10 Running Questions

Sarah and Dimity of Another Mother Runner posted a fun set of questions for running bloggers/moms to answer, so I thought I'd take break from training posts and answer them. Those of you moms (and dads) who are so inclined should consider yourselves tagged! If you blog your answers, please leave a link to the post in the comments here, or email me a link, so I can read what you have to say.

1. Best run ever: This was really hard to decide on, but I think I've nailed it: the XC Xtreme, a small cross-country race in my hometown that I did with my then-fiance now-husband. It was a cold March day in 2005, a four-mile course involving fence-scaling, hill climbing, ditch leaping, water slogging and ropes. I felt really strong and fit in the chilly air. Dan and I ended up finishing side-by-side after I trailed him for a long time, and I finished as third woman (that tells you it was a VERY small race!).

My favorite ever running photo of Dan.

I was behind him at the creek, but I caught up!

Getting my trophy! It was a piece of wood harvested from the course. It smelled like motor oil. The overall men's and women's winners got a set of antlers.

2. Three words that describe my running: therapeutic, rejuvenating, freeing

3. My go-to running outfit is: pretty boring--Nike tempo shorts in black or dark green and a race tech tee of some sort; now that it's chilly in the morning, I'm wearing light gloves, too, and when it gets cold for real I'll trade the shorts for capris and add a jacket.

In a half-marathon last year....pretty typical boring attire!

4. Quirky habit while running: Hmmm...I don't really have one (that I know of!).

5. Morning, midday, evening:  Morning! I'm a morning person all the way. And I always know that no matter how the rest of the day goes, it's OK because I got my run done.

6. I won’t run outside when it’s: both icy AND dark. I can handle either alone, but the combo sends me to the treadmill every time.

7. Worst injury—and how I got over it: my back earlier this year (though it stems from my pregnancy; I've had pain in my low back since late in my pregnancy in 2006); I'm still getting over it thanks to a combo of physical therapy, rest, Pilates and other core work and cross-training.

8. I felt most like a badass mother runner when: I set my 10K PR at the local turkey trot last year in front of my husband and kids. They almost never get to see me race, so it was really fun to know I'd see them at the finish line.

Run faster! Your children are watching!

9. Next race is: the Detroit International Half-Marathon on Oct. 21. I'm loving my training, but this still seems dauntingly close. We'll see how it goes. Right now my expectations for it are low. It's that Dec. 2 California International Marathon that I really want to rock.

10. Potential running goal for 2013: This is up in the air. If by some miracle of magical training by Darren combined with ideal weather and a little pixie dust I do qualify for the Boston Marathon on Dec. 2, my running in 2013 will about having fun and staying fit. I'd like to do a lot of shorter races, run on trails, maybe bust my 5K PR (but not worry a lot about that or anything else). If, however, I don't qualify for Boston, I'll work to stay healthy and continue to gun for that elusive BQ.