Boston Run TEAM

Late summer of 2009, I decided I wanted to run a marathon. I had never run more than 4 miles but I set out on the journey to 26.2. That fall I ran my first 10K and one year later on 10/10/10 I ran my first marathon in Chicago. I have also completed four half marathons and I am currently training for my 5th half marathon for May 2013.

Favorites:
Place to run: Along the Charles River Text
Time of Day to run: Around 6pm when the sun is setting
Race: I have run the Susan Komen Race for the Cure in Philly for 13 years and my longest run was the Tower of Terror in Disney last September
Pre-Race Meal: Peanut butter and banana on a bagel thin
Music to listen to while running: Electronic or pop music that is upbeat and fun
Running Shoes: Brooks

Running Background:
I really had not run much since high school with the exception of my yearly 5K with my brother. Then last year my best friend decided to sign up to run a 10 mile run for her 40th birthday. I agreed to run the race with her and started training. I found running alone to be a bit boring so I joined a few running groups. Luna Chix runners inspired me to really begin to appreciate running! I have been running now for about a year

Favorites
Place to run: Various routes around my neighborhood in Belmont, Waltham, and Watertown. I like the woodsy path along the Charles River and hills in Watertown with views of downtown Boston.

Time of Day to run: In the morning while fresh snow is falling and it is still quiet outside.

Race: Life! Just staying fit and happy.

Pre-Race Meal: Food

Music to listen to while running: The sounds around me

Running Shoes: Brooks Dyad and Asics

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.

Always an avid athlete, I have been "running around" my whole life. After a successful field hockey career in High School and College, I decided to revisit my running days of high school track and fell in love. Yearning for a new mode of competition and activity, I took on distance running. The Luna Chix have been an amazing community to keep me moving, running, laughing - as well as to introduce me to some of the best women in my city and beyond. I have bonded with these women over running, Luna bars, and common interests, and without the Luna Chix I wouldn't be able to say that today. In the past few years I have tackled the focus and confidence to run several half marathons and a couple of marathons. I have run in two 24 hour relays, and have another one on the schedule for the upcoming season. My training wouldn't be complete without my weekly Wednesday Luna runs :) I also enjoy running early mornings with the Back on My Feet, Common Ground team and signing up for last minute races :)

Favorites
Place to run: Charles River, Castle Island
Time of Day to run: Weekend mornings. There's nothing quite like a long run on a sunday morning around Boston
Race: Walt Disney World Marathon
Pre-Race Meal: Bagel & Cream Cheese, banana, orange juice
Music to listen to while running: Everything and anything!
Running Shoes: Brooks Ghost

Running Background

I ran track in high school running anything from the 100M - 1000M. I loved the shorter races but never dreamed I would run more than a few miles!

In college I participated in a variety of intramural sports and enjoyed running around Boston. A friend approached me my senior year about running the Boston Marathon for charity. After watching the Boston Marathon for the previous 4 years, I thought why not - I love watching this race - maybe I should try a longer distance. I had so much fun during my first marathon that 9 months later I found myself running another one - Walt Disney World Marathon.

I joined the weekly LUNA runs as a way to stay in shape after the Boston Marathon and found myself surrounded by an amazingly supportive and fun loving group of runners! It's because of thier support and love of running that I've found myself signed up for another marathon in October!

Favorites

Place to run: On the Esplanade - nothing beats it on a beautiful day

Time of Day to run: First thing in the morning.. well, when I can get myself out of bed

Race: Walt Disney Marathon! It was my first marathon and an absolutely mind-blowing experience. Also, the Newport Half Marathon - It's where I ran my fastest half marathon! And how could I forget the Harpoon 5 miler. It's the first race I ever did and it holds a special place in my heart

Pre-Race Meal: Whole wheat toast with natural peanut butter and a banana

Music to listen to while running: I can't stop listening to any and everything that's sung on Glee. Nerd alert!

Running Shoes: Asics!

