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Favorites
Place to run: The Charles River paths and the long country roads in my hometown.
Time of Day to run: Early morning.
Race: BAA Half Marathon
Pre-Race Meal: Yogurt, banana, and pineapple smoothie
Music to listen to while running: The eclectic mix on my MP3 player or sometimes just the sounds of the city and my shoes hitting the pavement.
Running Shoes: Saucony Hurricane
Running Background
I had always been one to jog a few miles here and there, but in spring of 2005, I decided I wanted to run the B.A.A. half marathon in October. So, to help me reach this goal, I started researching online all the things I thought I needed to know about training and also began to look for a running group to help keep me motivated. That’s when I came across the Boston LUNA Chix. The group was extremely welcoming and its members became some of my greatest resources for information as well as a constant source of encouragement throughout my training. With all of this support, I ran my first 10k in September 2005, and then completed the B.A.A. Half Marathon in October crossing the finish line hand and hand with my father, a veteran marathoner.
Just after completing that race, I had a foot injury that kept me from running for about 7 weeks; during this time I missed running terribly and realized how important it had become to me. As soon as the doctor cleared me to run again, I signed up to run the 110th Boston Marathon with Team Brigham in support of Brigham and Women Hospital. This was my first marathon and while running Boston is always something I thought would be amazing, I never thought I would actually do it.
Running the Boston Marathon was an amazing experience that I will never forget from training in December to crossing the finish line in April (again hand and hand with my Dad!). I cannot wait to do it again next year.
I am also really looking forward to tackling the 200-mile Reach the Beach Relay with fellow LUNA Chix in September!
Favorites
Place to run: City streets in downtown Boston and on the paths along the Charles River.
Time of Day to run: The middle of the day
Race: Hyannis Marathon as part of a relay team and the Maine Coast Half Marathon
Pre-Race Meal: Cereal when I get up and some sort of power food (Luna moons or Gu) an hour before the race
Music to listen to while running: I have a pretty random mix on my ipod- TIm McGraw, 50 Cent, Aretha Franklin, and Tool, but I prefer to run with friends and listen to them telling me about their crazy adventures.
Running Shoes: Brooks Addiction
Running Background
I often joked that I didn't like running unless I was chasing a
soccer ball, but the truth is that I've been a runner my whole
life. As a kid I was always running around the orchards
behind my house or racing the boys at recess (I usually won!)
In high school I did cross country and track to keep in shape
for soccer. In college, I would run on occasion and started
playing rugby as a way to stay in shape and relieve tension.
Since college, I've played soccer on and off, but have
enjoyed running more and more. I no longer feel I need to be
chasing something or having someone chase me to motivate
me to run (though it still helps to chase someone in a race).
I still enjoy being in a team environment and that led me to
the LUNA Chix. I started running with them on the Wednesday
night runs and meeting up with them at some of their
sponsored races (Iron Girl, Tufts 10K) and joined the team in
February 2008.
In the LUNA Chix, I've found a great community of women who
enjoy being outside and pushing themselves to be better
athletes without being competitive. And there's always
someone for me to chase when I need the extra motivation!
Favorites
Place to run: Various routes around my neighborhood in Belmont, Waltham, and Watertown. I like Watertown the best because of rewarding views of downtown.
Time of Day to run: Early in the morning when fresh snow is falling and it is still quiet outside.
Race: Marathon #2... one day
Pre-Race Meal: Food
Music to listen to while running: The sounds around me
Running Shoes: Brooks Ariel
Running Background
I had a blast running track in high school- it was nice that my school mascot is a greyhound!
I have run casually over the years, but did not get into road races until I moved to Boston and a friend from work encouraged me to do so.
I love the individuality and low-equipment needs of running, and also the fact that you can do it with others for camaraderie and encouragement.
Favorites
Place to run: Esplanade, the Fells, Coast Guard Beach-- near water.
Time of Day to run: Love to run in the morning.
Race: I have not done many, but Reach the Beach is my favorite so far.
Pre-Race Meal: Small turkey sandwich on wheat.
Music to listen to while running: Getting used to NO music, crazy! Never thought it would happen.
