I just love Laurie. And I really needed to read her story this week to remind myself the importance of respecting my body. This lady is a great race companion (right Katie?) and often has her kids in tow. Say hi to Laurie!

Why did you start running?
I started running in February of 2010, I had two small kids, needed to get more active, and have some time to myself. I needed a half hour or so for myself, to not answer any questions, to listen to my own music, to decompress. I guess I started running for peace and quiet. What keeps me motivated now is the friendships I have built, the running community, and that little thought that creeps in and says, “Hmmmm, if I can do that, what else can I do?”

Are you training for a race or an event?
As of today, I am not actively training for an event, but have some on the horizon. I’ll do the Urban Mountain Challenge in January, the Rock n Roll Half in Lexington, and might consider another event in March. I am sure some great 5K’s and other random races will show up throughout the year.

What is your favorite race?
I LOOOOOVED the Iron Horse Half-Marathon course. The scenery is beautiful, and the two out and backs make it seem like four smaller chunks. I would recommend it as a great first half.

Where is your favorite place to run?
I love the familiarity of neighborhood runs, “If I get to this point in 5 minutes, I’m at a good pace, if I’m past it, I better reign it in”, that sort of thing. Yet, every once in a while, we all get in a rut and those “change of scenery runs”, Keeneland, Midway, Deer Haven, etcetera sure shake me out of it!

What are your running fears?
Every now and then, as I am headed out the door for a run alone, I get a weird feeling, a car goes by too slow, or something like that and I just turn around and hit the elliptical or say today is not the day. That is one area where I have really learned to trust my gut.

Do you measure your runs or do you just run for fun?
If it isn’t in RunKeeper it didn’t happen.

Have you ever dealt with injury?
I was training for my first half-marathon, and I was in that blessed taper week, on Tuesday I went for an easy 3 miles in the neighborhood. A little after the 1mile point, I felt this giant pain in my lower left leg. I stopped, tried to run again, but it was too painful. I limped my way back home then iced and elevated my shin. I went into work the next day, talked with some experienced runners, and we came up with this GREAT plan….eat Advil like they are M&M’s until Saturday, and you’ll be a-okay! I dutifully stuck to that plan, and Saturday morning the Advil and adrenaline (an intoxicating combination) got me through it. I had a great time, enjoyed the race, and felt such a sense of accomplishment. After another week of me limping around, my associates and husband encouraged me to go to (shamed me into seeing) the doctor. Turns out, I had run a half-marathon on a stress fracture in my tibia, good call huh? Since I had been so smart to “run through the pain”, I found myself on crutches for a few weeks and full recovery took six months. During that time, I did take up cycling, which kept me from totally losing my mind. But I had to give up my position on a Bourbon Chase team with my friends, and found myself resenting healthy runners who would intentionally run past my house as though to say “look what you can’t do because you are too stupid to recognize when you broke your dang leg”. That experience taught me to enjoy even those runs you don’t WANT to do but should, and generalized pain is okay – localized is not.

Do you do any cross-training? What is your favorite?
I love cycling. I’m a klutz and I don’t clip out of my shoes as proficiently as I should, but that feeling of wind and speed is wonderful. Riding a bike as an adult is like rediscovering a PB&J sandwich – you might ask yourself why did I EVER stop doing this?

Do you have a long-term running goal?
A full by 40. Tick tock, tick tock…

What gear is absolutely necessary for you?
My phone for music and RunKeeper.

What gear is on your wish list?
I hate to say it, compression socks. I haven’t tried them, and I don’t want to buy $50 socks, but they must work, because that black knee socks and shorts look is really coming back!

Do you eat on the run?
I do pretty well with Clif Shot Bloks and Powerbar Energy Blasts, but man, that Gu Chocolate Outrage is better than it should be!

What is your favorite running song?
I don’t know that it is my favorite, but I have a childhood memory of taking the President’s Challenge fitness course and running through tires, Money for Nothing by The Dire Straits was in the background. I guess it is a happy place for me.

Are you listening to any podcasts or audiobooks while you run?
Nope, I’d rather turn off my brain during a run. I’m afraid I would come home and not know a word of what was said.

