July 13, 2015

How I Run: Team LUNA Chix PDX’s Sharlene Murphy

In honor of our inaugural Team LUNA Chix Portland Run season, I’ll be introducing my teammates via this interview series throughout the next few months…get to know these impressive ladies, and come join us for a run Monday nights from 6:30-7:30 pm in Portland (click here for details)!

Meet Sharlene Murphy, another fabulous member of our inaugural LUNA team. If you see her at practice, feel free to ask her about her “dogter” or chat about one of her many weekend adventures (she’s got the lowdown in everything from local camping to climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro) — but whatever you do, don’t let her bright smile and easy-going attitude fool you; once the gun goes off, this woman is a lean, mean running machine.

A family medicine doc by day, Sharlene’s an avid yogi who enjoys camping, hiking, snowshoeing, running and cycling, among a host of other outdoor activities (just try and keep up!) in her spare time. Oh, and did I mention that she’s currently working on a new addition to Team LUNA Chix Portland Run, coming in a few short months?

That’s right, Sharlene may be running for two at the moment (congrats!!), but that certainly isn’t holding her back. Fresh off a shiny new 10K PR back in April at Bridge to Brews, she then went on to run a blazingly-fast race at the Portland Rock ‘n’ Roll half marathon in May.

And although she’s not training for anything else major this season, event-wise, Sharlene is setting a great example for a healthy, balanced and fit approach to pregnancy. We can’t wait to meet her mini training partner later this year!

1. What’s your favorite route? Anything by bodies of water — rivers, lakes or ocean. Or mountains! I really love running the Springwater Corridor on a Saturday or Sunday morning. It is filled with runners of all shapes, sizes and speeds — everyone is quick to give a smile, nod and wave as you go by. I love our tribe of runners.

2. What shoes do you wear? I have been wearing Brooks for the last three years. Currently I am in the Ghost 7’s, but previously wore with happiness the Defyiance. I have also donned Asics, Nikes, New Balance — you name it! I am lucky to have a neutral gait and stride (knock wood) so I feel like there are a lot of good options out there for me.

3. What other run gear can’t you live without? I’m most recently obsessed with my GPS watch — the Polar M400 — and my running belt — FlipBelt. I also cannot imagine running without my gloves in cold weather.

4. What’s your best time-saver or “runhack?” My runhack is probably one on race days. When I am able, I like to bike to my race. It makes for a more convenient commute to a sometimes very busy race location. It also warms up my legs and body in a different way than jogging does.

5. What running-related thing are you better at than anyone else? Also race related: I love to cheer on the spectators (especially the ones cheering) at road races. There is nothing better than getting encouragement during a race, regardless of who it is from. I am grateful for those who show up and give support! Insider’s secret: if you cheer for them, THEY CHEER LOUDER!! Such a boost!

6. What do you listen to while running? My running playlist is my only shameless, guilt-free music time — whatever I like, regardless if it is couth or not. Spinning these days is Sean Paul, Bon Jovi, Luke Bryan, Beyonce, Stevie Wonder, Paramore, Miley Cyrus, The Turtles and Kayne West.

7. What are you currently training for? No big events in the immediate future. I like to do longer races in the spring and fall when the weather is cooler. I have some shorter distance events planned for the summer (love the Bowerman 5K). Just running for the health of my life right now. This also allows for more cross-training.

8. What are your recovery & sleep routines like? Since completing residency a couple years ago (I am a family medicine physician), my sleep has FINALLY returned to near normal. Before, I was oscillating between being up for 30 hours straight to sleeping for 18 hours to recover. Now I get a reliable 7.5-8 hours every night, and I am a more reasonable person to be around. I like to recover from a long run or race with a good meal and a movie on the couch.

9. What’s the best running advice you’ve ever received? Run the mile you are in.

10. What’s your favorite running-related memory? I was fortunate to participate in Hood to Coast in 2012. What an experience!

I’ll never forget my second leg – somewhere between St. Helens and Jewell, in the middle of the night with a clear sky filled with thousands of stars…and I was all alone. Although the moon lit my way a bit, it was joyful (and a bit unnerving) to run with very little visibility — all I could focus on were my immediate steps.

Fun fact: Sharlene has climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kenya!

Fun fact regarding another active memory: Sharlene has climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kenya!

I will also never forget my state-qualifying 1600m race as a junior in high school. It was starting to lightly drizzle, the sun was setting and I was coming around the final 200 meter stretch.

My entire track team was on the edge of the track cheering on myself and my teammate (as we were leading the pack), and I just remember getting this sudden surge of endorphins and confidence and the two of us went on to beat our biggest rivals in the race! We felt like we were on top of the world!!

11. Fill in the blank: I’d love to go on a run with __________. My high school cross country and track coach. He really encouraged me to pursue long-distance running. Its partly because of him that I still love running today — fifteen years later.

Thanks, Sharlene! Can’t wait to meet our newest addition to Team LUNA Chix in just a few short months.

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

Posted in Ambassadorship, Community, How I Run, Interview, Portland, Pregnancy, Running, Team Luna Chix
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June 15, 2015

How I Run: Team LUNA Chix PDX’s Kristin Minto

As a fellow dog-lover, runner and wine connoisseur, there was no question that Kristin Minto would make a great addition to our core Team LUNA Chix Portland Run group. She and Ben go back to their days as OSU Beavers, but it wasn’t long after we moved to Portland that I was plotting to get her to convert from orange and black to (LUNA’s) yellow and blue.

