All About Anna

All About Anna

Founder of the Stars Hollow Running Club

Loves to Run: 5k's

leaders.jpg

How did you start running?

In junior high, I ran cross-country.  During college, I started running for my own personal pleasure. 

How did running help you overcome significant health problems?

In 2009, I was diagnosed with cancer and went through a year and a half of treatment.  I thought to myself, “If I get through this, I would treat my body the best I could.”  Everything started out with walking, and built up to running 40 miles a week. 

Then, in 2014, I had an Aortic Dissection.  I went into the hospital in a coma, with a ten-percent chance of survival. 

This is my three year anniversary of the Aortic Dissection. 

Running is really life affirming for me. My feet hitting pavement reminds me I am alive.

Last year we had a very warm December, and my youngest child said, “Will you walk me to school?”  I said, “Sure, sounds wonderful!” We walked to school every day for a couple of months.  My walk to school became longer, I started walking up to five miles a day.   During that time, I found the virtual running experience and decided running a 5k is such a great goal.  I finished the Run With Your Dog 5k, 16 months after my heart surgery.

Where do you like to go running?

I run through my beautiful neighborhood with tree lined streets.  My running is flat or hilly depending on the direction.

What type of sneakers do you like to wear?

Saucony and Asics.

What are your favorite things to wear running?

I wear skirts for running.  Champion skirts from Target are great, mine have pockets to stick in my phone and ID. 

What do you bring with you running?

Water and my phone. 

I usually do not listen to music, because I enjoy listening to nature.  I love watching the sunrise while I am running.

Do you have advice for other runners?

It does not matter how fast you are or how far you go.  It is just a matter of doing it.  Get to a pace to strengthen your heart and soul. 

 

All About the Stars Hollow Running Club

http://www.thatprettyrunner.com/new-blog/2016/10/29/all-about-the-stars-hollow-running-club

All About Jonathan, Co-Founder of the Stars Hollow Running Club

http://www.thatprettyrunner.com/new-blog/2016/10/29/all-about-jonathan
 

Join the Stars Hollow Running Club (SHRC) on Social Media

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/starshollowrunningclub/

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/starshollowrunningclub/

 

Registration Information

Stars Hollow Running Club Website Link:
http://www.starshollowrunningclub.com/


Registration for the Doggy Swami 10k:
https://runsignup.com/Race/CT/Washington/DoggySwami10K

 

Contact Information

Email:

townelders@starshollowrunningclub.com

 

 

 

 

Photography, courtesy of the Stars Hollow Running Club.

 

That Pretty Runner

All About Jonathan

All About Jonathan

United States Army National Guard

The Stars Hollow Running Club

Loves to Run: 5k- Marathon

 

 

How did you start running?

In 2004, I started running after joining the United States Army National Guard.

 

How did it feel to run a full-marathon?

Back in January 2015, I did the Disney Marathon. 

When I was training, I was running close to the full-marathon distance. 

There were moments during the race I thought, “Am I going to finish?” In a marathon, there is a time limit which adds pressure.

There were a lot of different view-points for spectators.  My wife was there cheering, and her support means so much to me. 

I always stopped to take pictures with the Disney characters.  My favorite were the people dressed up as ghosts outside the Haunted Mansion. 

 

What was your first Half Marathon?

I finished the Miami Half-Marathon in 2007, while attending Florida International University .  The course was all through Miami and South Beach.  I did this race back to back in 2007 and 2008.  I would love to run it again, with a group of friends in the future.

 

 

What is your most recent half-marathon?

The Suffolk Half Marathon.

Long Island is divided up into two counties, Suffolk and Nassau.  Each year, the two counties have races.  This is the second year Suffolk is doing these races and I think it is pretty good.

There is a 5k, 10k, half-marathon and full-marathon going on at once. The course is pretty flat, not too many hills.  

 

What are some other races have you run?

The Blue Point Brewery, ten mile run here in Long Island NY.  There was lots of delicious food after the race.

A few weeks ago, I did a very hilly run with another local brewery and only fifteen people showed up. 

There was a virtual mustache run, and my finisher medal looks like a mustache.

During the warmer months, I finished a Tough Mudder with a group of friends. 

 

Where do you train for races?

Locally, in Long Island NY. 

I like to run on my treadmill.

 

Where are some of your favorite places to run?

I enjoyed running through downtown Miami, South Beach. 

