the end of this post).
I am a runner posts will go something like this…
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My name is Kelly and I am a runner.
Age: 28
City,State: Charlotte, NC
1. How long have you been running?
Seven years – Wow! I can’t believe how time has flown by. I started in the summer of 2004, the summer before my senior year of college.
2. How did you begin running?
My college roommate asked me to go with her. We were at the beach with my family. I couldn’t run a whole mile at first, but she was really patient with me and I was actually amazed that I could run as far as I did. It was very encouraging! I had been working out for several years, but had no idea that I had a runner inside of me. From there I built up a little at a time. Within a few months I was running 3-4 miles almost every single day. By spring of 2005, I could run six miles, no problem.
3. How many races have you competed in?
8 5K’s (I *think*)
2 4-mile races
3-4 10K’s (this stuff is so difficult to remember)
5 half marathons (Kiawah, 3 OBXs, Thunder Road)
1 marathon
4. What is your favorite pre-run fuel?
A banana and peanut butter…on toast if it’s going to be a longer run. I also really like pizza anytime the night before a long run, hold the pepperoni.
5. What is your favorite post-run snack or meal?
A smoothie with lots of yummy granola, but any kind of breakfast food makes me happy.
Beer also tastes extra special after a run when the weather is warm…after properly hydrating, of course. 😉
6. Do you like running buddies or do you prefer to run alone?
I love running buddies but solo runs are good every once in a while to clear my head. I do a lot more runs by myself than with a buddy because it’s difficult to work my schedule around my friends.
7. What’s your must-have object on a run?
My Shuffle or my iPhone for music. I can work around not wearing a Garmin from time to time, but if I’m running solo, I need music!
8. What’s your favorite running outfit?
I love Nike Tempo shorts and one of my North Face tech tank tops. I go back and forth between Aasics and Brooks running shoes typically. As for sport bras, the Champion sport bras sold at Target work perfectly for me. I also prefer running socks with the lip on the back of the ankle which prevents rubbing.
9. Favorite place to run?
At any beach or along the sound where my in-laws live
10. How has running changed or contributed to the person you are?
I never had any confidence in my athletic ability at all until I learned to run. Running taught me that I could be athletic. It taught me to not count myself out of a physical challenge, just because it is outside my comfort zone. This has made me more adventurous to try new things in other parts of my life as well.
I’ve always been very “Type A” but running has definitely challenged my perseverance in ways it has never before been challenged.
Running has given me a sense of community. It has drawn me towards some pretty incredible people that share my love. Even when just running down the street, I feel a kinship with the strangers out there hitting the pavement with me. One of my favorite things about our new neighborhood is the amount of runners I see out on a regular basis, everyday and at every hour.
It has also become a part of my identity. I’ve identify myself as a daughter, a sister, a college grad, (most recently) a wife, and hopefully someday a mother. But being a runner is so different. I make myself a runner. No other person or institution has any weight in this part of my identity.
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If you are a runner and you would like to be featured this week, beginning Thursday, here on Foodie Fresh, please email me at foodiefresh@gmail.com. I will send you 20 questions to answer about your relationship and experience with running and you can choose the 10 you like best to answer and at least one photo of yourself (but more if you like).