Running Shoes: New Balance 859
Running Background
I have been a swimmer and kayaker most of my life, so running is very new. I started on a treadmill in college a year ago and as of August 2008, I've worked up the courage to run outside and even complete a few races. So far, it's been 2 5ks, 2 10k... and Reach the Beach. They have all been fun but the best is finding races out of the city in a beautiful location!
Favorites
Place to run: Around the Charles or Jamaica Pond -those little runner/biker hide-aways from the crazy city traffic.
Time of Day to run: Mid-afternoon is ideal however I really do not get to run then during the week so I run in the evening.
Race: Reach the Beach Relay
Pre-Race Meal: a bagel
Music to listen to while running: I usually listen to an eclectic mix-sometimes a radio station. I like being surprised by what song is next.
Running Shoes: Nike Pegasus
Running Background
Since high school I have been a big fan of track and field and running events. I managed the track teams in high school, and volunteered with the BAA half-marathon and Boston Marathon a few times. However, I only started running on a regular basis in college, and did not run in my first race (a 5k) until fall 2004.
In 2006, I began training to complete a longer distance run. The weekly LUNA Chix runs were a great motivating factor and the support of the women who run with the group really propelled me throughout the year.
I ran my first 10k in July 2006, the Ryka Iron Girl in Quincy, MA, and completed my first half-marathon in October with the BAA event. The latter was a huge accomplishment for me after volunteering with the event for several years (and always saying: Maybe next year I will run it).
Since 2006, I have been taking part in one of me favorite races: the Reach the Beach Relay, a 200-plus mile relay race across New Hampshire in September. The 2007 Marine Corp Marathon was my first marathon; I completed my goal of just finishing the race! (walking was included.) In 2008, I ran the Nike Women’s Marathon in San Francisco, and have completed many other races in the past few years - from 5K to half marathons to a 1-mile charity Speedo run through Boston in December!
Favorites
Place to run: Lakefront path (Chicago), Boulder Creek path (CO), Jamaica Pond, Charles River
Time of Day to run: Right before lunch
Race: Boston Marathon
Pre-Race Meal: Bagel with cream cheese
Music to listen to while running: Dance music
Running Shoes: Asics
Running Background
After getting cut from my high school lacrosse team, I joined track primarily because my best friend told me that running would be fun. Although I did not find it to be as much fun as she did and often complained at our after-school practices, I soon discovered that running was a great way to stay in shape.
Still, I could not understand why anybody would want to run more than a few miles at a time. It was only during college one summer, when two close friends began training for the Chicago marathon, that I became truly hooked on running.
I started to run 10ks, followed by my first half marathon in 1996, and for a few years I thought that was far enough. However, after moving to Boulder, CO for graduate school, I decided that I wanted to run a marathon. In June of 1999, I ran the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon, followed by the Chicago marathon that fall, the Boston marathon in 2000, and the Hawaii Kona marathon in 2001.
Then I took a break from marathons and stuck with shorter races while I finished up graduate school. However, once I moved to Boston in August 2005, I started doing more races and long runs with the LUNA Chix. I've gotten back into running marathons, and also have an interest in triathlons.
Favorites
Place to run: Harvard campus, around the Charles, the Cambridge bike path
Time of Day to run: Late morning
Race: 5Ks
Pre-Race Meal: Mini bagel w/ peanut butter and a banana or yogurt
Music to listen to while running: I usually do not run listening to music, but when I do it's to pop/dance music like Rihanna
Running Shoes: Mizuno Wave Rider
Running Background
A few years ago I started going for runs a couple times a week to start doing something other than just going to the gym. I played soccer in high school, which involves a lot of running, so it was something I always liked doing. My first race was a 5k a few years ago, and I continued running short distances since then.
Then my friend Alex, already a member of the LUNA Chix, encouraged me to try running distances longer than 2 or 3 miles. She also encouraged me to try my first half-marathon, and in March 2007, I successfully ran the Boston Run to Remember. During my training for that race, I learned there is a lot more to running than just putting on a pair of sneakers and hitting the pavement - running makes you more health-conscious and mentally strong, and it motivates you to reach for new challenges. I know now that running is something that I want to continue to make part of my life. I am excited to have the support of the LUNA Chix team to help me become an all-around better runner, and more importantly, to share the joy of the sport.
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