A Runner's Survey

Name: Sara Casey

Age: 35

Years Running: <1

Running Blog: insecurechubbygirl.blogspot.com

Why Did You Start Running: I had wanted to start running for years but the severe pain from shin splints kept me from getting very far with it.  Then, one day, a co-worker told me about Airrosti and the wonderful things they can do for soft tissue injuries (including shin splints).  He told me that he had gotten his shin splints “fixed” by them and that if I really wanted to start running, I should consider going to them too.  Anyway, I started running for 2 reasons.  First, I just plain wanted to.  I can’t really explain the reason behind why I was so drawn to wanting to run.  I just was.  The other reason was that I was in the first few months of a weight loss journey and I knew that running was one of THE BEST ways to efficiently burn calories.

Favorite Race Distance: So far, I’ve run one 5k, two 10k’s and a 15k.  The 5k was rather short…and, I have discovered I really don’t like running LESS than 4.5 miles…for any reason.  10k’s are lots of fun…and I have run one with music and one without and I have to say I enjoyed them both equally.  But, really, I LOVED the 15k I participated in.  It was a different setting than I was used to for a race…it was on a greenbelt running path (paved) rather than a city street.  I just loved the fact that I was going further.  I love running the longer distances.  There’s just something so amazing about the feeling you get from running 9, 10, 11, or MORE miles in one go.  I’m doing my first organized half marathon in November (the Rock’n’Roll Half in San Antonio, TX), but I’ve already run the actual distance a couple times.  And, just between you and me, I think I’m going to go ahead and put my “13.1 cause I’m only half crazy” sticker on my car because I don’t want to wait until November to put it on there after I’ve “earned” it.  Besides, the spot on my window where I want to put it has a sticker that I really don’t want on my car anymore and if I just take it off it will look funny.  So I “have” to replace it, right?

How many marathons/half marathons have you run: None…yet!  I’ll be running my first Half in November and I’m already signed up for the half distance at the Austin Marathon next February (woohoo!)…plus, I plan to make the Vegas installation of the Rock’n’Roll FULL marathon my very first marathon next year.

PRs: I’ve done a 5k distance in about 29 and some change minutes.  I’ve done a 10k distance in about 59 minutes.  And, the one I’m most proud of, I’ve done 13.1 miles in 2 hrs 24 mins.  BOOM!  Oh and I have a weekly mileage PR of 31 miles that I hope to be breaking next week by logging 33.5+ miles.

Do you cross train or lift weights: Yes, I do both, actually.  I work as much overtime as I can at work, so strength training gets left by the wayside a lot and I’m lucky to get to the gym a handful (or less) of times in a whole month.  But, per my training schedule I’ve made for myself, I want to make it to the gym for strength training twice a week.  I also “try” to ride my bicycle (via my indoor trainer…aka-the trak stand) twice a week, per my training schedule.  But, truthfully, so long as I get in my minimum 3 days of running per week, I’m a happy camper.

Running accomplishment you are most proud of: The first time I ran a whole mile without stopping was amazing for me.  But, really, overall, I’m super proud of that 2:24 half distance.

Favorite Pre-Race Food: Probably just my usual breakfast of multigrain waffles, 3 tbsp PB2 and a banana…or, if I’m on the road for a race, a cinnamon raisin bagel and a banana…plus some coffee (sweetener only!  No cream!)

Favorite Post-Race Food: Whatever they’re handing out after the finish line.  I think one of my favorites that I’ve been handed after finishing a race was some packaged peanut butter crackers.  Simple but effective.

How do you find/make time to train: I work evenings, so I have all morning open to running.  I usually try to do my long runs on Sundays because I’m always off on Sundays (I haven’t been asked to work overtime on a Sunday ever…yet) and so have the whole day to choose from as to when I want to go running (early morning or late evening).  The last few weeks, I’ve had to be flexible because Sunday has been my ONLY day off all week and I’ve had loads of projects to do on Sundays that take up my whole day, so I’ve not been running at all on Sundays and have been doing my weekly long run first thing Monday mornings.  It’s worked out well for me so far.

Favorite Quote:  I’d have to say “they didn’t say it would be easy, they said it would be worth it” is my number one motivational quote to tell myself when I’m feeling unmotivated or the going gets a little rough for me.

If you could give one bit of advice to someone who wants to become a runner – what would it be: Start slow.  Try a couch to 5k program and repeat weeks if needed (don’t feel the need to follow it to a T if you don’t feel ready to move on to the next week in the program).  Find a training group near you to run/train with.

What race are you currently training for? Right now I’m training for the Rock’n’Roll Half Marathon in San Antonio, TX on November 17^th.

What’s the best thing that has ever come from your running? I have to use a very recent example for this one…a friend of mine attempted suicide and if it wasn’t for running, I would have gotten lost in my grief and spiraled into a dark and ugly place.  Other than that, the confidence I have gained since I started running.