Running Background: I grew up playing sports - soccer, tennis, basketball, swimming - but never ran until after I had ACL reconstructive surgery the summer before my senior year of college. I started slow, and short and am now training for my fourth half marathon!

Favorites:
Place to run: Aruba or any where near water

Time of Day to run: Afternoon/Early Eve

Race: Timberman 70.3

Pre-Race Meal: Eggs and gluten free bagel then PB and J then Hammer Gel (I HAVE TO EAT or I GET SICK!!!)

Music to listen to while running: I stopped listening to music a year or so ago. Gives me time to think and I can focus on form and the goal of the run.

Running Shoes: Mizuno Wave Inspire, Puma Faas 500, Vibrams

Running Background:
I was a pretty active kid dancing, cheerleading, gymnastics and found a love for swimming. All through high school I swam for both a USS and recreational teams. It lead to a career as a Division 3 collegiate swimmer, due to injury I had to stop swimming. When my athletic career ended laziness got the best of me. About 4 years ago, after a awful breakup, I signed myself up with a personal trainer. I dropped 30+ pounds through training, running and of course swimming. In April 2009 I did my first 5k. When I figured out that I could run I quickly transitioned into triathlons my first triathlon was in September 2009. I came in 2nd in the Athena division and I was hooked! Following my triathlon I signed up for my first half marathon in Atlanta in November 2009. Somewhere in my training I injured my right hip, tore the labrum tendon and found I had Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI). I had my femural head shaved and the tendon repaired on 10 April 2010. With the help of a great support group and some awesome doctors I was back running in August. While recovering and unable to run I competed in a couple Aquabikes to feed my competitive self. The 2011 season was my come back to triathlon and racing. I did 2 half marathons, a ten miler, a 15K, a few 10ks, a few 5ks, 3 sprint triathlons, 1 Olympic triathlon and my biggest accomplishment of all my first Half Ironman triathlon. I have worked VERY hard to get where I am and continue to train for 2012.

Although I ran in college, I really didn't start running longer distances until several years after graduating. I completed my first 5k in 2004 and started participating in the Luna Chix weekly runs a couple years later. Since then, Luna has been an inspiring and motivating group to run with. I officially joined the Run Team in 2006 (although took the 2011 season off for graduate work). In 2007, I finished my first marathon (the Marine Corp Marathon in DC) and have done two additional marathons since then (Nike Women's in 2008 and Boston in 2010), as well as many other memorable races and events. I'm definitely more the tortoise than the hare when it comes to running, but it's a great way to blow off steam and stress, as well as just stay in shape. And running with the Boston Luna Chix has been a great way to meet and run with some fabulous female athletes from all levels!

Favorites
Place to run: Belmont, Waltham, and Watertown; hills, hills, hills.
Time of Day to run: Nothing beats watching the sun rise during a run. Ooh, and during precipitation; I love those quiet snows and rains.
Race: Right now I’m getting ready for the 2014 runDisney Challenges; all of them.
Pre-Race Meal: Gluten-free carbs, maybe some fruit, and a little protein. I’m scared if I have a specific pre-race meal it won’t be available when I need it most.
Music to listen to while running: Totally mood dependant; most of the time a podcast, sometimes NPR, sometimes bad 80’s pop, sometimes nothing, sometimes bad 90’s pop, you get the picture.
Running Shoes: I rotate at lest three different brands. I am of the theory that you can’t let your body get used to one as it may increase injury potential.

Running Background
As an active kid growing up in Minnesota I avoided running as much as possible. But when my college volleyball career ended I felt a little lost. Since this was about the same time I started graduate school there weren’t funds for a gym membership or classes. So, I started running just to keep my body and mind in shape; that is where my love affair / addiction germintated.

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 Chicago, Boston and Kona over the next couple of years.

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 2005, I started doing more races and long runs with the LUNA Chix.I've gotten back into running marathons, and also sometimes do triathlons.