When Kristin’s not working alongside oral surgeons by day, you can find her getting her cardio fix at Burncycle, working on her conditioning at The Edge, hitting the philanthropy circuit (she’s on the board of the Children’s Cancer Association here in Portland) or cuddling her adorably-gigantic pooch. She’s just one of those incredibly-inspiring people who seem to have found 27 hours in day and make the most of each and every one of ’em.

After dominating the Rock ‘n’ Roll Portland half marathon this spring, Kristin’s also started training for her first 26.2 at the Portland Marathon this fall. I see quite a few long runs in our future, and predict a few good stories in the process, so you’ll have to stay tuned…

1. What’s your favorite route? We are so fortunate to have Forest Park located right in the heart of our city that I would have to say my favorite route would be a good ‘ol trail run. Aside from it being beautiful, I like to mix up my training so I’m not just road running 100 percent of the time.

2. What shoes do you wear? Brooks

3. What other run gear can’t you live without? My iPod loaded with great music!

4. What’s your best time-saver or “runhack?” If I’m running short on time and can’t get a decent run in, I run stairs. There are a couple sets of stairs in the West Hills and near OHSU that I frequent.

5. What running-related thing are you better at than anyone else? Ooh boy… Not sure on this one! I would say I’m probably better than most at dodging the photographers during races. I’m not a big fan of having my picture taken mid-race. However, I usually get a good laugh out of the ones that do get snapped. They really know how to capture some doozies!

6. What do you listen to while running? Everything from Pitbull to Guns N’ Roses as long as it has an upbeat tempo. There is nothing like a playlist loaded with upbeat music to put a little kick in my step when I’m feeling a little sluggish or unmotivated for a run.

7. For what are you currently training? The Portland Marathon.

8. What are your recovery & sleep routines like? I will admit that I could be a little better in the sleep department just because it seems there aren’t ever enough hours in the day. I try my hardest to average seven hours a night, though.

Hydration and foam rolling are typically part of my recovery routine, and if it’s a post-race recovery, I can usually be found rewarding myself with a mimosa and brunch!

9. What’s the best running advice you’ve ever received? “Listen to your body.” It’s so true. Sometimes if I feel like I can’t catch my breath or just feel “off,” I will pull out my earbuds and just asses my breathing and what’s going on while I’m running. I can usually straighten out whatever is going on and get into my normal groove.

10. What’s your favorite running-related memory? Running my first race and crossing that finish line for the first time. It’s so rewarding and such a great feeling of accomplishment!

11. Fill in the blank: I’d love to go on a run with __________. My pup Oscar. I would love to go on runs with him more often, but he’s a big boy and tuckers out quicker than I do, so I only take him on 3-6 milers.

It gets a little embarrassing when we come to a stop light and he lays down on the sidewalk at an intersection for a break…. Like EVERY intersection!

Thanks, Kristin! Can’t wait to hit up some trails, long runs and, oh, maybe even tackle a relay together this summer.

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

Posted in Ambassadorship, Community, How I Run, Interview, Portland, Portland Marathon, Running, Team Luna Chix, Trail Running
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May 22, 2015

How I Run: Team LUNA Chix PDX’s Natasha Henderson

Introduced through Jamie, our mutual friend and running buddy, Natasha Henderson (aka Tasha) and I hit it off immediately over a double date with our husbands at a local brewery last summer. While the boys chatted about their shared ~~obsession with~~ love of all things Boston, us gals bonded over our own favorites: long runs, good beer, hard laughs, curly hair and delicious meals.

So when it came time to create this year’s Team LUNA Chix Portland Run, Tasha was a natural choice. She’s the brightest ray of sunshine on those cloudy Portland days — an embracer of life, healthy cooking and a good farmer’s market; a blogger who runs marathons, skis double black diamonds and climbs rocks.

Tasha’s one of those people who not only shows up, but each time she does, she brings her A game. Whether it’s concocting recipes in her kitchen, “runching” along the waterfront, being a hostess with the mostess or meeting up for mid-week workout dates, her enthusiasm is only surpassed by her warmth, which makes her an incredibly inspiring person to be around (not to mention she’s on my short list of belay partners who I trust to literally hold my life in her hands as I scale a 55-foot-high wall).

Tasha started running in junior high school, and says she’s been hooked ever since. She prefers trails over roads and is looking forward to running her first trail half marathon this year.

If she’s not navigating her way through Forest Park, there’s a good chance you’ll find her grabbing a quick lunchtime run along the waterfront in downtown Portland. And as far as favorite mid-run convos go, Tasha’s topics of choice range from peanut butter, skiing at Mt. Hood, lip gloss, hiking and camping to cooking a good meal for her friends and family, food blogging, used book stores, yoga and coffee!

1. What’s your favorite route? I love catching a run on the Portland waterfront during the week days. At least once a week I like to go there to squeeze in four to five miles at lunch. It’s such a beautiful loop, and on a sunny day and it energizes me for the afternoon to come.

2. What shoes do you wear? Right now I am running on hot pink Nike Air Zoom Vomeros! Before that, I was running on Asics. I’m due for a new pair of shoes soon, so we will see what the future brings!

3. What other run gear can’t you live without? I’m not sure if it counts as “gear” but I absolutely love using the Strava app. It makes it easy to track and log my runs, plus I like that I can follow my running buddies and see what type of running mischief they’ve been getting into.

4. What’s your best time-saver or “runhack?” I’m all about planning ahead and always trying to think of little things I can do to make my day (and running) easier. I am NOT a morning person, so for early morning runs or races, I literally lay out every single piece of clothing that I will wear the next morning, set the coffee machine and even prep breakfast. Not only does it save me time, but it also keeps me from forgetting something!