What are your favorite running/health-related websites or apps?
I read a number of blogs that provide inspiration, get my butt out there, and make me laugh. I love that I can keep a journal of sorts with RunKeeper. It lets me know where I have been, what I have accomplished, and the actual day that I broke my stinkin’ leg!

What is the strangest thing that happened on a run?
Over the summer I had a work event in Chicago and in was going up early to visit a friend from high school. There happened to be a half-marathon that weekend, so I signed up. It was going to be great! It was hot. Unseasonably hot. Humid. There were emails flying from the race director all week prior, warning us it would be rough. Aid stations were added, wet cloths would be distributed, water misting stations would be located throughout the course, we were warned not to try to PR. (This was the town that ran out of water a few years ago at the marathon. They were scared.) Well, the race director was right, there would be no PR for me that day. It. Was. Hot. 94 degrees hot. I couldn’t even look at Lake Michigan, because it reminded me of the hot Florida ocean. The only photo I took of myself is fogged up from the humidity, like the lens Barbara Streisand uses on all her TV interviews. I just committed to finish, promised myself a cool shower after I was done, besides, I had run one of these with a broken leg, what was a little heat for a tough (hard-headed) girl like me? Well, I am proud to tell you I finished. It was miserable, and I may, or may not, have eaten the ice that I had previously stuffed in my bra to keep cool, but the medal hanging in my bedroom is still awfully pretty. Perhaps even a little prettier.

Do you have a running pet-peeve?
Anything that rattles, or shakes, or makes noise. I have a special necklace that I wear for big races, but I have to tuck it in so it doesn’t move with every footstep. I made the mistake of freezing my water bottles in my fuel belt one time. The ice chunk that remained rattled around and drove me crazy. I may have lost a running buddy that day too.

What are you reading right now?
Short reads, kid’s books and blogs. My last library book turned out to be a collection of blog posts. Oh well.

What is your one guilty pleasure?
Lyle Lovett! Long story.

What is your favorite meal/restaurant/recipe?
I love a giant breakfast, and a good run allows me to say it is okay!

Look! Another Dude! I “met” Mark initially on DailyMile. He then formed the Polo Club Pacers who have been running for close to a year on Thursday nights. He has kept me company on The Dark Side. He got the water onto the Run the Bluegrass last year. Mark is just a stand up guy. And his wife is absolutely hilarious. Say hi to Mark!

Why did you start running? How long have you been running?

As a way to lose weight. I had made dietary changes and had been walking for a month or so and wanted to try running.

What keeps you motivated?

My awesome running buddies, my desire to constantly push myself farther.

Are you training for a race or an event?

I’m not training in an organized manner right now. I’m running and cycling but I’m not currently using a plan. I plan on doing the Rock N Roll Half in Lex, then my next planned race will be Ironman Louisville in August 2013, then the Marshall Marathon in November 2013.

What is your favorite race?

I don’t have a favorite race yet. But I think the funnest race I’ve done was the Krispy Kreme Challenge 5K.

Where is your favorite place to run?

Definitely out Deer Haven/Walnut Grove in Lexington.

What are your running fears?

That I’m going to suffer an injury that sidelines me.

Do you measure your runs or do you just run for fun? Has it always been that way?

By distance. I’m always running a set number of miles.

Have you ever dealt with injury?

I’ve not had a major injury. I’ve had issues with Plantar Fasciitis, as well as issues with my hips, but nothing that’s kept me from running.

Do you do any cross-training?

I’m cycling now. I’m going to get back into swimming as well. I’m also planning on incorporating weight training. I LOVE cycling.

Do you have a long-term running goal?

I just want to get better. And of course by better I mean faster. Ha!

What gear is absolutely necessary for you?

The Brooks Beast. Can’t run without them.

What gear is on your wish list?

I’d love to have the Garmin 310XT for triathletes.

Do you eat on the run?

I use gels. I was hooked on GU Epsresso Love but now I’ve switched to GU Peanut Butter. If I’m running long distances I will usually run loops and will have a banana after 8-10 miles.

What is your favorite running song?