Working, I travel a lot.  Once, I went running through Texas in August.  It was super hot and probably a bad decision to run outside.  I should have just run on the treadmill.

Upstate New York is a beautiful place to run.

 

What foods do you like to eat?

Usually the night before a race, my tradition has always been to eat tacos.

Right before a race, I have a bottle of Gatorade with grapes for a snack. 

 

What do you like to wear running?

Saucony the Guide Version 8 sneakers.

Usually, I wear shorts and running shirts.

 

Do you have a motto?

Talk fast Run Faster.

My race medal holder says, “To give any less than your best is to sacrifice a gift.”

 

Do you have advice for other runners?

For anybody starting out, just take it slow.  Some people feel like they have to go out there really fast, just take as much time as you need and you will love what you do. 

 

 

 

Photography, courtesy of Jonathan Warsh. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please read our interview, ALL ABOUT THE STARS HOLLOW RUNNING CLUB

http://www.thatprettyrunner.com/new-blog/2016/10/29/all-about-the-stars-hollow-running-club

Join the Stars Hollow Running Club (SHRC) on Social Media

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/starshollowrunningclub/

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/starshollowrunningclub/

 

Registration Information

Stars Hollow Running Club Website Link:
http://www.starshollowrunningclub.com/


Registration for the Doggy Swami 10k:
https://runsignup.com/Race/CT/Washington/DoggySwami10K

 

Contact Information

Email:

townelders@starshollowrunningclub.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That Pretty Runner

 

 

All About the Stars Hollow Running Club

All About the Stars Hollow Running Club

Founders:  Jonathan and Anna

Loves to Run: Virtual Races with Gilmore Girls Fans

 

How did you start the Stars Hollow Running Club?

Anna: Jonathan and I met through another running club, and decided to start our own.  We thought it would be amazing to pull together the great pop-culture fandom of Gilmore Girls and running.  Having something you love that can drive you to a healthier lifestyle is very special.  We talked about our club over last spring, and actually launched it at the end of the summer. 

Jonathan: Anna is a huge fan of Gilmore Girls, and we started talking about the new upcoming episodes on Netflix November 25th.  We thought, “What if Gilmore Girls had a running club on the show?” Then, we started making an actual virtual running club. 

 

What was your first event with the Stars Hollow Running Club?

Jonathan: Our first race was the Founders Day 5k, which sold out a week before the registration period ended.  We sent out all of the medals with race-bibs, all over the country and internationally. 

Anna: The Founders Day 5k! This was our way to start out.  I designed the medal, race bib and made a Founders Day recipe to send out for all the runners.  This event sold out before the end of registration.  On Facebook, we have members running from all over the country and internationally.  

 

What is your favorite part about Gilmore Girls?

Anna: I started watching Gilmore Girls after my oldest son was born in December 2001.  Every Tuesday, a girlfriend of mine would come over for a Gilmore Girls Party.  We celebrated everything that happened with the show. 

I actually felt relatable to Lorelai as a parent and Sookie's personality.  

My youngest son is actually named Logan like the character in Gilmore Girls, although my husband believes this is an X-Men reference.  My teenage boy will always watch the re-runs with me, while my oldest grew up with it and loves Gilmore Girls. 

I love the small town and feeling of Stars Hollow.  The town comes together to solve problems, like a true community.

Jonathan: I like the interactions between Kirk and Luke.  Recently, my wife and I are obsessed with Gilmore Girls.  We are watching all of the episodes over again, before the new episodes air on Netflix November 25th.

 

What is your biggest goal for the Stars Hollow Running Club?

Jonathan:  I hope everyone has fun running our races.   We will continue being a philanthropic running club, making donations to charity with the proceeds from every race.   I really enjoy the community of the Stars Hollow Running Club.  

Anna: The Stars Hollow Running Club, is all about coming together to support each other.  Run, walk, or crawl.  It is important for all of us to get out there with our feet hitting the pavement.

We love to see the club grow every day.  The more people we have the more money to give to charity. I love seeing people on all levels of fitness in the group.  Jonathan and I, love interacting with members through Facebook and Instagram.  We hope to become bigger, better, and more fun!

 

What is your next virtual race for the Stars Hollow Running Club?

Jonathan: The Amazing Doggy Swami 10k. November is Military Family Appreciation Month.  This event was opened the first week of October and will be closing Veterans Day, November 11.  