5. What running-related thing are you better at than anyone else? I’m not sure if I’m better than anyone else at it, but I am I’m great at saving a little bit so I can kick into high gear at the end of my run and finish strong.

6. What do you listen to while running? I am totally indiscriminate about my running music. So much so that sometimes I’m a little embarrassed if a song from my running mix comes on when there are others are around. Really, I’ll listen to anything with a good beat that keeps my feet moving. When I am in a running slump, I download a few new songs and they usually motivate me to get me out the door.

7. What are you currently training for? I am so excited for the Trail Factor Half-Marathon! This is my longest trail race distance so far, and I’ve been very dedicated to my training. After this I’d love to do a trail marathon, and maybe even a 50k!

8. What are your recovery & sleep routines like? Sometimes I have some tummy troubles after long runs, so my recovery planning starts pre-run by keeping my pre-run fuel simple. My favorite pre-run breakfast is a cup of coffee and banana with a little Chia Seed Peanut Butter Bliss (if you love peanut butter – you’re going to love this stuff!).

After my run, I like to put my legs up, re-hydrate and then re-fuel with something easy to digest. I am working hard to get more sleep, especially now that I am training for my race, but it’s still something that I struggle with because I am a total night owl. I definitely notice an improvement in my performance (and in everything) when I get a full seven or eight hours.

9. What’s the best running advice you’ve ever received? Very recently on an especially hilly nine-miler, my good friend Jackie told me to take five quick steps after I got to the top of every hill. It kept me from pooping out at the top and helped me keep my pace steady.

10. What’s your favorite running-related memory? In junior high school, I had an especially great performance during a race at an away track meet. I was sitting in the bleachers after the race — not feeling very well — when some cute guys came up to talk to me. One of them said something like “great race,” and as soon as the words were spoken I proceeded to puke all over the place.

I still vividly remember the look of horror and disgust on their faces before they walked away. At the time, I was horrified but looking back as an adult, I find a lot of humor in the whole situation. Plus, after relaying the story to my mom, she felt so bad for me that she bought me a brand new two-piece swim suit!

11. Fill in the blank: I’d love to go on a run with ______. Lauren Fleshman.

12. Anything else you want to add? Check out my blog, Tasha’s Dish, for recipes, meal prep ideas and my musings on running and working out!

Thanks, Tasha! Can’t wait to hit the roads, the track and the trails with you this season, along with other sweaty endeavors, I’m sure 🙂

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

Posted in Healthy Eating, How I Run, Interview, Portland, Running, Team Luna Chix, Trail Running
3 Comments

May 11, 2015

How I Run: Team LUNA Chix PDX’s Nicole Licking

As soon as I put the call out for athletes this season I got a note from my sister recommending Dr. Nicole Licking, and from the moment I met her, I knew she’d make an incredible addition to our team. Her relationship with running started as a way to stay in shape — quite literally, a jog/run class in college — but has turned into a way of life, and she’s eager to share that experience with other women.

When she’s not logging miles, Nicole works at OHSU as a neurologist who cares for patients with movement disorders. She likes to use running as a release and a means of escape within a busy schedule.

Fun fact: Not only is Nicole well-traveled, but she’s also lived just about every place you can think of — I dare you to find a corner of the country she hasn’t explored or lived in! And while she claims to have never been much of a competitive runner, Nicole does admit to enjoying the thrill of running across the finish line knowing that she gave it her all.

1. What’s your favorite route? Whatever route I can take straight from my front door!

2. What shoes do you wear? Asics

3. What other run gear can’t you live without? My hat — blocks the sun from my eyes and keeps the rain off my glasses

4. What’s your best time-saver or “runhack?” If I don’t have enough time for a run, I use my work-out videos. In 30 minutes, I can still improve my cardio and strength. When that doesn’t work, I take the stairs at work!

5. What running-related thing are you better at than anyone else? Focus. My academic training has taught me how to just keep going, even when you think you can’t.

6. What do you listen to while running? Anything up-tempo

7. What are you currently training for? Life! I just enjoy running, as it is my “me” time

8. What are your recovery & sleep routines like? As I get older I am understanding more and more how important stretching can be. I am working on improving this in my post-run/work-out routine. I am very religious about getting to bed on time. I need eight hours of sleep a night!

9. What’s the best running advice you’ve ever received? Running is 90% mental

10. What’s your favorite running-related memory? Winning my first trophy (2nd in my age group in a 10K). I know it sounds silly, but I had never been recognized for true athletic achievement before!

11. Fill in the blank: I’d love to go on a run with __________. My mom

Thanks, Nicole! I’m excited to get to know you even better this season as we cross a few more finish lines together.

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

Posted in Community, How I Run, Interview, Personalities, Portland, Running, Team Luna Chix
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April 27, 2015

How I Run: Team LUNA Chix PDX’s Tiffany Henness

Does stalking on Instagram count as meeting someone nowadays? If so, then that’s how Tiffany Henness and I first got to know one another (or, rather, how I started following her and liking #AllThePuppyPictures).

But as far as our first real-life run-in goes, we crossed paths (literally — while on a shakeout jog) one morning at IDEA World Fitness Blogfest with SweatPink last summer. And when I found out we’d both be in Oregon as I was recruiting for our Team LUNA Chix Portland Run, I started bugging her by phone and email, as well.

Digital lives aside, I’m thrilled to have her on the team and to be able to log more miles together this season — not only because she’s super-positive, a great role model and loads of fun to be around, but also because this RRCA Certified Running Coach, CrossFit Level 1 Trainer and ultra-runner is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to living a healthy, fit lifestyle.