I don’t listen to music when I run any more. I can’t listen to it during the Ironman comps so I’ve had to train myself to get out of listening to it while I run. But I’d have to say Motley Crue’s “Kickstart My Heart” is one of my favorites.

What are your favorite running/health-related websites or apps?

Cyclemeter is one app that I use to track every workout. I also use MyFitnessPal. DailyMile.com is a great site for encouragement.

What is the strangest thing that happened on a run?

I think one of the worst things that absolutely mortified me was when I first started running with Casey Hill and we were out on a run one nite and I passed gas. She didn’t say anything and I didn’t either but I was SO embarrassed.

Do you have a running pet-peeve?
Races that run out of food or water.

What are you reading right now?

Well besides your questions, I’m trying to read Rich Roll’s “Finding Ultra”

What is your one guilty pleasure?

Sam Adams Oktoberfest

What is your favorite meal/restaurant/recipe?

Mellow Mushroom Funky Q

Okay, friends. I’ve known Sarah longer than I’ve known most of you. She was my first internet friend that I met in real life. She is a great friend and such an inspiring runner. I have loved watching the joy she gets out of running. She’s running her second marathon this weekend. Meet my buddy Sarah from Nashville!

Run the Bluegrass 2011

Why did you start running? How long have you been running?

I was tricked into running actually. I had been running short distances in a boot camp class I had been taking for a little over a year. One class they told us to run from point A to point B 5 times. It took 30ish minutes or so and I realized it was probably more than a mile. A friend from boot camp was running a local 5k a few days later, The Tomato Arts Fest 5k in 2009 and I signed up. My goal was to not walk and to finish under 30 minutes. I did both. I wasn’t hooked yet, but it was a great feeling of accomplishment. I ran another 5k in September, October, and December of 2009 and decided I wanted to push myself and run a half marathon. I wrote a blog about my New Years goals and Annie Parsons recommended I run with a local running group (East Nasty (www.eastnastyforlife.com)) to train for the Country Music Half Marathon. That was 2.5 years ago and I haven’t looked back!

What keeps you motivated?

Definitely my friends and my love of food, beer, and chocolate.

Are you training for a race or an event? 

I am training for the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. on October 28. It’ll be my second full marathon. There are some training groups in Nashville that are training for the Chicago Marathon and another group I run with called the PR Bandits who do weekend long runs 10+ miles, so I always have a group to run long runs with on the weekend. I am using a modified Hal Higdon Novice 2 plan.

What is your favorite race?

A local brewery does a race every 3-4 months called the Yazoo Barely a 4k. It isn’t timed, there are no bibs, the streets aren’t closed, but it is so much fun! You run a few miles and then drink beer. They open up the tap room and then have a super fun raffle where the race director if you will gives away random crap from his desk. Official race would probably be the Shelby Bottoms Boogie 15k in late September/early October. the weather is starting to cool off and the distance is longer than a 5k, but not quite a half. Lexington connection: my half marathon PR was the 2011 Run the Bluegrass, 1:53:15!

Do you measure your runs or do you just run for fun?

I always run with my Garmin, unless I forgot to charge it…

Have you ever dealt with injury?

Knock on wood, none.

Do you do any cross-training?

I go to about 3-4 yoga classes a week , 1-2 boot camp classes a week, and hiking when I can fit it in.

Do you have a long-term running goal?

Finish Marine Corps Marathon as close to 4 hours as possible.

What gear is absolutely necessary for you?

Garmin 405, Nike Structure Triax shoes, Lululemon crops.

What gear is on your wish list?

Anything Lululemon.

Do you eat on the run?

Clif Shot Blocks in black cherry, chocolate Gu, Salt Stick pills

What is your favorite running song?

Macklemore’s “My Oh My” It’s about the Seattle Mariners 1995 run at the Division Title. The Seattle girl in me LOVE’s this song

Are you listening to any podcasts or audiobooks while you run?

This summer if I run by myself I have been listening (er, nerding out) to the Pop Stuff podcast (http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/hsw-shows/popstuff-podcast.htm). Both contributors run too!

What are your favorite running/health-related websites or apps?

My running club’s website (www.eastnastyforlife.com) and runnersworld.com. I also love map my run when trying to find new running routes.

