What is your history with sports and athletics?
Ever since I was a very small child I was a natural runner. My father was a runner and would enter me into races. I wouldn’t train, he’d just plop me on the start line and off I’d go and do very well. Also as a child, I loved playing soccer. In high school I ran track (3000m and 3200relay) , XC, basketball, and when I was in 10/11th grade I no longer enjoyed running so I switched to tennis and soccer. I played soccer in college and only ran minimally in the summer to keep in shape for the fall soccer season.
After graduating college, I did have a spurt of about 6 months where I ran regularly and snagged a 10k PR in a road race during this time, but I didn’t continue running (I can’t remember why!) I on and off played coed soccer as an adult, but it wasn’t until I was 43 that I started jogging regularly to get myself in shape for playing soccer with my much younger teammates. After a few years of just running to run I became to get very interested in all of the training science that didn’t exist when I was a young runner! Eventually I started following a lot of women’s running accounts, and finally inspired by someone I followed on Instagram running a 3:30 marathon I suddenly had an a-HA moment…I wanted to do that! And I was ready to put in the work to see if I, too, could hit a 3:30 marathon in my lifetime. I immediately hired a coach and got to work! This was December of 2018. I ran my first race, a half marathon, that spring (1:42), another half that fall (1:39) and to my own amazement I ran my first marathon in Feb 2020 and ran a 3:23!! Just this past weekend I ran my third half marathon and had a breakthrough performance, running 1:30. I’m still going strong and excited about what the future holds.
What do you enjoy most about being an athlete?
I’ve always been very competitive. I’m not going to lie, I like “winning.” In this case, I mean winning against the clock. I don’t feel competitive with other women runners….I feel empowered by them! But I have tunnel vision on reaching new PRs. I know that’s not the most healthy of mindsets, but I’ve always been that way and it is what it is! I personally don’t run for fitness, I run as a sport. Running fast makes me feel very empowered and proud of my body’s abilities, especially at my age.
Have you experienced any challenges or obstacles?
I have a lingering poorly healed hamstring strain left over from soccer, and despite plenty of PT I just haven’t been able to resolve it. It flares up in longer runs and workouts/races. I also have high hamstring insertion inflammation in that same leg, which I assume is secondary to the mid-hammy strain. I really hope that I’ll be able to get past these issues, because they are somewhat of a limiting factor in my racing. It’s frustrating but I know overall other people have a lot more challenges, so I just think about it as part of the sport.
What is your “why?”
My sense of competition is my “why.” I am rewarded by my performance in the sport, so I’m a shameless PR chaser. I know this isn’t the most healthy of “why’s” but it is what it is! At some point I’ll stop improving (hopefully not soon) and there is a good chance when that happens that I’ll move onto something else in life vs. just running to run. But who knows, maybe I’ll surprise myself!
What is your favorite training gear or equipment?
I like my R8 roller, because I can do it casually while watching TV versus having to be fully engaged in a typical rolling session! But I’d say my favorite gear has to be my Nike Vaporflies because they help me run fast in races! (Especially compared to the Hoka Bondis that I wear for training, which are one of the most heavy training shoes out there). All part of the race day magic.
What’s next?
Hopefully a lot more PRs!! I qualified for Boston 2021 but know that will not be happening, so I’m trying to find a smaller/safer full marathon in early spring before temps rise too much. I just got a big half marathon PR of 1:30.54 and I signed up for the Mesa Marathon in February. I know it’s a long shot to not be cancelled, but I have to have something to work towards!
Do you have any advice for someone interested in getting started?
Start slow! Don’t run as much or as fast as you think you can, because muscles/ligaments take a much longer time than your lungs to adapt. You may think you’re fine for a period of time until it’s too late and you find yourself injured. Aside from that if you’ve established a solid base and routine and have aspirations of reaching your potential, hiring a coach is so beneficial.
Any other comments or stories you’d like to share?
My father has advanced Parkinson’s Disease, and one time a few years ago he had a rare moment of self-reflection, and told me “If there was anything I regret in my life, it’s that I can’t run anymore.” This broke my heart. I also try to keep it in mind when I’m so PR-focused, thinking maybe I should just be grateful I can run at all. Then I remember I got my fierce sense of competition from my parents. Some mottos growing up…”Don’t come home if you don’t win.” and “You didn’t try hard enough if you didn’t puke.” To #kiddingnotkidding. So I know my father is proud that I’m running at all, but prouder that I’m running fast!
Your dad is incredibly resilient, strong and inspiring! Can you please tell us more about him?
My dad was a runner his whole life. You could still say he is a runner if being a runner is a mindset. Tragically, he now battles advanced stage Parkinson’s Disease. Three summers ago he had a major setback and after a hospital stay was wheelchair bound for two months.
The experts say that Parkinson’s patients that end up in a wheelchair will never walk again, but not this guy…My father has the spirit of the athlete that he always was and always will be. Rather than accept the prognosis, he came to the logical conclusion..he decided that he’d participate in that fall’s annual 1 mile Turkey Trot!