She’s in the process of launching her new blog (Thoroughly Thriving — check it out!) where you’ll be able to follow along on her adventures and pick up some great tips. But in the meantime we sat down to chat about a mutual love: Running.

1. What’s your favorite route? Anything trail or scenic. I get bored running the same streets too often, so I frequently explore new areas or reverse routes to keep it interesting.

2. What shoes do you wear? I’ve been in Saucony Guide 7’s for over a year now and am very pleased.

3. What other run gear can’t you live without? INKnBURN running shorts. Best ever.

4. What’s your best time-saver or “runhack?” Learning to run with as little as possible has been huge for me. I don’t need a watch, music or a water bottle. I can totally manage running by feel, reaching inward for motivation, and last up to an hour before finding a water fountain or something. It’s freeing, mentally and physically, to be more minimal on the run.

5. What running-related thing are you better at than anyone else? Ha! I’d say running without music or mental distractions, simply because almost everyone I know believes (falsely) that they simply could not run without music.

I certainly enjoy tunes once in a while, but I’m great at running in silence, entertaining myself, focusing my mind on my breathing and effort when I need too, and being more meditative when I run.

6. What do you listen to while running? Normally when I listen to music during a run it is because I’m on the treadmill. Therefore, I listen to anything with a solid, driving rhythm (Knights of Cydonia by Muse) or even just a song that makes me smile/laugh/want to dance (Uptown Funk).

7. For what are you currently training? Autumn Leaves 50k in October (and I’ll hit up the Portland Marathon on my way there). Of course, all of this is only in preparation for a hopeful first 50 miler in 2016. I have some big longer-term goals I’m chasing.

8. What are your recovery & sleep routines like? There is no routine right now, but when my mileage increases and I start hitting 14+ mile long runs, the routine will reveal itself.

Here is a complete description of my usual recovery and sleep routine. It boils to some active recovery exercises and small snacks followed by lots of hydration, a full meal, a quick nap, and then light stretching/mobility. Occasionally beer or ice cream is also involved.

9. What’s the best running advice you’ve ever received? Well, I’m not a fast runner and — believe it or not — I used to be even slower than I am now. I was sure that people who ran fast must not feel as awful and uncomfortable as I did.

I have a good friend who is an incredibly fast amateur runner, however, and when I said I didn’t think I could ever run as “effortlessly,” he kindly explained that simply because he runs faster does not mean he’s in less pain (not the injury kind, just the regular ‘ol pain of running). His lungs still burn, his muscles still cry out for him to slow down, his body still feels heavy some days.

He said if I wanted to run faster, then I just had to RUN FASTER and learn to handle the increased discomfort and effort that brings.

10. What’s your favorite running-related memory? So many! Probably my husband (then boyfriend) and I finishing our first marathon together. That’s when I started using running unreasonable distances as a way to learn about myself, my strengths and weaknesses, my limits and potential.

11. Fill in the blank: I’d love to go on a run with ______. MOXIE!. I love my dog, but she’s rubbish at running right now — tripping me, stopping to sniff and pee everywhere. My dream someday is that she’ll be a great running pal and we can do a half marathon together!

12. Anything else you want to add? Visit me at ThroughlyThriving.com where I write about nourishing, training and giving in order to get the most out of life!

Thanks, Tiffany! I’m pumped that we now live in the same city and will be hitting the track and trails together more often.

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

Posted in Community, How I Run, Personalities, Portland, Running, Team Luna Chix, Trail Running, Ultramarathon
6 Comments

April 8, 2015

How I Run: Team LUNA Chix PDX’s Megan Fuetterer

Have you ever met someone and immediately just hit it off? That was Megan Fuetterer and me over coffee a few months back.

We were introduced by a mutual friend and quickly bonded over a shared love for food and an active lifestyle. Fast-forward to the present, and I’m not only taking weekly spin classes from her at Revocycle, but we’re also running together Monday nights with other LUNA Chix gals.

What I love about Megan, though, is that her awesomeness is outweighed only by her humbleness. Not only has she recently launched a successful company (Zest Nutrition), but she has also made a professional home at OHSU’s Doernbecher Children’s Hospital where she enjoys working with kiddos and their families as a pediatric dietitian.

Oh, and did I mention she’s also a certified personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine, a certified spin instructor and an Ironman triathlete whose healthy pumpkin pie recipe was featured on the TODAY Show? There’s nothing this lady can’t do, and I’m excited to learn more about smart fueling as we tackle our first LUNA Chix run team season together.

1. What’s your favorite route? Forest Park, but when it’s sunny out, there’s nothing quite like running on the PDX waterfront. My morning loop along the waterfront was featured in Runner’s World last year as the Rave Run!

2. What shoes do you wear? I am currently running in Nike Fly Knit Lunar 3s. Prior to these, I wore Newtons for years and loved them! They have lugs under the ball of your foot, which prevents heel striking and ultimately leads to a more efficient stride. They definitely helped improve my form.

3. What other run gear can’t you live without? My iPod shuffle. It clips onto my shorts and is weightless. Good tunes can energize me even on my most unmotivated days.

4. What’s your best time-saver or “runhack?” In high school I got in the habit of wearing my running clothes to bed for early morning practices. That way I could literally set my alarm three minutes before I needed to leave the house. I still do this on nights I want to squeeze in as many minutes of sleep as possible.

5. What running-related thing are you better at than anyone else? Listening to my body. If I’m pushing and my body is pushing back, I ease up and honor that. Our body gives us signs for a reason. I think yoga has been the biggest help in teaching me self-awareness.

6. What do you listen to while running? Anything with a good beat and an uplifting message. The key for me is constantly finding new music to keep it fresh.