What is the strangest thing that happened on a run?

Last summer when running through downtown Nashville I ran into a guy I went to high school with in Charleston, WV and hadn’t seen in 10 years. He had just gotten married the night before. Scary would probably be running at night with out a reflective vest or a headlamp on a windy two lane road. It got darker earlier than anticipated. It was also hot, really hot. I think that was a 19 mile run. After finishing I went straight to the local pizza place and ordered a large pizza to go. I ate half of the pizza once I got home.

Do you have a running pet-peeve?

People who start in the wrong corral/area during a race and then walk, leaving others to weave around them at the beginning.

What are you reading right now?

I should be reading Kindness of Strangers for my book club, but I haven’t started yet. Whoops!

What is your one guilty pleasure?

Pop music, sugary, sugary pop music. And horrible TV shows like Here Comes Honey Boo Boo and Teen Mom.

What is your favorite meal/restaurant/recipe?

Oh man, I have so many foods and restaurants I love! In Nashville, my all time favorite places are City House (http://cityhousenashville.com/) and Mas Tacos, and I could go on and on though!  I am really digging these two salads right now:

Raw Kale Salad, à la Tavern/Kayne Prime

- 1 bunch kale (preferably bought from that sweet lady at Hardy’s Produce at the Nashville Farmer’s Market), washed, de-stemmed, and chopped finely to tabbouleh texture
- juice of 1 fresh squeezed lemon (about ⅛ cup)
- ⅛ cup (of your best) olive oil
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan (I like the really fine crumbles because they coat better than the long strip-like grated Parm)
- ½ cup raisins or currants (I prefer the mix of golden/red/black raisins — Sun-Maid makes a pack of them*)
- ¼ cup pine nuts or slivered almonds (I prefer pine nuts)
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- salt and black pepper to taste

1. In a small bowl, whisk the lemon juice and olive oil until it is emulsified and drizzle over the washed and chopped kale. Toss to coat all the greens.
2. Sprinkle the grated parmesan over kale and toss to coat.
3. Add in raisins/currants, pine nuts, and red pepper flakes. Toss to distribute throughout.
4. Generously season with salt and black pepper.

(http://www.nashvillescene.com/bites/archives/2011/09/14/kale-salad-a-healthy-midnight-refrigerator-snack-no-really)

Parmesan Celery Salad Recipe

Set aside any celery leaves you might come across while prepping this salad. I always try to buy bunches of celery that are leaf-heavy on top. That said, don’t despair if no leaves are visible when you’re choosing cellar, there are usually some hiding out atop stalks deeper in the bundle. And for a salad hinged on so few ingredients, my recommendation would be to cook your own beans. Not essential, but well worth the effort.

8 large celery stalks, stripped of strings
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
4 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan, plus more for topping
1 1/2 cups / 10 oz / 285 cooked cannellini or garbanzo beans, heated
3 tablespoons currants (or golden raisins)
1/2 cup / 1 1/2 oz / 40 g sliced almonds, deeply toasted
sea salt or homemade celery salt
freshly chopped herbs (or herb flowers), or reserved celery leaves

Slice the celery stalks quite thinly – 1/8-inch or so. Then, in a small bowl, make a paste with the olive oil, lemon juice, and Parmesan. Set aside. In a large bowl toss the heated beans with the olive-Parmesan mixture. When well combined, add the celery, currants, and most of the almonds. Toss once more. Taste and add a bit of salt if needed. Serve in a bowl or platter topped with herb flowers and/or celery leaves.

Serves 4-6.

Prep time: 10 min - Cook time: 5 min
http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/parmesan-celery-salad-recipe.html

Katie D is my girl. She started with the Resolution Runners training for a 5K on New Year’s Day and she finished her first half-marathon at the Iron Horse. I’ve put in probably close to a hundred miles with this girl, some good some not so good. (That one run on Deer Haven was BRUTAL.) Say Hi to Katie D!

Why did you start running?

Needed to lose a little baby weight and get back in shape after having my first child

How long have you been running?

Since Jan. 1, 2012 – Resolution Runner, right here!!!

What keeps you motivated?

