Wednesday Winner - Meet Saundra!

  

Happy Wednesday, everybody!  

It's time to meet another running/blogging buddy.....

Today I'd like to introduce you to a lady whose blog has a healthy dose of both food and running, two of my favorite topics, and she often includes questions in her posts, another feature I particularly enjoy.  Striving for balance, this runner and mom finds ways to make her schedule work as she contemplates life, careers, and healthy choices.  Turtle blog friends, I'd like to introduce you to ....

Saundra,

of

Fitness for Foodies

 

How would you describe yourself as a runner?

 Swift and speedy

 Slow and steady

 Somewhere in between

Ageless and Beautiful…. Are you:

 Tweaking the Twenties

 Thinking through the Thirties

 Forty-plus and feeling fine

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?

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

A:  I started running at age 20 in preparation to go to Army boot camp. I've been doing it -off and on- since.  Recently, a more focused approach to running has helped me compensate for another area of my life that has crushed my spirit: my career. Running has become my outlet for passion and energy that would otherwise be wasted. Hopefully I will find clarity along the way concerning my next career. And the courage to seize the opportunity.

Favorite running gear and why?

A:  C9 apparel because it is affordable and easily available at Target.  Nike apparel because the selection is vast, the performance and durability are great, the colors are bold and rich, and the Nike outlet store is 5 minutes from my office. Balega socks because they just work for me. Worth the price tag.

What do you listen to when you run?

A:  90% of my runs do not include listening devices. If faced with long-term treadmill use, I listen to many different genres: Coldplay and DMB, hip hop, bad 80's tunes, classical sometimes.

What is something you cannot run without, and why?

A:  Really just my shoes. Anything else, I've learned to not be too attached to because I forget to pack something into my bag almost every week.  I am pretty partial to my heart rate monitor, though.  It keeps me from being too complacent.

What race distance is your favorite and why?

A:  Half marathon:  Long enough for me to get into a zone and stay there for a while, yet short enough to not make me ponder my sanity.

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

A:  These days I run mid-afternoons, either stopping on my way home or pushing the jog stroller around my neighborhood during the week. That time of day usually is the best in terms of temps. It allows me to get over my day before engaging in family time. And I get the opportunity to watch the kids laughing and playing on the playground after school. (They crack me up.) On weekends, I try to do morning runs because I am so used to getting up early that I'm awake anyway. So I might as well start those days off in a good way.

Treadmill, streets, or trails, and why?

A:  Trails. I like the scenery and peacefulness of being away from the madness of city life.

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

A:  Don't buy running shoes at the mall.

What advice would you give to someone new to running?

A:  Relax your shoulders, unclench you fists, and focus on breathing discipline. Invest the time, energy, and money in getting a good pair of shoes.

Short-term and long-term running goals?

A:  Short-term- PR in a half-marathon. I have two chances in March

Long-term- To run for many more years, just for the love of it. To do a destination race on another continent.

Mileage goal for 2010?

A:  Officially:  1,000

In my head:  1,200

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

A:  Fitness for Foodies: http://www.marathonfun.blogspot.com/

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

I can't think of anything specific, but I'm certainly open to questions.

Thanks, Saundra!

Happy running, friends....

Robin