Wednesday Winner - Meet Zoe

Happy Wednesday, everybody!

It's Wednesday again, which means it's time for a Wednesday Winner interview.... woo hoo! This week, I'd like to introduce you to another speedy runner whose love of ribbons makes me smile.  :-)  A girlie-girlie to be sure, but don't let that fool you... this young lady has years of running experience and will leave you in the dust! 

Friends, I'd like you to meet Zoe....

How would you describe yourself as a runner?

 Swift and speedy

 Slow and steady

 Somewhere in between

A:  I think I’m “somewhere in between.” I don’t find myself fast and in the front of the pack, but I’m not at the back, so in between is fine with me. Of course I want to be fast, but that just comes with practice and time.

Ageless and Beautiful…. Are you:

 Tweaking the Twenties

 Thinking through the Thirties

  Forty-plus and feeling fine

A:  Tweaking the Twenties

Are you:

 A starting-line show-stopper

 A middle-of-the-pack mover

 A back-of-the-pack ‘better-late-than-not-at-all’ runner

 Somewhere in between? If so, which ones?

A:  I wish I was a show-stopper! I like to start in the front of the middle (does that make sense?).

How long have you been running and why did you start running?

A:  My Uncle was the one that I really looked up to when I started running—he was, and still is, my running hero. My first road race was when I was 11 and I loved the experience. I ran longer distance track in middle school (like a beginner’s cross country) and went on to run cross-country in high school for three years. I didn’t really get back into the “full swing” of running until mid 2008 when I ran a fundraiser race and was completely out of shape. Since then I was determined to get back into running and I’ve been more and more hooked ever since.

Favorite running gear and why?

A:  My Garmin 305, Gus, is my constant companion, but I love my Nike vest because it’s comfy and very versatile for different weather conditions.

What do you listen to when you run?

A:  I’ve had the same playlist for over a year, but it keeps me motivated. Music is necessary for me, and I have hard rock, pop, techno—you name it—on my list. Anything with a good beat that makes me want to move.

What is something you cannot run without, and why?

A:  Gus is important, but I simply cannot run without my iPhone. It’s my music source and my in-case-of-emergency source.

What race distance is your favorite and why?

A:  I really love a fast 5K or an 8K. Since I only have one half marathon under my belt, I can’t say that it’s my favorite quite yet.

What time of day do you usually run, and why?

A:  Mainly at night because of my work schedule.

Treadmill, streets, or trails, and why?

A:  Definitely trails, if I can, but I end up running on streets a lot. Treadmills are great if it’s unfit for an outdoor run, or I can’t sleep and want to get a quick mile in, but I get so bored. There is so much to distract me on trails and streets that the time and miles just fly by.

What has been your most significant running-related learning experience to date?

A:  It’s kind of silly, but don’t over hydrate before a race. There will be plenty of time to replenish lost fluids after you’ve finished. This goes for shorter distances, like 5K – 10Ks. My personal experience ended in complete embarrassment (yeah, pretty much peed my running shorts in front of thousands of spectators) and was my worst race to date. *sigh*

What advice would you give to someone new to running?

A:  Don’t worry about how fast you are going; just get in the miles (even if you need to walk!). Speed comes with time. It’s all about starting off slow, in terms of both speed and the miles you log. Don’t push yourself to injury or try to compare yourself to other runners, because only you know what your body can handle.

Short-term and long-term running goals?

A:  Short-term: Stay injury-free, run first marathon, complete the 1000+ miles for the year;  Long-term: Run marathons often and become a Marathon Maniac

Mileage goal for 2010?

A:  I’m currently participating in Tall Mom Mel’s 1000+ Challenge…I’m going the distance!

Do you have a blog, blog(s), or a website you’d like to share? If so, please list them.

A:  My blog is http://www.runzoerun.com/ and I love meeting new people!

BONUS:  Any additional info you’d like to share??

A:  I’m so grateful for having running blog friends—you all inspire and motivate me every single day. And, thank you, Robin! You rock! (You're welcome, Zoe!)

Thanks, Zoe!

Happy running, friends.....

Robin