Krissie , getting my miles up, hearing people say, “You run? Seriously? How far?” Then watching their jaws drop when I say, “Oh, at least 3, sometimes 8 miles!”, looking at my little girl and knowing that I’m doing all I can to set a healthy example for her

Where is your favorite place to run?

Deer Haven – So pretty and good hills. Love it!

What are your running fears?

Injury. I hurt my back earlier this year and I was miserable. The worst part was feeling like I had lost ground by the time I could run again!

Do you measure your runs or do you just run for fun? Has it always been that way?

I measure miles, but I don’t track it in any way,

Do you do any cross-training? What is your favorite?

I love yoga. I’ve recently started doing Zumba and think it might be the funniest thing ever! I look ridiculous (just like everybody else) and I love it!

Do you have a long-term running goal?

To run a half-marathon. And I just did!

What gear is absolutely necessary for you?

My water belt and good socks.

What gear is on your wish list?

A Garmin and an ipod for my solo runs. I hate to run alone! I’d rather chat the whole time, but sometimes it must happen. I think music would help!

What are you reading right now?

Call the Midwife

What is your one guilty pleasure?

Just one? Dark chocolate covered pomegranates. (You can buy a 2lb bag at Sam’s….I’m not saying you SHOULD, I’m just saying you CAN!)

What is your favorite meal/restaurant/recipe?

Easy Chocolate Mousse (every time I make it, people think it’s way harder than it really is. Here’s my secret recipe!)

2 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream (I didn’t say it was healthy. I said it was my favorite!)

1 bag chocolate chips

1 T vanilla extract

1 T rum

Whip 2 cups of cream

melt chocolate chips in microwave with 1/2 cup cream

Add rum and vanilla to chocolate

let it cool a little, then stir it into the whipped cream

Bad, bad news!!! But it’s so good! You pretty much have to run your ass off indefinitely to make up for that one Enjoy!

Hey Ladies, meet one of my oldest and dearest friends. I met Brenna way back in high school. We lost touch for years and years and years and just recently reconnected. And, by a crazy stroke of luck, she’s a runner! She’s coming in tomorrow to run the Iron Horse with us this weekend! I just felt it was a good idea to introduce you all to her. Say hi when you see her this weekend!

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

What are your running fears? Skunks, injury, skunks

I just love Jen. She’s always happy. She knows so much about the Galloway method. I just love running with her and her little family. Say hi to Jen U!

Why did you start running? How long have you been running?

You’re gonna laugh – I started running because I heard about the Inaugural Expedition Everest Challenge in 2008 that was going to be during a family trip to Walt Disney World! I’m a Disney fanatic – I did the Disney College Program in 1998 and have visited Walt Disney World more times than I can count along with Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and also Hong Kong Disneyland. This race was a 5K + obstacle course + scavenger hunt and it sounded so fun, I wanted to try it! I did the Couch to 5K plan that spring & summer to get ready and talked my husband into doing the same. That was back before smartphone apps for C25K, the only options were to watch the clock to see when to walk/run or listen to the one available podcast with really terrible music & a man’s voice giving the walk/run directions at the right time.

I continued running 3-4 miles a few times a week after that and was thinking of running Disney’s Race for the Taste 10K in 2010 when they announced that race was changing to a half-marathon. I was terrified, but registered for the inaugural Wine & Dine Half Marathon and spent the summer of 2010 training for it. Since then, I’ve finished five other half marathons and am finally going for the full 26.2.

What keeps you motivated?

Always having a race planned. Preferably at Walt Disney World.

Are you training for a race or an event? What event? How is that going? What plan are you using?

This is my year of RunDisney. My husband & I ran the inaugural Tower of Terror 10-miler on September 29, I’ll be going back for my third run of the Wine & Dine Half Marathon with friends in November, and I’ll complete my first marathon on January 13, the 20th Walt Disney World Marathon.

