All About Kelli

Loves to Run: 5k- Marathon

How did you start running?

I started running with my mom to exercise and spend time together!

In middle-school I ran cross-country, mainly to stay in shape for basketball season. 

My entire senior year of high school, I trained for a 5k.  I was really afraid of coming in last place, so my training was very intense. When I first started training, my goal was to run for thirty minutes straight.  I was running probably an hour a day as I got closer to the race.  On race day, I was the first female to cross the finish-line!

During college I met everyone on my campus who likes running, on a Saturday morning racing in a 5k at 7am! 

How was your first marathon?

I finished my first marathon last October.  It was so much fun.  I never thought that I was going to be a marathoner, because I get injured so easily.  My co-workers convinced me to do it.  I ended up running 16 miles in a training run, and signed up for The Outer Banks Marathon.  It was worth traveling!

People were really friendly.  My boyfriend came to the marathon and it was easy for him to be at every spectating point .  He tapped me on the shoulder and told me to run! 

The course was really pretty and nice because it was flat.  It was perfect weather, 50 degrees. 

I ran with a hydration pack.  I do not feel comfortable going without my Nathan Sport Camelback.  It was not too heavy until maybe mile 22.  I love gels with extra caffeine, caramel macchiato is my favorite.  

Do you want to run more marathons?

Yes! On my bucket list I have NYC, Chicago, Boston and Disney.  I would love to travel to a different countries to run! 

What is your biggest obstacle as a runner?

Planters Fasciitis. I took some time off from running.  If it hurts I use KT tape or regular athletic tape.

Where are your favorite places to run?

California, anywhere!  Big Sur is really pretty.  I hope to run the Big Sur Marathon someday!  

I love running in Hawaii, visiting my boyfriend!

Do you have a running story?

I used to take my boyfriend running a lot.  We were on a run and my shoe was stuck in the loop of the other shoe lace.  I went head first in the ground on a really crowded street.  It would have been funny except that happened a second time.  He kind of worries about me when I go running.  

How do you balance running with life?

It goes back to how my mom got me into exercising.  She went to the gym at 5:30 in the morning, every day.  Now, I wake up at 5am and go to the gym before work. 

When I am training for my marathon, I run closer to my work because of the hour commute.  It took a little bit of time to get back into running, especially after college when I could run whenever I wanted to.

I love running with my co-workers.  One of my co-workers has been running 7 years, she is the one who told me to run my marathon.  We talked to a few of my other co-workers to do a 5k, we try to run races together.  One of them started running about a year ago, she is training for her first half-marathon.  It is so nice, half of us from the office run together!

How does running make you feel?

Running makes me feel happy! You get endorphins running. 

I love that with running it is such an individual sport, you really are competing with yourself.

Do you have a motto?

My blog is called Run Happy Eat Happy.  I pretty much try to stick to that.  I have not really struggled with weight loss, but I think that diet really effects how you run.  Eating healthfully is very important.

What are your favorite foods?

Movie Theatre Popcorn!

In my office we have a popcorn machine.  I am in Digital Marketing, but my second job is really VP Popcorn Maker.

What type of sneakers do you wear?

Brookes Glycerin. 

What do you wear running?

I love bright color Nike shorts and singlets.

Do you have advice for other runners?

If you do not think you can do something, you should try it because you never know!  I never thought I would run a 5k but I have run a 5k.  I never thought I would run a marathon but I have run a marathon.

Follow Kelli's running journey on social media!

Instagram: @_kellinickole

Blog: https://runhappyeathappy.wordpress.com/

Photography, courtesy of Kelli. 

That Pretty Runner