All About Jacob

All About Jacob

California State University of Long Beach, Sophomore

Loves to Run: 5k-Marathon

 

 

How did you start running?

My sophomore year of high school, I was a jumper on the track team.  Jumping into a pit three times was my first sport.

I enjoyed running longer distances, two laps around the track.  All of my friends on the track team were running cross-country.  After my first year of running long distance, I joined cross-country.  We were running 8-10 mile days. 

 

How did you become a road racer?

I wanted to do something more with running, and researched races on the computer.

The first race I signed up for was a 5k.  Overall, I finished as second in my age group with a time under twenty minutes. I never thought that I could do something like that before.  Afterwards, I felt so good about myself and kept running. 

 

How was your first marathon?

Last February, I competed in the Surf City Marathon.

It was really great because I did the half-marathon first.  Running along the ocean feels nice and cool.  The course takes you on the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH).  I felt like I could keep going all 26.2 miles.  My goal was to finish in under four hours, and my finishing time was 3:42!

 

Have you experienced obstacles in your running career?

In the Surf City Marathon, I injured my knee and it took me out for at least five weeks.

I took up running and biking, it was a good supplement.  After finally recovering, I am back to running sub 7:30 miles.

 

What is your favorite running memory?

When I crossed the finish-line of my first half-marathon, the Long Beach Half-Marathon 2014.

I was running these long stretches thinking, “Can I do this? Can I do this?”  When I crossed the finish-line it felt so great.  I was thinking, “Wow I did it!”

 

What is your favorite race?

The Disney Land Half-Marathon, here in California.  

Runners run all the way to Angel Stadium and back to Disney.  Everyone there running, volunteering and in the crowd were really motivating. 

 

 

Do you have Disney Running goals for the future?

I am training for the Dopey Challenge in Disney World, January 2017!

The Dopey Challenge, is a four day race around Disney World.  In the challenge there is a 5k, 10k, half-marathon and full-marathon.

The Dopey Challenge totals to 48.6 miles and 6 medals!!!  This is my dream race.  I am very excited!

 

Who is your favorite Disney character?

Sorcerer Mickey!

 

 

What is a typical week of training like for you?

50-70 miles a week!

 

Where are your favorite places to run?

The San Gabriel River Bend.  I like running on the beach, especially Long Beach Path.

 

What is your favorite running apparel?

I like running shirts from races, especially Surf City.  

 

What type of sneakers do you wear?

Hoka One One’s.  They have lots of support and are light blue.

 

Do you have a motto?

Fear No Distance.

 

Do you have advice for other runners?

Smile through life.  If you can endure harsh training you can get through anything.  Stay positive and optimistic, even when times are hard.

 

 

 

 

 

Check out Jacob's Blog!

http://www.nicerunnerguy97.wordpress.com

 

Follow Jacob on social media!

@nicerunnerguy13.1

 

 

 

Photography, courtesy of Jacob Abrego.

 

 

 

 

 

That Pretty Runner

ALL ABOUT GRACE

ALL ABOUT GRACE

Santa Clara University Student, Bioengineering  

Loves to Run: DI Cross-Country and Track

 

 

How did you start running?

I was never an athlete until I started running in the eighth grade!  My mom started paying me $6 an hour to go with her to the gym.  My mile time in PE dropped from 9:00 to 6:37 and I joined the track team.  I love being on a team!

 

What is your favorite running memory?

When I broke eleven minutes in 2 miles!

I passed my rival by 1 minute 40 seconds, had a huge PR, and qualified for nationals.

My senior year of high school, the Footlocker Nationals was so much fun!  The 40 fastest girls in the nation were running, I feel like they treated us like celebrities.  My uniform did not fit, and they had a sewing machine there to fit me.  We stayed at a hotel in San Diego, I made a lot of friends.  Afterwards, we went to the spa sauna, pools and beach.

 

What is your 5k personal record?

5k: 18:08

 

Do you have a pre-race ritual?

I tell everyone how excited I am to run! 

 

What are your favorite workouts?

Mile repeats!

I love swimming, I have been swimming 6 days a week since April. 

 

Where are your favorite places to run?

Beaches and anywhere tropical!

I loved running through tropical rainforests in Malaysia and Singapore. 

In high school, we went on a cross-country trip to Hawaii.

 

What type of sneakers do you wear?

Hoka’s

 

Do you have a motto?

Think happy thoughts.

 

How have you overcome running injuries?

Acupuncture helped my shin splints.

Sometimes, I use heat instead of ice.  Soaking my feet in warm water feels nice.  Compression socks help.

I love swimming, too!

 

What do you like to do outside of running?

Every day, I draw for twenty minutes, it is a creative outlet for me.  I love drawing.

I love making food-art!

 

What are your favorite foods?

Dragon fruit!

I always eat an apple a day to keep the doctor away!

 

Do you have advice for other runners?

Enjoy the process.

If you get injured that is okay, because you have everything else to do in the world. Enjoy life, be happy, and nice to people.

Pain means you are accomplishing the most you can.

Life has ups and downs. You need to experience an up, life owes you an up.  Everything happens for a reason, you just have to find it.

 
 
 

Photography, courtesy of Grace Ling.

 

 

 

 

That Pretty Runner

 

 

All About Becky


All About Becky


Loves to Run: 5k-Marathon

 

 

How did you start your fitness journey?

After graduating from college, I worked very hard to become the healthiest version of myself. 

I always thought that you had to eat boring food and spend hours working out.  Then, I started drinking Shakeology and exercising thirty minutes every day.  

There is nothing more motivating than a goal.  I always try smaller short-term goals.  I make a lot of vision boards with recipes, exercises and fitness tips.  When I have a vision of how I want to be healthy, I can avoid mindless snacking and take-out.  Vision boards keep me moving!

