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Since CA & I are on this awesome secret mission đ I am turning over my Tough It Out Tuesday post to my amazing, colorful, running friend Gigi. She runs Running On Candy, and blogs about ALL of the runs she does, 5ks to Half Marathons, and has just begun her training for her first FULL Marathon (26.2 Miles).
We are doing a Q&A for her post, since she is such a seasoned runner, it’s fun to see what insight she is holding in her rainbow hair (her hair is a rainbow actually). Definitely check out her blog Running On Candy, Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram ⼠Anything that I am adding will be in Italics đ
1. How and why did you start running? I joined Weight Watchers in April 2011 and they posted about a 5k run/walk. I signed me and my husband up. I knew if I had to go alone it wouldnât happen. So on May 22nd, 2011 I headed to the park and toed my first start line. I planned on walking but I did jog a small bit. I ended up with a time of 44:xx and was 121 out of over 800 peopleâŚ.I knew then I needed to do it again. The following weekend with 2 friends I did another 5k and finished in 43:xxâŚ.I just kept doing them each weekend.
2. Why do you run? I have battled with thyroid issues since I was 15 , that coupled with emotional eating and horrible eating habits my weight has gone up and down drastically my whole life but even when I was skinny I was not fit. I am not 40 and want to be fit.
3. How has running changed you? I have met a lot of new friends and even though I am overweight I am still in better shape than I ever have been. {duh she met ME!}
4. Which race distances have you ran and which one is your favorite? Why? I have run 4ks â half marathons. Over 300 races since I started in 2011. Each of them have been my favorite at some point or another for different reasons.
5. How do you fuel for your runs and/or races? THIS is my biggest problem and something I need to work on and figure out as my marathon training starts on June 2nd!! {I have the same problem, luckily the running clinic will help us! Starts June 25th!}
6. Which race was your favorite and why? This is hard. There have been so many that I loved for various reasons but I would say The Flying Pig Half 2013. It was my fourth half marathon but the first one I traveled far for, I was alone for the race in a state I had never been to, It was a huge event and the whole city came out for it plus I met a friend while running and we just had a great time. That was when I learned I liked running with people.
7. What advice would you give your former self or someone just starting out? DONâT compare yourself to anyone but yourself. This is my BIGGEST issue. If I see someone or know someone who I think is similar to me but they are faster or âa better runnerâ I get down on myself. {I am the same way, it’s hard not to compare but eventually you learn not to… or do it less}
8. Do you listen to music while running? Share a couple of your must haves for your race playlist! â Unless I am running with friends I NEED music or audiobooks.
9. What is your greatest running achievement to date? In my opinion it is going out there on that first day and finishing that very first 5k. Sure I have done longer distances and have gotten faster but that very first 5k will always be the biggest and best one.
10. You do several races a year and travel for many of them. How do you find the time to do them all? I am lucky, I donât have kids. Running is my hobby and I love to travel.
11. You’ll be training for your first full marathon this year. Awesome! Tell us about the race you chose and why you decided to go for a full. Once I started running I always said âWhen I do a marathonâŚ.â It just seemed like the obvious progression of things. I even signed up for one before I did my first half marathon. The Flying Pig was going to be my first full. However, my first half was a HUGE eye opener for me. I did not train properly and was hurting. I changed the Flying Pig to the half the very next day! I then just resigned to never do a full. Fast forward to the end of 2013 and I am part of a group of women who run here on Long Island and of course the talk of full marathons started and a bunch of us who have not done one decided we would do one together. I am not sure how the Wineglass Marathon came up but that is it. Just 19 short weeks from nowâŚ.YIKES!
12. Have you ever won or placed in a race? Tell us about it! I have a small handful of age group and Athena medals/trophies/plaques mostly 3rd place but I will take it!! I know I shouldnât but I call Athena the fat girl division. Not all races have them but if they do that is where I register. I am a big girl so why not.
13. Have you dealt with any injuries or health issues in your running journey? What were they and what did you do to overcome them? From day one I have suffered from what is called Mortons Neuroms in BOTH feet. It really hurts and I spent 2 years going to the doctor getting shots between my toes. It is basically just scar tissue that wraps around the nerves in your feet and when you run the blood flow expands those nerves but where the neuromas are it canât expand and boy it hurts. I was too stubborn to let them get the better of me and quit so I think they also helped me stick to it in a strange way.
14. What advice would you give someone who had a hard time finding the motivation to run longer distances or lacks the motivation to run at all? Think about why you want to run and focus on that. For me it was to get fit. I know I am not ever going to win anything and in all honestly I hate running. I just like how I can play with my young nieces and nephews now and not be too fat or tired to have fun. Sometimes finding someone with the same fitness level/schedule as you helps. I also knew that if I spent the money on races I would go and run themâŚ.then if I wanted to do better I would run during the week too.
15. Are you brand loyal or do you use different brands? Tell us what your favorites are and why! I will try anything. I run in Mizunos now because they seem to help with my neuromas. I have Brooks and Newtons too. As long as whatever it is works, is comfortable, looks cute LOL and is hopefully brightly colored I will wear it.
16. What is your favorite running gear item and why? I wonât run without music or my garmin. I am a gadget nerd so I need them!!
17. Have you volunteered for a race before? Tell us about your experience! I absolutely LOVE volunteering. I have 2 favorite volunteering experiences. 1st was at the 2013 NYC Marathon. I had never experienced anything like that before. 2nd was just this past March. There is a 25k/50k right up the road from my house so I volunteered to hand out medals. I had a bunch of friends running and there is nothing like giving someone you care about something they worked very hard for plus there was a woman who was hurting really bad and was probably not going to make the cut off of 8 hours. **Let me mention the 50k is TEN LOOPS OF THE SAME 5k COURSE â kill me now!** She was hurting both physically and mentally so I, along with my friend Alicia refused to leave before she finished and I could put that medal on her neck. I know what it is like to be at the back of the pack with the time limit looming over your head when you are just DONE but not finished. She was just so strong in my eyes and I still tear up thinking about it.
18. What time of day do you prefer to run and why? Nights. I hate to get up in the morning! I do know that when I do run in the morning I feel better for the rest of the day but it is just sooooo early.
19. Are you a part of a running club/group? How has that helped you with your running? I am, I even started one. The one âofficialâ one is GLIRC (Greater Long Island Running Club), the one I started with a bunch of friends is called Motley Shues â running with the wrong crowd. We are just a bunch of people who like to run together if we can. Most recently there is IGR â Island Girls Running. This group has been awesome. We travel to races in packs sometime and the women in the group are all different ages/abilities/sizes, ect. {I run with Gigi through Motley Shues & IGR is my home base}
20. Besides running, what other passions do you have? I love to bake, do yoga, play with my cats and husband, and travel.
21. What running goals do you have for 2014? To train well for the Wineglass Marathon and finish!!
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Love both you girls!
Awwe <3 I would never have thought of myself as a seasoned runner đ
That is amazing!!
Yay love Gigi! Awesome post ladies!