LexRunLadies

Why did you start running? To help my weight loss and reduce stress and anxiety

How long have you been running? Since January 2011 (consistently)

What keeps you motivated? Running is medicine…enough said

Are you training for a race or an event? Several. The Iron Horse Half Marathon!!! Yay! Also, the Kansas City Half Marathon, which is a week later.

How is that going? Pretty well, although I have had a couple of set backs, with traveling and illness

What plan are you using? I love my Hal Higdon…I wish we were friends

What is your favorite race? So far, the Bay-to-Breakers in San Francisco…it needs to be on every runner’s bucket list

Where is your favorite place to run? The Indian Creek Trail starting near my home…it’s a paved bike trail that runs through the Kansas City Metro Area…it’s wooded and peaceful and always occupied by positive running energy

What are your running fears? Skunks, injury, skunks

Do you measure your runs or do you just run for fun? I like to start with a goal so I know what I am doing…it makes me better able to push through “the wall” if I know I will be happy with myself for finishing a goal

Has it always been that way? Yes. I function better in my life in general when I use some metric

Have you ever dealt with injury? Not so much a full blown injury, but a year ago I had some hip pain that bugged me

How did you get better? I started swimming a couple days a week and also added some dynamic stretching and walking pre- and post-run…oh, and I got fitted for better shoes

How long did it take? Really, not too long once I stopped ignoring it and changed up my strategy

How did you feel? Nervous that I had a stress fracture or something that would ground my training

Do you do any cross-training? YES!!

What is your favorite? BodyPump, elliptical, The Bar Method

Do you have a long-term running goal? Full marathon, April 2013!

What gear is absolutely necessary for you? My shoes (Brooks, Adrenaline, 12th Generation) and my iPhone…it has my music and running app

What gear is on your wish list? I need a better fuel belt…mine is too clunky…I would also like to invest in a new Garmin Forerunner…mine has been acting up and is not very accurate anymore

Do you eat on the run? Yes, on long runs

If so, what? Jelly Bellies! I recently started using their Sport Beans, but I really like the regular flavors the best. It’s a nice little burst of sugar halfway through a 9+ miler

What is your favorite running song? This changes with my moods, but right now I am LOVING “I Like How it Feels” by Enrique Iglesias…Maroon 5 and Pitbull never let me down, though…

What are your favorite running/health-related websites or apps? I love mapmyrun and runninglog…I have been following Weight Watchers since August 2010, so that app and site are necessities. I will say that I credit the Couch 2 5K app with helping me get started in a reasonable and safe manner. I recommend it to anyone who is just getting started.

What is the strangest thing that happened on a run? Oh Lord…Honestly, I once wet my pants completely accidentally. I just stopped kind of suddenly and it happened. I was about a mile from home and, yes, I continued my run all the way home with wet pants. True story.

Do you have a running pet-peeve? Traffic and intersections. I don’t like to stop running to wait for the light to change…this is why I like my running trail and running in the wee hours of the morning…

What are you reading right now? Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn

What is your one guilty pleasure? Just one? Well, I would have to say I love TV…I have really gotten into several shows that keep me occupied, like The Walking Dead and The Killing

What is your favorite meal/restaurant/recipe? Ice cream, Italian food, Five Guys…mmmmm