I’ve survived summer training, which is always very hard for me because I hate running in the heat & humidity. I’m ready for some cooler weather! I’m using Jeff Galloway’s “to improve” marathon training plan and working the other races into it. I’ve met Jeff Galloway at a special pre-race meetup & run before both the 2010 & 2011 Wine & Dine Half Marathons and after attending his three-hour running school before the Murray Half Marathon this spring, I’m fully convinced that his run/walk method is the best way for me to approach distances longer than 10K. At Jeff’s suggestion, I shortened my intervals to 90 seconds:30 seconds and took four minutes off my best half-marathon time from when I tried to run them all the way through. When I use run/walk intervals, I generally move at the same overall pace but feel much better during and after my run.

The photo is me & Chef Mickey at last fall’s Meetup & Eatup with Jeff Galloway, running coach Brooks Johnson, & Disney Chef Gary Jones.

What is your favorite race?

The Wine & Dine Half Marathon, for sure. I love Disney’s Food & Wine Festival each fall, and the race is so much fun. It’s a 10 PM start and then there is a party around the Food & Wine Festival at World Showcase in Epcot until 3 AM… that really motivates me to finish fast so I can get to the party sooner! RunDisney races are blast – there is so much entertainment on the course and running through the theme parks really is magical. Some runners actually stop to line up for photos with the Disney characters. RunDisney is also great at logistics – I know my bag is safe in bag check, the corrals are based on actual finish time and properly enforced, I can hear the pre-race announcements, there are plenty of porta-potties, and they’ll NEVER run out of Powerade or water on the course, even for the slowest finishers.

Where is your favorite place to run?

Around Lexington, I really like getting out around Keeneland or the Legacy Trail. I’ve never run the Iron Horse course but would like to try to get there this fall. Most of my runs are in the neighborhoods around Harrodsburg Rd/Man O War area for simplicity’s sake. With two running parents and now two running kids in our house, it’s sometimes difficult to get everyone’s long run in.

Do you measure your runs or do you just run for fun? Has it always been that way?

I always have my Garmin with me. I used to rely on it help me judge & keep a steady pace, but I don’t need that much anymore. I just like to know how far & fast I’ve gone and especially how many calories I’ve burned!

Do you do any cross-training? What is your favorite?

I’ve been doing mat Pilates at the Beaumont YMCA on and off for the past two years. I think it has helped strengthen my core. I’m starting to add some of the Y’s group weights classes to my schedule too.

Do you have a long-term running goal?

I’d like to someday tackle RunDisney’s Goofy Challenge! It’s the Disney World Half Marathon on Saturday, followed by the Disney World Marathon on Sunday. Finishers get three medals: Donald for the half, Mickey for the full, and Goofy for being Goofy enough to take on 39.3 miles in a weekend.

What gear is absolutely necessary for you?

iPhone, Garmin, and running skirt from SkirtSports – the only skirt where the shorties actually STAY PUT. Love their Happy Hour, Happy Girl, and Gym Girl skirts.

Do you eat on the run? If so, what?

I don’t have a picky stomach, so I can eat just about anything. I usually carry PowerBar gels and Gatorade/Powerade for any run over 10 miles.

What is your favorite running song?

My running playlist is a mis-mash of cheesy 80′s music, country, pop, & rap. It’s pretty embarrassing.

Are you listening to any podcasts or audiobooks while you run?

You’ll be shocked to know that I often listen to Disney podcasts while running. I’m part of the WDW Radio Show podcast running team, which raises money for Make A Wish. I’m also just starting to use the Zombie, Run! app for some my weekday shorter runs.

What are your favorite running/health-related websites or apps?

I use Runner’s Interval Timer for my run/walk indicators. The best $2 I’ve ever spent!

Do you have a running pet-peeve?

I have a racing pet-peeve… My eight-year-old twin boys love to run one-mile races & 5K’s and sometimes come home with awards from them. Our whole family is very frustrated when we see other children wearing time-chip bibs & riding in strollers to the finish line. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve seen a kid hop out of stroller at the 3 mile mark of a 5K to cross the finish line on foot, sometimes taking an award depending on how fast their parent runs. Parents, if your child is going to ride in a stroller at a race, please pull the timing chips off their race bibs!

What are you reading right now?

Nothing right now, I’m crazy-busy with work and spend too much time online. I did recently finish the Hunger Games trilogy and need some suggestions for what to tackle next.

What is your favorite meal/restaurant/recipe?

I can never get enough sushi, love it!