1. How did you get started running?
After I met my husband, actually while we were dating, I ran my first 5K. I could barely make it to the finish line. But, after that I was hooked, so we’ve been running together ever since — about 13 years.
2. How often do you run and how far do you run?
I run every day — about 50 to 60 miles a week, depending on what I’m training for. Right now, I’m training for the Boston Marathon, which is on April 15. I probably run six to eight miles a day, Monday through Friday. I do longer runs on the weekend — anywhere from 16 to 20 miles.
3. How many marathons have you run?
I’ve run nine. The Boston will be my 10th — it’s my second time for the Boston.
4. Have you ever won any of your races?
Actually, the 50K, which is 31.5 miles, we just did in December, I won my age group, and I think I came in ninth for females overall.
5. Were you nervous about your first 50K?
I was a little nervous, just not knowing what to expect. Just running a marathon in 26 miles and not knowing what to expect after that, but once you get out there it’s a lot of fun. It’s a good group of people to run with. The one in December was my first one. I have another one in June.
6. Why that far?
I’ve always been interested in how far I can push myself. We not only do these types of races, but we also do what’s called adventure races. Those are not based on miles but are based on times. We have an 18-hour adventure coming in May. That’s biking, kayaking and running. For me, I just like to see how far I can push myself. It’s always rewarding crossing the finish line after training for so long for something like that.
7. Why do you run?
We have three kids and we both work full time, and I think running just gives us time to decompress. It’s uninterrupted time. I just find it very rewarding, not just to put the miles in and do the races, but I like that quiet time. I can get through my thoughts for the day.
8. What’s the most challenging part?
I think the most challenging is lying in bed at 5 a.m. and listening to 30 mph wind gusts, knowing that I have to get out there because that’s really my only time to get out there and do it. I force myself to get up and get out there. It doesn’t get any easier. Every morning I think it has to get easier, but it doesn’t.
9. Tell me about the Urbanathalon you are organizing?
It’s called the Warrior Mode Urbanathalon. It’s similar to the adventure races I was talking about before. We’re going to require people to have a team of three to six team members. We’re going to give them a map of Lima and there’s a two hour time limit. It’s basically a scavenger hunt. You have to navigate to a point and either have to get a hole punch or do a challenge. Whoever gets the most points in those two hours will win. We do have it geared toward, because the Warrior Mode supports people with prosthetics and people in wheelchairs and people with handicaps, we do have an event that’s closer to the starting line that’s easier to navigate. We also have a family division where we’re going to put a lot of events in the park, a lot of fun things for kids so they don’t have to do the full amount. There’s a Warrior Mode Facebook page that has a lot of information. I put the registration form on there.