7. What are you currently training for? For the first time in eight years I can happily say I am not training for anything! Wow! I am getting married in September, and I want to fully embrace the months leading up to the wedding. My fiancé and I still run for fun together in the mornings before work. It actually is a great time to talk about wedding plans.

8. What are your recovery & sleep routines like? Sleep, sleep, sleep! I aim for eight hours per night. If waking up early to run means less than seven hours of sleep, I skip the early workout and get the Z’s instead. Recovery, for me, comes in the form of food. I always eat an adequate meal of carbs, protein and fat within 30 minutes of a run, then continue to stay properly fueled and hydrated throughout the day.

9. What’s the best running advice you’ve ever received? Smile. Even if it hurts, smiling tricks your brain into having a good time. If you aren’t having fun, what’s the point?

10. What’s your favorite running-related memory? My senior year of high school Track & Field, my 4×4 team made it to the finals at the state meet. Right before the starting gun went off, someone started shooting fireworks off nearby. My last ever lap around the track in an organized meet was with fireworks lighting up the night sky overhead. I ran my fastest split time and my team took 3rd in state. It was unforgettable.

11. Fill in the blank: I’d love to go on a run with ________. Chrissie Wellington.

12. Anything else you want to add? For tips on fueling for fitness and everyday life, visit ZestfulNutrition.com 🙂

Thanks, Megan! I’m hungry (see what I did there?!) for making more memories during our adventures together this season.

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

Posted in Diet, Healthy Eating, How I Run, Interview, Nutrition, Portland, Running, Team Luna Chix, Triathlon
6 Comments

February 9, 2015

How I Run: November Project’s Lillian Lingham

Lillian Lingham’s favorite running buddy? Jake Gyllenhaal.

Well…kind of. See, she happened to jog by him during a pre-race warm-up at a Martha’s Vineyard event, did a double-take, then likely smoked him after the gun went off (Exhibit A: a 1:41 PR at Boston’s Heartbreak Hill half marathon).

I wouldn’t expect anything less from someone dubbed “The Terminator.” A Boston native, Lingham has been running since age 12, competing in track and cross country in both high school and college before moving to San Francisco, where she now resides (Exhibit B: an impressive 3:42 PR for the city’s hilly marathon…did I mention that this gal eats #HillsForBreakfast?!).

After achieving her goal of 1,000 miles in 2014, she’s now set her sights on 1,500 in 2015. And she’s already looking ahead to 2016 (and more — surprise, surprise — hills) in the Big Sur full marathon, pending lottery acceptance.

So I caught up with my former November Project pal recently to talk shop about pounding the pavement.

1. What’s your favorite route? Literally ANY route that involves a view of the Golden Gate Bridge from near, far or across! I’ve been living in SF for four years and first saw it over 10 years ago, but it still captivates me in a way that no other structure or icon can. Seeing it glow red in a sunrise or sunset against the gorgeous green background of the Marin Headlands makes me swoon. On the foggiest or dreariest of days (we are #weatherproof), knowing that I could catch a glimpse truly motivates me to lace up and run out the door!

2. What shoes do you wear? For a few years, I would only wear Mizuno. Then my college coach switched my team (at Smith College) to Asics 2100s, which I love, too. But now I’m hooked on New Balance 870s. They are minimal, comfy and come in the best selection of neon colors!

3. What other run gear can’t you live without? I can’t live without my Nathan lights — they are little colorful clip-on lights. I use a headlamp and the Nathan lights in the early hours before the sun is up, and these make me more visible for the cars. Hence, the Mama Lil nickname.

4. What’s your best time-saver or “runhack”? The night before an early morning (5:30am!) November Project workout, I lay out all my clothes, gear, snack and shoes at my front door. It makes getting dressed in the dark foolproof!

My other hack is to literally “run errands” — as in, I run to the bank to make deposits, I run to the store to do groceries, I run to the post office to mail a package…you name it. Time saver + exercise in one.

Okay maybe those were obvious ones, so here are some more courtesy of Buzzfeed.

5. What running-related thing are you better at than anyone else? I am good at hugging. Hugging is related to running. If you come to a November Project workout, you’ll see what I mean.

6. What do you listen to while running? I am shamelessly into electronica and dubstep. I’ll blast some Tiesto, Avicii, David Guetta…anything where the bass drops. The beat quickens my stride and heart-rate, and makes me float and dance instead of run. Workouts just fly by!

7. What are you currently training for? I am training for …LIFE. Aren’t we all?! It’s not a sprint, it’s marathon and I’m truly training to be the best that I can be every day so that I can live a long, healthy life.

In terms of races, I happily closed out 2014 with the Berkeley Half Marathon and the North Face Endurance Challenge. Now I’m in the market for a new 2015 race, and I’m thinking it’s going to be a full marathon….likely the SF Marathon. Why run it a second time? Well because the route goes over the Golden Gate Bridge, duh!

8. What are your recovery & sleep routines like? Recovery for me equals food + hydration. (I should probably say stretching, too, but I don’t do enough of it. I go to yoga weekly instead.) The first thing I do when I get back from a run is eat a (homemade) Almond Butter Power Ball to get a quick boost of energy and protein. I usually make a batch to keep in my fridge….they are so easy to make (no bake, one bowl) and they cost way less than energy bars.

Here’s the recipe I’ve used, but I’ve modified it to include everything in my cabinet! My recipe adds honey, chia seeds, hemp seeds, cacao nibs and maca powder. Hence, the nickname @SFgluten_freek.

