Q & A's

I have been sick (again!) this week, which is so frustrating. It started with a migraine and continued into a stomach bug. Ugh. I am trying not to think too much about it too much, because it gets depressing being sick all the time... especially when I am trying so hard to be healthy.

So, I don't have any runs to blog. I do have a lot of recipes to share, but that's for another post! :)

Today I am completing a questionnaire from Another Mother Runner (you can read their post here). I probably wouldn't have done it except that my friend Devon totally called me out on her blog and made me do it. Like, twisted my arm. I was sooooo forced. Anyway. Here goes:

1.  Best run ever: This is easy. This summer my husband and I celebrated our fourth anniversary. The morning of our anniversary I got up early and went for a planned 11-mile run. As I got near the halfway point and was feeling good, I decide to throw in another 2.2 miles and make it my first "half marathon". I finished in a little over 2 hours, and when I got home, I was soooo proud. It wasn't just that I had run a half marathon, for the first time ever, it was more that I had exceeded my own expectations for the day. I will never forget how I felt that afternoon! Sore, but so proud. :)

2.  Three words that describe my running: 

 Introspective. I run alone whenever I can. It's not that I don't like running with other people (I did a five-mile loop with my sister in law while camping recently, and it was surprisingly awesome). It's just that I like having the time to think.  

Worshipful. I stole this from Devon's blog, but it's true for me too. There is a part of every run where I am just overwhelmed by my God, and can't help but praise him.

Goal-oriented. There are times when I run for the joy of it, but mostly I am chasing my next goal, whatever it is: a certain pace, a certain distance, a race on the horizon(?). 

3.  My go-to running outfit is: A seamless Champion full-length sports bra from back in the day (I don't remember ever buying it, but I think I've had it since high school). A pair of $7 Target brand running shorts. An amphipod hydration belt on loan from my friend Carrie, which I NEVER run without. Not even for two miles. My Mizunos, the only shoe I have ever truly loved. And the piece de la resistance: a knee brace. My knee tends to track laterally during runs thanks to an old injury. Knee brace keeps me solid.

4. Quirky habit while running: This is embarrassing, but... I'm a crier. I tend to get emotional during my runs, and it's not unusual for me to cry a little bit, especially on a long run.

5.  Morning, midday, evening: I love to run in the morning, and I do my long runs on Saturday morning with the dawn. But during the week, I have to run after dinner. It isn't ideal, but it's a run.

6.  I won't run outside when its: Haven't encountered this yet. I'm guessing ice would slow me down, but so far, I'll run in rain or shine, hot or cold, light or dark... you get the idea :)

7.  Worst injury - and how I got over it: I have been extremely blessed to not have any running injuries so far. When my knee started to flare up (I dislocated it as a child and it has never been the same since) I bought a $12 knee brace and kept on truckin'. 

8.  I felt most like a badass mother runner when: I got up early one morning and ran 15 miles... and was home before my husband and daughter were even out of bed.

9.  Next race is: Planning on an informal half marathon with some ladies from my church later this month. Other than that, I have nothing on the calendar. I am super thrifty, so I just can't abide plopping down serious cash for anything less than a 26.2. If it's shorter than that, I can run it by myself- for free.

10.  Potential running goal for 2013: A marathon! You read it, now hold me to it.