Running Survey!

1.  Would you rather run along a beach path or on a mountain trail?

I’d say a beach path. I love to look at the ocean, and distract myself with the beautiful scenery. I may say Mountains but I haven’t run there like, ever, so it’s not that plausible, haha.

2.  If you could choose the flavor of gatorade at your next race’s aid stations, what would it be?

I don’t drink energy drinks at all, but if I had to choose a good flavor it’d probably be lime. I’m not a huge citrus person, though! I’ve never been super fond of juice, pop, or beverages. While this may sound like a blessing to the average sugary drink-addicted American trying to quit, I think God tried to make it fair by making me a binge eater. I’m weak in the knees for fried donuts and bakery sweets.

3.  If I gave you a $100 gift card to a running store, what would be the first thing that you would purchase with it?

Brooks are pretty good running shoes, I hear. 🙂

4.  Do you prefer to follow a training plan or wake up and decide then how far and how fast you want to run?

I need a training plan. Without one, there’s no telling what I’ll do with uncommitted time. What I need is commitment and a structured plan, that’s how I roll!

Selfie Post 14k Run

Selfie Post 14k Run

5.  Would you rather start your run with the uphill and end on the downhill or start your run with the downhill and end with the uphill?

Uphill! Because it’s hell–and once I push through hell the rest of my run feels much easier. I always say, if you’re warmup doesn’t make you feel like dying at some point, it probably wasn’t a very good warmup. You gotta go through death to feel really alive.

6.  When you can’t run, what type of cross-training do you choose to do?

Yoga, pilates, HIIT training. I want to get more into weight training, but I don’t have a gym membership and therefore no access to machines. I do have a pair of flimsy 5 pound dumbbells and that’s what I use besides bodyweight because it’s all I have. I hope this changes when I go to university; maybe I’ll get a job at the gym!

reverse crunch

7.  What is your preference—>  Out and back, point to point or loop runs?

I depends on the run. For a long run, probably out and back. Loop runs are great for tempo runs because you can get a sense of how fast you run for each loop. I use the track specifically for speed work.

8.  If you could recommend ANY running related item to a new runner, it would be a—>

GOOD RUNNING SHOES, GET SOME FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE. And if you have wide feet, get a wide pair, don’t settle for regular ones otherwise you’ll get blisters. You’ll feel like you’re stepping on legos the rest of the day. And when the pain recedes you are left with red-black marks.

9.  Do you ever see any wild animals while out on your runs?

wIlId SqUiRrElS aNd CaNaDiAn GeEsE R aLl I sEe! 😀

10.  Ever gotten lost while out on a run?

Yes, and it sucked because I had runner’s diarrhea…it was messy by the time I got home. Home, sweet home.

11.  If you could have one meal waiting and ready for you each time you got home from a run for the next 30 days… what would that meal be?

I don’t have post-workout snacks. Maybe one food I’d like to have each day prepared for me would be sushi salad. No rice–just throw all the toppings(aka the REAL reason you eat the sushi–it’s the good stuff) in a bowl and call it a day. Roasted nori wraps make nice chips.

12.  Capris or shorts… what do you run in most often?

Shorts are more preferable just because. In the fall I opt for capris and when it’s warmer I go for shorts.

13.  At what mile (or how many minutes) into your run does your body start to feel like it is warming up and ready to go?

Around the 35 minute mark 🙂 It all depends on what my warmup was. 35 is with a poor warmup, perhaps just 25 with a hard one.

14.  What do you do with your key when you run?

I keep it in a special place near my door.

15.  If you could relive any race that you have done in the past, which one what it be?

Hmm, probably this past Half marathon. I just loved it.

half marathon selfie 21k

16.  What type of run is your least favorite type of run?

Speed runs! They are SO HARD. Anaerobic threshold work is something I need to work on.

17.  What has been your biggest motivation lately to get out the door to get your run on?

Lately I haven’t been running at all because I’ve been traveling in China! Also, it’s hot outside and I’m not about that life. I can’t wait to get my gear up in fall though, it the perfect weather. When I was running 3+ times a week, it was habit and momentum. I told myself I didn’t have to go fast. Half the battle was just putting on my running shoes. When it comes to not feeling like running, I try to put less expectation on myself.

18.  When you go for a run, do you leave right from your front door or do you drive somewhere to start?

Front door, always. I don’t drive and I fear the more I put off doing the workout the more anxious I get because I’m wasting time.

19.  When running in daylight—>  are sunglasses a must or an annoyance?

Annoyance. I could barely run with glasses on when I wore them, what makes sunglasses any different? I dislike it when the nose stand starts to slide and you have to constantly push them back up.

20.  When you get tired, what keeps you from quitting?

One more minute.”

a linkup with TabNErika, Heather, and Amanda.

Answer one of the questions above!