Anna: My Husband has been in the Army National Guard for over twenty years.  Jonathan and my husband served in Iraq, it is a part of their history.  We wanted to focus on military families, and found the organization Paws and Stripes.  Paws and Stripes, trains dogs to help wounded veterans.  We are huge dog lovers, my dog is always my running buddy.

 

 

 

 

Photography, courtesy of the Stars Hollow Running Club.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Join the Stars Hollow Running Club (SHRC) on Social Media

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/starshollowrunningclub/

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/starshollowrunningclub/

 

Registration Information

Stars Hollow Running Club Website Link:
http://www.starshollowrunningclub.com/


Registration for the Doggy Swami 10k:
https://runsignup.com/Race/CT/Washington/DoggySwami10K

 

Contact Information

Email:

townelders@starshollowrunningclub.com

 

 

That Pretty Runner

All About Jackie

All About Jackie

SUNY Oswego

Emergency Medical Technician(EMT)

Loves to Run: 5k to Half-Marathon

How did you start running?

When I was five, I started running!

Running is a great training technique.  I would always run to stay in shape for lacrosse and soccer.  I always did team activities, but it feels good to be in an individual-sport.  Middle-school to high-school, I was running track.  Junior year of high-school, I started to love running more than just a way to train for sports. 

Running is great for relieving stress and setting new personal goals.  

 

What is your favorite race in Syracuse?

The Syracuse Festival of Races!

There are so many runners, different venders, delicious foods, and massages for after the race.

 

What half-marathon did you run this summer?

In August, I finished the Turning Stone Half Marathon in Upstate NY.

 

How was your first half-marathon experience?

Pretty good! I was running with my mom and it meant so much to have her next to me.

Starting, I was so nervous and kept looking at my mom saying, “OMG, I do not know if I can do this.”  My mom told me, “You have been training all summer, just relax.”

I was a little dehydrated towards the end.  At mile ten, I was thinking, “OMG, I do not know if I can finish!” Then, I looked at my mom and she told me, “You can do it.” It meant a lot my mom was by my side pushing me to the finish-line.

Finishing the race, I had the biggest smile on my face.  Everyone at the finish-line was cheering.  My mom and I finished together, it meant more than she will ever know.

 

How was the Turning Stone race course?

The course was all rolling hills, some of them were steep.  There were several hundred runners.  We were running by farm land and wooded areas, it was so nice!  

 

Where did you train?

I trained in Colorado the entire summer, running in the mountains.  My view was beautiful mountains all the time!

 

What is your favorite running condition?

I really love hills, especially the feeling of hills stretching my muscles.  It is all hills going to school at SUNY Oswego.

I love running in the rain.  When it was raining last week, I took advantage of that. 

 

Where is your favorite place to run?

Colorado!

I went running on the Chautauqua Mountain trails.  There were a bunch of different hills. It was really tough and very hot.

I went running around the campus of Colorado University, right next to the mountains. I started a little off campus, went down this huge hill, around campus and then circled back up.  I finished running up this huge hill leading to the mountains.  Then, I went to an overlook of Boulder. 

When I first got there, it was hard to run with the altitude and heat.  Sometimes, it would be 100 degrees.  The altitude was good for training, because afterwards I felt a significant difference in my speed and time. 

Everyone in Boulder is so active, there were ten people or more people always running around me!  I would look out my window, see everyone else running and feel like I should be running.  They built streets with sidewalks, big enough so you can walk or bike to work.  Along the highway, they have dirt paths so people could run or bike.

 

How did you overcome being injured?

In January, I broke my foot running the day I flew home from Colorado.  I went for a run and there was snow on the ground.  Then, I slipped and fell because my foot was stuck in a pothole. I called my parents, and they knew something was wrong when my foot started swelling. That night, I was in so much pain I could not sleep. The next morning, I went to the doctor for an x-ray.  I fractured my fifth-metatarsal and needed a boot with crutches. 

When I was released to run again, I wanted to set a goal.  My broken foot healing, motivated me to run my first half-marathon.

Now, I am very cautious about where I am running!

 

Do you have a motto?

Never give up!  My dad has been saying it to me since I was really little, and gave me a necklace with the engraving.  I have a Road ID bracelet that says, NEVER GIVE UP.

What do you like to do outside of running?

I am an Emergency Medical Technician(EMT).

I love reading and hiking!

 

Where do you love to hike?