 

What are some of you favorite recipes?

I am obsessed with the kitchen and cook all of the time! 

I make risotto out of quinoa with chicken or shrimp.  There’s a delicious one-pan Mexican quinoa dish with corn, cilantro, jalapenos, and chicken.

 

How was your first half-marathon?

I signed up for the NYC Half-Marathon in 2014.  It was emotional.  I was not running for time, I just wanted to run the whole time.

My fiancé's family came to watch me at mile 7, running through Times Square.  The busiest part of Manhattan was cleared out just for us runners!

When I crossed the finish-line, I could not believe I had done it!  I think that is something to be really proud of, accomplishing a race like that! 

 

How were your other half-marathon experiences?

Running in Philly, is very cool.  I ran with my fast friends, which was a nice push.  The second half of the race was all up hill.  Great course, great vibe.  Loved the run, even though it was a freezing 22 degrees!

I love the race here in beautiful Saint Petersburg, Florida.  There are no waves, everyone starts at the same time.  My fiancé was the only one who could come, and was kind of my coach!

I set my PR in Brooklyn last May! Brooklyn was a very cool experience.

 

Do you run with a club?

My running club in Florida meets a couple times every week downtown by the water.  Then, everyone meets for happy hour!

I love running where I live.  There are two big lakes, with lots of gators and birds to see!  It is very entertaining.

 

What is your favorite distance?

6 miles!

 

What type of sneakers do you wear?

Brookes! They are pink, grey, and teal with extra cushion.

 

What do you like to wear running?

Tank top and sports-bra with shorts!

 

What are your running goals for the future?

Next January, I hope to run the marathon in Key West, Florida!

I put my name in the NYC Marathon Lotto with my friends and we are running the 2016 NYC Marathon!

 

Do you have advice for other runners?

Run for the joy of the process. 

 

 

Follow Becky on Social Media!

@foodieturnedfit

 

Check out Becky's Blog!

http://www.teamfitfoodies.com

 

 

 

Photography, courtesy of Becky. 

 

 

 

 

That Pretty Runner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All About Christine

All About Christine

Loves to Run: 5k-Marathon

 

         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How did you start running?

My coach is very active in running and triathlons.  We started to meet up weekly for swimming, biking and running.  I really enjoyed the running, but I used to hate running.  When I started learning how to run properly and pace myself, I decided to run in races. 

 

What is your program, Blind Hockey?

Hockey is my favorite sport.  I have been playing my entire life.  Growing up, I was always playing ice-hockey outside with my brothers. 

When I was a teenager, I was having trouble seeing in school.  At first, I thought I just need glasses.  Then, it turned out that I have a genetic condition and degenerative vision loss.

Blind Hockey, is a program for people with low vision across the US and Canada.  We have a full competitive Canadian team and 7-8 US teams with a large base in DC.  It is hard to find people, because starting a new sport makes them anxious.

We skate from September to late March and sometimes early April.

My sister has the same condition too.  It helped when she first played in Canada, to not be the minority but the majority.  Disability will never stop us. 

I am not completely blind, this picture of a horse depicts my vision.

 

What is your favorite part about hockey?  

Hockey is fun!  We have one huge game in Toronto every year.  This year, there were 86 registered blind players.  Recreational divisions and competitive divisions are available. We have to classify based on our vision and skill level.  I was the only female American in the competitive division.

I love being able to play competitive hockey, again. I am 5ft and 115lbs.  Hockey makes me stronger and work harder. 

 

How are your progressing as a runner?

I started out training for Tough Mudder’s, with a soft spot for military fundraising.  Training for those races really got me into running.

Last November, I ran my first half-marathon with a couple 5k’s and 10k’s.  My coach guided was running alongside me the entire time.  When I was training, my coach always sent me fun little workouts and tracked my progress!

 

How was your half-marathon?

The Harbor Side Half Marathon, in Newburyport Massachusetts outside of Boston, was like a loop!  We ran out and back.   I reached my goal, running under two hours! 

 

What is a typical week of training for you?

25-30 miles a week!

 

Where are your favorite places to run?

I go on a bike trail that runs from Putnam County NY, all the way down to Westchester NY.  Sometimes I run hill repeats, up three times and down three times.  It burns a lot! 

I love to run at SUNY Purchase, it is a very nice college campus.  The outside loop is exactly three miles, people run and walk.  I run the loop 1-3 times.    

 

What are your running goals for the future?

My friend and I threw our names in the NYC Marathon Lotto.  We have been selected!  

 

What type of sneakers do you wear?

I actually wear Topo athletic sneakers.  They are super light, I have never had a problem!

 

How does running make you feel?

Running is a mind clearing thing for me. I might not enjoy it in the moment, it’s afterwards, that push to the end makes it completely worth it.

 

Do you have a motto?

During this whole time of getting into running and the hockey really taking off last year, I was going through a divorce.  It has been hard and I found a quote, “Better than yesterday, worse than tomorrow.”

I ran through my divorce.  When I went to Boston for my first half-marathon, it was one of the first trips that I did completely on my own!  I took a train to Boston.  I was really independent, it was a big step. Running has helped so much.

 

Do you have advice for other runners?

Always do what you love and never let anything get in the way.   Listen to your body, continue doing what you love.  I love adventure, exploring and doing!

Surround yourself with positive people. I would be nowhere without my family and a few very close friends, who are essentially my family

 

Follow Christine on Instagram:

@Chrisx0731

 

Blind Hockey

http://blindicehockey.com/

 

 

 

 

Photography, courtesy of Christine.

 

 

 

That Pretty Runner

All About Kelli

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