My sleep routine is strictly 7.5 hours. I used to sacrifice sleep in order to “be more productive,” but I found that I can accomplish more if I’m rested and work less, sleep more. The irony.

9. What’s the best running advice you’ve ever received? I read Runner’s World magazine religiously (well, running IS my religion), and I got the advice to create a mantra for your race. Mantra is Sanskrit for “instrument for thinking,” and having a well-chosen mantra really can keep you calm and focused during a race.

My mantra is “Think strong. Be Strong,” which is a reminder to myself of the power of the mind. If I’m doubting my ability to PR or I’m focused on any pain I’m feeling during a race or training run, I can derail the whole thing.

Instead I focus on how strong I am, and I repeat my mantra that if I think strong, I will be strong. Hence, the nickname Terminator. It distracts me from the negative and directs me toward the positive. This mantra has gotten me across many finish lines, both literally and figuratively.

10. What’s your favorite running-related memory? New Year’s Day 2014. I flew to Boston (where my family is based) from San Francisco on New Year’s Eve, partied with old friends all night, slept for two hours then went to the Harvard Stadium at 6:30am on January 1, 2014 to run with November Project Boston in the freezing temps of a New England winter around the Harvard Stadium.

It was amazing to see how many people had gotten out of bed early on a dark, cold morning to start their year off on the right foot, literally. I think there were 200+ people there, and that was considered a “small” group!

My friends thought I was crazy, but it was a pilgrimage for me. It set the tone for the whole year of 2014: a year full of running, community and adventure.

Second favorite memory: running to my goal of 1,000 miles in 2014. I reached it during a run in Paris, France in December 2014. Running is a wonderful way to visit and experience a foreign city/country: you get a fast-paced tour, yet you feel like a local. Pack your running shoes if you can!

My least favorite running memory was when I got such painful calf cramps in both legs at mile nine in the Berkeley Half Marathon. I ended up running the last four miles of the race in my socks, with my sneakers on my hands. I was determined to cross that finish line! I crossed it eventually (completely missing my PR), but my sneakers were still in hand so the chip on my shoe didn’t register my results! It listed me as a non-finisher.

11. Fill in the blank: I’d love to go on a run with __________. I would love to go on a run with Rory Bosio, ultramarathoner and all-around-goofball. Her laugh is infectious, her energy contagious and her determination and positivity, inspiring. She seems like the best person to run next to for 30+ miles, assuming I could keep up!

12. Anything else you want to add? You’ve heard this before from other tribe members, but if you haven’t tried November Project (NP), then check it out.

I’ve been a runner since age 12, but nothing has transformed me or my running ability in the tremendously positive way that NP has. I’m a better runner, neighbor, hugger and athlete thanks to the community and support that NP creates.

Whether you’re new to it or have been running for years, I guarantee that NP will take your running experience (and social life) to the next level. It’s hard to explain, you just have to try it for yourself!

Thanks for playing, Lillian! We’ll cross our fingers for you for the 2016 Big Sur lotto — but keep crushing it in the meantime at NP 🙂

Runner friends of all ages/levels/abilities, please email me — info (at) kineticfix.com — if you’d like to be featured.

Posted in How I Run, Interview, Running, San Francisco
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January 21, 2015

How I Run: Inside Tracker’s Jonathan Levitt

I first bumped into Jonathan Levitt in the Twitterverse, which always reminds me how small a world it is that we live in. We connected over the fact that he works for a fitness start-up, and got nostalgic after chatting further and realizing he lives in the same town I did while in Boston (Allston) and is a member of the November Project tribe there.

After hearing about his big running goals for the next year, I asked him if he’d share some of the details via How I Run. Here it is, in his own words:

“Growing up playing hockey and baseball, the last thing I had ever imagined I’d enjoy was running. I was watching the 2013 Boston Marathon in Wellesley, seeing thousands of runners go by at the 13.1 mark. I thought if tens of thousands of normal-looking people (I’ve since learned runners are not “normal”) could run a marathon, why couldn’t I? Just a few weeks later, the One Run For Boston began, a cross country relay uniting runners from LA to Boston. It was then that I fell in love with running and even more importantly, the incredible community that exists.

A few weeks later, while out at a bar after a Red Sox game with a few new One Run For Boston friends, somebody brought up November Project. I had heard about it on Twitter, and had been interested in going. At around 11:30pm, we all agreed to show up the next morning, bright and early (6:30am!) at Harvard Stadium. Since then, my November Project friends have inspired me to run longer, stronger and much much faster. Since joining, I’ve run my first marathon, a few halfs and many other races.

I’ve been working in the health and fitness industry for three years now, and currently work at InsideTracker, a personalized health and science analytics company that monitors your nutrient and hormone levels to provide recommendations on how to help optimize performance based on food and lifestyle changes.”

1. What’s your favorite route? Anything along the Charles River in Boston!

2. What shoes do you wear? New Balance 1400’s for speed work, and Altra Zero Drop Torins for distance.

3. What other run gear can’t you live without? Garmin 220, ENERGYbits and November Project #GrassrootsGear (see photos!)

4. What’s your best time-saver or “runhack?” Run in the morning before other things get in the way!

5. What running-related thing are you better at than anyone else? Tweeting, which is often done while running. I’ve received so much free stuff as a result of tweeting, and am proud to help connect other runners with products and services (my running coach, Steven, and InsideTracker, in particular!) that help increase performance.

6. What do you listen to while running? Podcasts about running/nutrition or country music

7. What are you currently training for? Boston 2016. My plan is to BQ this spring with a 2:59 marathon.

8. What are your recovery & sleep routines like? Sleep by 10pm, up at 5am to train, 3x a week with November Project. November Project is a grassroots, morning fitness/social group/best described by just showing up and experiencing it yourself. (Check it out in 16 cities in the US and Canada, with more to come this year!)

