What has been your major running milestone?
I feel very fortunate to have recently achieved my marathon PR of 2:55:10 at 44. :) I largely took my 20s and 30s off of training while focused on my three daughters and my career, and it has been really fun to get back into setting goals and training more seriously since turning 40.
How did you get into the sport?
How did you get into the sport?
I started running in middle school - it was the most accessible sport for a daughter of an immigrant who otherwise saw the better focus of time on academics. As it got more structured in high school, I loved the trials of practice and competition, as well as the team aspects of the sport.
What is the secret to your success?
What is the secret to your success?
Waking up early! I'm usually done with my workouts by 7:15am during the week, whether it's 4 miles or 12. If I'm not done by then, it's likely something else will take priority later in the day and I'd be at risk of not completing it. I also hate having to think about nutrition relative to a late-in-day workout, so it's great to be done early.
What has been the biggest obstacle to reaching your goals and how did you move forward?
What has been the biggest obstacle to reaching your goals and how did you move forward?
Consistency in doing workouts of effort! It was easy enough to get out to run 3-5 miles on any given day. But doing workouts to develop each system is the key to achieving time/race goals! This is where Runcoach was a huge game changer for me - being able to work with a coach to set a goal and then not have to come up with a plan with WHAT to do, but rather just do it, was critical.
What is the most rewarding part of training?
What is the most rewarding part of training?
Camaraderie and seeing it pay off! For 2023, I made a resolution to do more of my easy days with others, in addition to partners I have for workouts. It makes a world of difference and running so enjoyable to vary the quieter, music/podcast days with conversation.
What advice would you give to other members of the Runcoach community?
What advice would you give to other members of the Runcoach community?
Set a goal, make a date, and stick with it! My friends that don't "get" running usually fall back on "it's so boring". We know that's not true, but even for runners, not having a goal can make training feel a bit aimless. Set a goal (or goals) for whatever training cycle you like, find friends and other ways to keep yourself accountable - including your coach! - and make sure you get out the door. For a lot of us more distance-oriented folks - especially over 40 - the first couple of miles might not feel great, but KEEP GOING. Remember that post-workout feeling!
What advice would you give to your younger self?
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Meet yourself where you are, and compare yourself to your realistic expectations for that year relative to everything else you're trying to achieve in your life. And stretch.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
Is there anything else you would like to share?
Take the time to understand what nutrition habits work best for you. I've learned a ton in the last two years about what my body needs to feel better, and do better, and calories before and during workouts and good fuel immediately post has made a huge difference.
