Who knew that one Saturday group run would lead to her checking off a HUGE Bucket List item??? Here’s her story…
Why did you start running?
I’ve always been a runner, but at the time of our return to Baldwin County, the farthest I had ever run was a half marathon and I was running around four miles a few times a week after work. I learned of Fairhope Running Wild’s Saturday long run, I thought to myself, “Oh! Running Peeps!! I don’t have any in Baldwin County and I need some!” I showed up the very next Saturday and I was completely hooked! Everyone made me feel so welcome and like I had always been there.
How has Running Wild helped you reach your goals?
Running with Running Wild Fairhope has helped me knock around fifteen minutes off of my half time, six minutes off my 10K time and four minutes off of my 5K time.
PLUS, I had never run a marathon before and, really, never done any serious training for a race before, so I knew it was going to be a challenge. My only goal was to complete it and there were definitely times when I questioned if I would even be able to do that. Needless to say, I was shocked when I not only finished the marathon, but had also qualified for Boston!! There is no way I would have been able to accomplish that goal on my own! After that first marathon, I ran two more marathons and also participated in RW’s marathon training for a second time to help me get ready for Boston. Each marathon has made me a stronger, more knowledgeable runner and my friends that I have met through Running Wild have been there with me literally every step of the way.
What was your favorite thing about training with Running Wild?
I would much rather run with people, so when I learned of Fairhope Running Wild’s Saturday long run, I thought to myself, “Oh! Running Peeps!! I don’t have any in Baldwin County and I need some!” I showed up the very next Saturday and I was completely hooked! Everyone made me feel so welcome and like I had always been there. After my first Saturday, I knew I wanted to do the marathon training because I wanted to become a stronger runner, be held accountable to a plan and get to know my new running friends better.
What is your greatest (most favorite) athletic/running accomplishment to date and why?
My greatest running accomplishment to date was running in the Boston Marathon. The Boston Marathon was truly a once in a lifetime, humbling experience for me. I was so grateful that in addition to sharing the experience with my family, I also shared the experience with Alison, Lizzie and Shelley!! In addition, thanks to my deeply Southern accent, I randomly met Alex from the Pensacola store. LOL!
TOP 5 Products from Running Wild to help you achieve success?
1. Shoes, duh!- My favorite shoes are Brooks Adrenaline & Brooks Pure Cadence
2. Trigger Point Roller- Rolling has really helped me stay injury-free, so I try to roll after every run
3.Nuun tablets- I really like these!! They help me stay hydrated and energized, so I feel less fatigued during runs.
4. Clif Shock Blocks- I prefer chews if I need to eat something during a run. I’m not really picky when it comes to food, so I’ve tried all the flavors & haven’t come across one that I didn’t like.
5.Cute and functional running clothes- Alright, I know I’m getting girly, but let’s be honest, when you look good, you feel good & you preform well. RW can just have my paycheck. Lol! I love picking up a new running outfit to reward myself after a Saturday long run!!
What is your next athletic goal and how do you plan to reach it?
My next athletic goal is to reduce my 5K time to sub 21 minutes. I’m naturally more comfortable in the longer races, so I want to focus on performing better at the shorter distances. In order to get my 5K time down, I’m going to have to incorporate regular interval training and hill repeats into my training plan, which are always difficult for me. Luckily, I know some really great runners that I met through RW to hold me accountable and help me reach my goal.