Recover harder than you train! I focus on nutrition with the help of InsideTracker, which provides individualized nutrition and lifestyle recommendations with the goal of optimizing performance and recovery.

I have tart cherry juice, turmeric and black pepper every night before bed, which helps with sleep and has anti-inflammatory benefits.

9. What’s the best running advice you’ve ever received? Get uncomfortable. It’s not supposed to be easy.

10. What’s your favorite running-related memory? The One Run For Boston in 2013, just weeks after the Boston Marathon bombing. It started at 11:30 at night, and went up Heartbreak Hill and to Boylston Street along the Boston Marathon course. We finished at 12:30am, completing a 3300 cross country relay aimed at connecting runners across the country and showing solidarity in the face of a horrible tragedy.

11. Fill in the blank: I’d love to go on a run with __________. Shalane Flanagan. (Again!)

I’ve run with Shalane at November Project, but I was tapering for her 5k race the next day (my goal race for the season) so I didn’t try and keep up to her on the hills. I hit my goal of a sub 18 5k (17:42) at a 5k she helped to organize and promote, to support her hometown track.

Her bold attitude when it comes to putting yourself out there by sharing your (big) goals has inspired me to do the same, and I’ve been so much more motivated to keep pushing as a result.

Thanks, Jonathan. Always fun to connect with a fellow November Project tribe member, and best of luck with that spring BQ goal!

Runner friends of all levels, please email me — info (at) kineticfix.com — if you’d like to be featured.

Posted in Boston Marathon, Community, How I Run, Interview, Running
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December 29, 2014

How I Run: Boston-bound Amy “The Punisher” Leedham

Contrary her nickname, Amy “The Punisher” Leedham doesn’t actually enjoy inflicting pain on others. Well, at least not on purpose. She does, however, regularly push herself to her limits…and tends to do the same for her workout buddies, which they usually thank her for later (after they catch their breaths, that is).

I first met Amy through November Project in San Francisco — we hit it off over a mutual love for running, Boston and Shalane Flanagan — but it wasn’t until she took me up on an invite for my first-ever clipped-in bike ride with the Coeur Sports ladies that we truly bonded: Powering through a few thousand feet of elevation in the Bay Area foothills after getting lost and trouble-shooting a flat tire together will tend to do that to people!

Amy’s now about to embark on her annual Bostom Marathon training cycle, so I thought it’d be fun to check in and see how she’s faring.

1. What’s your favorite route? My favorite running experience thus far has to be the descent from Skeleton point to the Colorado River on the South Kaibab Trail in the Grand Canyon. However, that is hardly my go-to route. I would have to say my favorite place to run is in Redwood Regional Park in Oakland, Calif. I had never really run on trails until I moved to California, and the first time I attempted it I was seriously humbled, but now that park is my go-to on the weekends. Its large enough to have tons of variety, but small enough to feel like its in my backyard.

2. What shoes do you wear? For trails I am rocking the Brooks Pureflow, and I love them. On the road I am pretty minimal and am loving my Merrell Gloves. I have about 12 other pairs of running shoes in my closet, though, because I can’t bring myself to throw them away. I even still have my college XC racing flats.

3. What other run gear can’t you live without? I absolutely love my Jaybird wireless headphones. I fully support listening to music while you run if it makes you happy or run better, and the lack of an annoying cord makes a huge difference in the comfort of running with headphones. I also love my Garmin because I am huge data nerd.

4. What’s your best time-saver or “runhack?” If I am pressed for time after a run I stretch in the shower. Its kind of awkward, but you get get in some really good stretches while washing your hair and shaving your legs.

5. What running-related thing are you better at than anyone else? Not running. Actually I suck at this, as my husband says, but sometimes you must adapt. My agonizingly-slow recovery from what was supposed to be minor knee surgery in April has caused me to appreciate and dominate pretty much every physical thing one can do that’s not running.

6. What do you listen to while running? For faster runs, I am somewhat ashamed to admit that I have several playlists with awful music by the likes of Pitbull, but damn is it so good for running. When I head out to the trails for some R&R I usually leave my music behind and listen out for this one eagle that lives in Redwood Regional Park.

7. What are you currently training for? Boston 2015. I have a problem. I keep re-qualifying and can’t let myself not register. Boston is the first city I lived in after leaving my childhood home, and it was my home for (a very formative) 6.5 years.

I ran the Boston Marathon in 2013 and, even though I was not physically impacted by what happened, that day will stay with me for the rest of my life, as will the experience of running it the year after. More importantly, though, I am training to be able to keep running for the rest of my life.

8. What are your recovery & sleep routines like? I’m admittedly not great at maintaining a good sleep routine, but when I get into proper training my body kind of makes the decision on when to go to sleep for me. Usually I’ll be in bed at 9:30 p.m. and get up for a run at 5:30 a.m. or so.

As for recovery, I recently wrote a blog post about it. I also love compression tights and Epsom salt baths. A good sports massage is just the right kind of pain, and is totally worth the financial investment.

9. What’s the best running advice you’ve ever received? It’s not advice as much as finally letting a certain lesson sink in: Not every run needs to be (or should be) a full-out hard run. Those days of easy running are essential to maintaining a healthy body and building fitness.

10. What’s your favorite running-related memory? It’s a cliche, but it’s got to be running Boston last year. The combination of the unbelievable emotional energy pulsing throughout the city, the camaraderie of running with a friend who I knew was feeling all the same things I was feeling (I had never run any race with someone before) and the burst of energy and love from the mile 18 November Project cheer station all combined to be pretty unbeatable as far as running experiences go. Oh, and PR-ing doesn’t hurt either.

