In honor of our inaugural Team LUNA Chix Portland Run season, I’ve been introducing my teammates via this interview series…and here’s the last of the Q&A’s with our 10 team leaders. I hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know these impressive ladies, and come join us for a run next season if you’re in town — we meet Monday nights from 6:30-7:30 pm in Portland (click here for details)! 

A lover of the great outdoors (seriously, whether it’s wandering the woods, hitting the beach or floating the river, she’s in her happy place), Carolyn Domme hails from the “Land of Enchantment,” otherwise known as New Mexico. And after soaking up the San Diego sun for a few years in between, she’s now proud to call Portland “home.”

We started our LTWR (long-term workout relationship) shortly after I moved to Portland myself because Carolyn’s always game to try something new, whether it’s studio-hopping, trying out new workouts or even signing up for her first-ever road race last December, which you can read about below. Even though she’s a self-professed non-runner, you’d never guess it, especially because she’s verbally agreed to sign up for another 5k this holiday season.

As an avid mountain-biker, hiking adventurer and hot yogi, Carolyn thrives on variety when it comes to fitness. And bonus: She’s got an amazing sense of style and an adventurous palate, so if you’re ever in need of fashion advice or a recommendation for one of the best restaurants in Portland, Carolyn is your go-to gal!

1. What’s your favorite route? I like urban runs through the alphabet district in NW Portland. It’s just a pretty place, and it keeps me preoccupied seeing people, houses and parks while I pass by on my run. I prefer to do a loop instead of back tracking with an out-and-back, which is why running in neighborhoods works so well for me.

2. What shoes do you wear? I like Nike running shoes. I’ve worn the Nike minimalist shoes for years now, and I love them because they are lightweight, comfortable, and I like to feel the contact with the pavement.

3. What other run gear can’t you live without? I absolutely love the SPIbelt, which is really just a fancy word for fanny pack. I just discovered this item over the last year thanks to the LUNA running belt, and I wear it every time I do an outdoor activity. It’s very small and doesn’t bounce, and it fits just about anything you want to shove into that small but very expandable pouch.

4. What’s your best time-saver or “runhack?” Working out first thing in the morning guarantees that I will get up, get out and get it over with.

5. What running-related thing are you better at than anyone else? I think I am very good at planning ahead and staying hydrated, which makes a significant difference in performance. Sometimes people forget the importance of drinking water in advance of a long run or hard workout.

6. What do you listen to while running? I love Spotify. They do a weekly recommendations playlist based on listening habits, and every week it blows my mind how well Spotify has me figured out. It’s really fun to find great new tunes while working out.

7. What are you currently training for? Nothing, but I have my eye on the 5K Jingle Bell Run. I ran my first 5K there last year, and it was a really fun experience.

8. What are your recovery & sleep routines like? I am a huge believer in the importance of getting enough sleep, so I’m generally in bed by 10 pm if I’m not working late. I also love stretching out with a Pilates ring or rolling on a foam roller while I’m at home watching TV in the evening. I think being well rested and stretching consistently makes for better training.

9. What’s the best running advice you’ve ever received? For the longest time I never set goals for myself or tracked time/miles. Over the last several months, my workout partner — who happens to be Jenn our awesome LUNA leader — has tracked the miles/time with all of our outdoor activities, and it made me realize that it motivates me to work harder when I can compete with myself.

10. What’s your favorite running-related memory? I started running when I lived in San Diego, and my favorite running memory is running along the coast with all of the other runners in the warm sunshine.

11. Fill in the blank: I’d love to go on a run with ______.  Amy Schumer. She’s hilarious, and would help pass the time in the best way possible.

Thanks, Carolyn! Looking forward to hitting it hard with our workouts in the off-season. 

Runner friends, shoot me a note — info (at) kineticfix.com — so I can feature you, too!