Thanks to the awesome Sam over at Mobile Bay Runner for this. Another easy post, especially for a Monday! Please let me know any or all of your answers in the comments! Seriously, I know someone out there reads this and getting one comment will make my day.
- Would you rather run along a beach path or on a mountain trail? If you know me at all, you know there is only one option here. Trail. Always trail. It is hard for me to put into words how much I love trails and why. But I do.
- If you could choose the flavor of Gatorade at your next race’s aid stations, what would it be? Assuming I have to chose Gatorade for this (ick), I would choose grape. It was the only flavor I ever liked. When Nuun grape came into my life I dropped Gatorade like third period French and never looked back.
- If I gave you a $100 gift card to a running store, what would be the first thing that you would purchase with it? Ooh, that's tough. I'll assume for now that the store carries the brand of shoes I love and grab a fresh pair of Pearls.
- Do you prefer to follow a training plan or wake up and decide then how far and how fast you want to run? If I have a race on the calendar, I absolutely need a training plan. And...I usually need a race on the calendar to get my butt out the door on the regular anyways.
- Would you rather start your run with the uphill and end on the downhill or start your run with the downhill and end with the uphill? I would rather start on the downhill and end with the uphill. When I start with an uphill I always feel spectacularly out of shape and that mindset isn't the tone I want to set for a run. Starting with a downhill of any kind lets me ease into a run, and finishing on an uphill gives me an opportunity to finish strong and with a sense of accomplishment.
- When you can’t run, what type of cross-training do you choose to do? Oh Lord, help me. I've done my fair share (and several other people's fair share) of cross-training these past couple of years. Although I haven't had it available to me in a while, I really enjoyed swimming. Tied with swimming would be spinning. It has to be, for how much time I spend on the dang bike. Both swimming and biking workouts leave me feeling like I actually did some work, and that's the idea, right?
- Do you prefer out and back, point to point or loop runs? I'm not sure that I've done a point to point before, not for a race or a training run. Most days I prefer loops, as you don't see the same thing twice on a loop. Loops also make it harder to tell how much time you have left. With an out and back I always know exactly how much farther it is because I knew where I was on the way out. On a good day that might not be a big deal but when your run is a struggle, that does not help.
- If you could recommend ANY running related item to a new runner, what would it be? I interact with new runners frequently through my job at the running store. Cost is usually a big concern for new runners, as they see all the gear and gadgets and quickly get overwhelmed. Since most runners, new or otherwise, don't actually NEED much of anything to run, I'll stick with the most important thing a runner can have. GOOD SHOES. Get to a run shop, talk to a professional, SHOP LOCAL. You will never regret.
- Do you ever see any wild animals while out on your runs? I saw them on the regular when I was still living in Arlington and Fairfax. Usually rabbits, foxes, and deer. When spring arrived, I referred to my runs as 4 bunny runs, 2 bunny runs, etc. depending on how many I'd seen. It's the little things, people.
- Ever gotten lost while out on a run? HA! Hey, Mark! Have we ever gotten lost on a run?! Does not being able to find the trailhead you want to run on count as getting lost? If so, yes. We don't have the best luck when checking a trail out for the first time. But, once we find the trailhead, we're usually golden.
- If you could have one meal waiting and ready for you each time you got home from a run for the next 30 days, what would that meal be? Hmmm...tough call. I do love food, a lot. Mark is a great cook, but I think I'll have to go with my favorite sushi from a place in Fairfax (along with the vegetable gyoza). I think I could happily eat avocado and vegetable tempura rolls for 30 days.
- Capris or shorts: what do you run in most often? Shorts. I am usually in shorts until the temperature dips under 40F. And then capris, especially if the wind is bad. I do not like being too warm, and would much rather be cold than smother.
- At what mile (or how many minutes) into your run does your body start to feel like it is warming up and ready to go? At least a mile, but usually 2. Granted, I haven't had the experience in a while, but when I was healthy I never felt like I hit a groove until after mile 2. Knowing and reminding myself of that fact is the main reason why I don't bag a run right away when it feels like crap. 99% of the time, it turns around.
- What do you do with your key when you run? It is always on my person. Always. The size and number of keys I have to carry means the location varies, but it usually in my handheld or in my Spibelt.
- If you could relive any race that you have done in the past, which one what it be? That is a tough question. I miss the joy of the good races but I also value the lessons learned from the hard ones. Maybe my PR 5k back in late 2011? It hurt like hell and was the closest I came to throwing up after a race, but it was the first time I thought I might have some potential as a runner.
- What type of run is your least favorite type of run? I'm the sicko that loves track workouts and hill repeats. What I cannot stand are tempo runs. CANNOT. Track workouts and hill repeats have a hurt factor, but they also involve recovery. Tempo runs are just a long period of being uncomfortable with no break in site. Hard pass.
- What has been your biggest motivation lately to get out the door to get your run on? This is an easy one for me. The fact that I'm cleared to run, even just a quarter mile at a time, is all the motivation I need. That and the incredible arrival of fall!
- When you go for a run, do you leave right from your front door or do you drive somewhere to start? A little of column A and a little of column B. If I have a trail run, I need to drive. If the distance is longer than 4 or 5 miles, I might drive to a local paved path. Otherwise, I leave from the front door.
- When running in daylight are sunglasses a must or an annoyance? A must. Including the rainy and cloudy days. I'm super sensitive to light, even driving to work without sunglasses can give me a wicked headache. Luckily, I've got about 4 pairs that I love and none of them annoy me at all.
- When you get tired, what keeps you from quitting? Combination of factors. One is knowing that I have a coach who sees everything I do (or don't do). Another is that I run for my girl, Annie and I want to tell her all about it. Lastly, I know how much I'll regret it if I do quit. And I hate regrets.
YOUR TURN!!!