Wednesday Winner - Meet Ann!

Happy Wednesday, everybody!

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

This week I'd like to introduce you to a fellow "turtle pace runner"  whose running blog, which was recently updated to a very edgy design (cool!), is sprinkled with life and family posts  as she talks about running as a  mom and a wife, while working full-time.  Life is hectic, but she finds time to make it all work in her corner of the world, and I'm still hoping we get make the opportunity to run together one of these days!  Friends, I'd like you to meet .....

Ann, of .....

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

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 in November 2008.  A friend talked me into training for a 5K with her. I don’t know how she did it.  At first, I told her the only reason I would run  is  if  I  was being chased. We used the Couch to 5K training program and once I made it to running 3 miles, I felt like I could accomplish just about any distance.  However, 26.2 still scares me and I can’t quite commit to training for it.   *NOTE:  Ann has recently begun training for a full mary and writes about her ups and downs related to this daunting task. 

Favorite running gear and why?

A:  Under Armor is a favorite and I like some of the NikePro stuff.   I also love my Garmin.

What do you listen to when you run?

A:  I love 80’s music. I like Pina Colada’s and getting caught in the rain. I will also listen to some techno if I need something the push me along. Some other random artists are: Cake, Morphine, The Pixies, De La Soul, Snow Patrol and Jane’s Addiction.

What is something you cannot run without, and why?

A:  I really just need my running clothes and my shoes. I am not a streaker and I don’t think I am cut out to be a barefoot runner.

What race distance is your favorite and why?

A:   I haven’t run a 10K race, but I think that would be my favorite. I usually feel my best between miles 3-6.   It takes a few miles for me to get my rhythm.

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

A:  Depends on the season. Fall, Winter, and first part of Spring I run at lunch during the week and mid morning on the weekend. During the Summer it is early morning since it is so hot and humid mid day.

Treadmill, streets, or trails, and why?

A:   I am a road runner. I would probably like trails too. I mostly run roads because it is what is easiest for me to do with the limited time I have to run. I work full time and have a 3 year old, so I fit it in where I can.

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

A:   I think I have learned something from all the injuries I have dealt with. The biggest lesson from all of them has been to never give up.  An injury might put you on the bench for a while, but it doesn’t ever have to stop you completely.  Learn from it and keep moving forward. I know the importance of buying new shoes now and taking my training s-l-o-w-l-y.

What advice would you give to someone new to running?

A:   Listen to your body. It tells you everything you need to know. If you are running too fast, you can’t breathe.  If your shoes need to be replaced, you might feel little aches and pains in your legs/ankles/knees/hips.  My body throws pebbles at me before I get hit with a brick.

Short-term and long-term running goals?

A:   I want to reach 500 miles for the year for the Pay It Forward 500 Club. I am also kicking around the idea of a full marathon.  *She's doing more than kicking lately!

Mileage goal for 2010?

A:   500 miles

Do you have a blog, blog(s), or a website you’d like to share?
A:   You can find me at http://rubber7soul.wordpress.com

Any additional info you’d like to share??

Thanks Robin for letting me share.   I really enjoy reading these and it is great to be a part of it!

Thanks, Ann! 

 Happy running, friends....

Robin

Own your journey.  One run at a time. ™

Coming  Soon:

-  More group training details to share!  *I can do (almost) anything for 1:30 minutes!

-  What kind of runner are YOU?

-  The next segment in the Lessons from my Laces series, to be published online in July  at flrunning.com.