11. Fill in the blank: I’d love to go on a run with __________. Shalane Flanagan. I am not ashamed to admit that my fandom of Shalane rivals that of a 13-year-old girl for One Direction. When she ran past our cheer section at the Nike Women’s Half Marathon, I freaked out and sprinted up the hill after her only to realize I had no idea what I wanted to say and that I looked a little crazy. As my husband pointed out later, “I would have thought you would have had a plan in place knowing you were going to see her on the course!”

Thanks for playing, Amy! I miss our weekly workouts, but hope to cheer you on in Boston in 2015. Keep on punishing in the meantime!

Runner friends of all levels, please email me — info (at) kineticfix.com — if you’d like to be featured.

Posted in Boston Marathon, How I Run, Interview, Running, San Francisco
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December 5, 2014

How I Run: Extreme Athlete & Author Dane Rauschenberg

See Dane. See Dane run. See Dane run a lot.

I first spoke with extreme runner, author and motivational speaker Dane Rauschenberg last year as he launched a Kickstarter campaign to create a film that tells the tale of his solo running of the 202-mile American Odyssey Relay in 50 hours.

Since then, the project has been funded and completed (watch it here), and Dane has continued to log miles, race successfully and provide witty commentary via social media, despite dealing with a few nagging injuries throughout the year.

Let’s just say that I share Dane’s pain here, so I figured it was high time to sit down again and pick his brain about our mutual passion (even if we’re both temporarily sidelined): running.

1. What’s your favorite route? Well, if you ask anyone from my time living in Salt Lake City, it is the 1.5-mile loop in Liberty Park. Situated across the street from my home, it was there I figured out (due to my love of spreadsheets and my meticulous running log) that I ran over 3000 miles around that loop in my four years of running there. I will often just use that loop as a math problem in races when the going gets tough. For example, “Only three more loops of Liberty Park and I am done.”

2. What shoes do you wear? I have been wearing Karhu shoes now for close to two years. I love not only the way the shoes work for me, but also the way the company is structured. There really is not a great deal of difference between most running shoes, so it is subtle nuances which make a shoe and its company great. Karhu does the little things right.

3. What other run gear can’t you live without? If I am not wearing my ROAD ID I simply feel naked. With as often as I travel to far-flung places, usually by myself, I need to know if something were to happen to me leaving me unable to respond, that the right people would be contacted to know who I am and what to do with my corpse. (Just kidding on the corpse)

4. What’s your best time-saver or “runhack?” Not washing clothes is helpful as I don’t need to think about what to wear. Plus in races, people will stay far away from me because of runner’s funk.

In all seriousness, though, I find running routes directly from my doorstep and make sure they vary in multiple ways. Driving to run or searching for routes seems like such a waste of time. Even though I live close-ish to renowned Forest Park in Portland as well as the Columbia Gorge, I run in them very infrequently as I don’t want to spend 30 minutes in a car either way to get to where I can run. That’s an hour I could be spending do a variety of other things.

5. What running-related thing are you better at than anyone else? I doubt I am at the top of any one ladder when it comes to running. But I am extremely well-suited to look at my running history up to a point and know what I need to do in a race or a workout. I rarely have horrible days at the races because I don’t over-reach too often. If that means I tend to play it safe, then so be it. No race is as important as my health.

6. What do you listen to while running? The tortured souls of the runners who I crush near the finish because they do not know how to pace. Oh, you mean, music? I don’t listen to music. Or I rarely listen to music. For the most part I want to hear my breathing and my heart in my ears so I can pay attention to how I am feeling. I am not a frou-frou be in touch with my inner Dane type, but I know how to respond to my body appropriately. If I am lost in the dulcet tones of “Rumpshaker” I won’t be able to do that as effectively.

7. What are you currently training for? I have no big “Oh wow!” thing on the docket. After more than a few years pushing my boundaries (52 marathons in one year, solo running of the 202 mile American Odyssey Relay, etc.) I would like to take some time to get into really good shape for the shorter stuff. I have a ton of personal bests which are very ripe for the picking. This year was supposed to be about that for me, but a weird illness and some lingering side effects from both a bike crash in 2012 and a staph infection in 2013 shelved a lot of my plans. So I am simply picking up and starting again.

8. What are your recovery & sleep routines like? I am a night owl. I have to constantly remind myself to go to bed before the sun rises. When you live on the West Coast this can cause lots of problems functioning with the other time zones. Given how much I hate mornings, I have no idea how I possibly get ready on race day. But there is something about the morning of a race that just gets my engine roaring.

9. What’s the best running advice you’ve ever received? No one really gives a damn about how fast you run. Learn what you are good at and simply try to be the best at it. If it isn’t fast enough for someone, let that be their problem.

10. What’s your favorite running-related memory? Part of the reason I have written two books already, and am working on two more is because I have so many wonderful running memories I wish to share. My go-to answer for this would be when I inexplicably ran my first ever sub-three hour marathon in my 42nd marathon of the year in 2006. There really is no reason for me to have run a six-minute PR after 41 previous marathons, but it happened. Hard to top that memory.

11. Fill in the blank: I’d love to go on a run with… My dad. He was crippled in a hunting accident before I was born, and we never so much as played catch. He passed away two years ago, and being able to go for a jog together would be pretty nice.

Thanks very much, Dane. I’m looking forward to hearing about your continued success in 2015!

Runner friends of all levels, please email me — info (at) kineticfix.com — if you’d like to be featured.