Since we were little, my parents have brought my brother and me to Lake Placid.  It has always been our family trip.  My dad and I, usually try to go once a year to the Adirondacks.  Last year, we climbed the Algonquin Peak Trail and some mountains.

Over the summer, I hiked all through the Colorado Chautauqua Mountains.  It was a lot of fun.  I was a little scared of mountain lions and rattle-snakes!

 

Do you bring anything with you running?

Headphones! I actually made a Spotify playlist with Dave Mathews, Avett Brothers, and the Chainsmokers.  The majority of my music is upbeat to help me run!

I carry a little handheld water-bottle.  At first, I was not running with water and felt really dehydrated after running for an hour.  Now, I feel better running with water!

 

What is your favorite food?

Crunchy peanut-butter!

 

What type of sneakers do you wear?

Nike Pegasus and I also use the Nike Free Runs.  I race in the Pegasus!

 

Favorite running outfit? 

This summer, I wore Nike or Adidas tank-tops and shorts.

Lately, I have been wearing dry-fit Under Armour long-sleeves and Nike running pants or shorts.

 

What are your running goals for the future?

I am going to run the Turkey Trot, the Gingerbread Run, and Syracuse Half-Marathon.

I want to run in the Disney Marathon!  This is my biggest goal.  I have never been to Disney, so when I do I will run the marathon!

 

Do you have advice for other runners?

Never give up! It is my motto that I have lived by.

Make a goal and stick with it.  Make a training plan.  Even if you do not follow your plan exactly, keep pushing forward and try to reach your goal.

 

Photography, courtesy of Jackie Epp.

 

 

 

That Pretty Runner

 

 

All About Megan Saloom

All About Megan Saloom

2016 Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifier- 2:43

Loves to run: Marathons

 

How did you start running?

During Jr. High, I joined the cross-country team so I would not have to do PE in the PE uniforms. 

The first day of practice in Jr. High we did a timed mile.  I threw-up and walked a part of the time.  My parents were like, “Oh this isn't going to last!” By the end of the season, I was pretty good at it!

I went on to run DI Cross-Country at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas.  

 

What is your favorite part about Texas?

I grew up in Houston about three hours away from my college, Stephen F. Austin State University.

My favorite thing about living in TEXAS is we have a lot of PRIDE in our state and everything is BIG!  

 

What is running like in Texas?

Running in heat makes it hard to train in the summers.  I have to run really early in the morning or late at night. 

Over the summer I went to Boulder for a few week to escape the humidity!  

 

When did you start running marathons?

I started running marathons after college. I moved to the Woodlands north of Houston, for training.

My half-marathon time was 1:18.  I just needed to shave off a few minutes for an Olympic Trials Qualifying Standard.  I spent a year trying to run 1:15.  Then, I decided to say a Hail Mary and go for a qualifying time in the full Houston Marathon.  My overall finishing time was 2:43.  I qualified for Olympic Trials!

 

WHat was it like running in the Olympic Trials Marathon?

On February 13th  I ran in the Olympic Trials. 

The atmosphere and crowds were amazing and was an experience unlike any other.  When I passed the half-way point was when I really started feeling the effects of running a marathon a little less than a month before.  A few miles further I passed my husband and told him, “This is not fun anymore.” I knew at that point my body was almost finished. It was a very hot day for racing.  

When planning my drop out point I met Emily Gordon, another competitor who was contemplating dropping as well.  We started an easy jog and tried to encourage each other for a few minutes.  Then, we were on the struggle bus again and ended up walking with, Chris Barnicle, one of the male competitors for a few miles. It was such a crazy race experience!  

 

I ended up dropping out at mile 20 but was still ecstatic to be there none the less! 

 

Making it to the Olympic Trials Marathon is such an amazing accomplishment. You are truly an inspiration.  What were your favorite moments from the overall experience?

I have a few!

When my flight arrived in Los Angeles, my parents picked me up.  As we were driving to the hotel, it took a moment to soak in we were driving to the Olympic Trials.  It has not just been my dream, my parents have been my biggest supporters through everything.  They were up at night researching races to run and always cheering me on.  We made it to the Olympic Trials and it felt so inspiring.

My husband won the LA 5K the morning of my Olympic Trials!

The atmosphere was amazing, starting the race and running through the streets of Los Angeles with people cheering for you.  Cheering not because they want you to go fast or to win, but because you made it here to the Olympic Trials. I was running with a smile on my face for miles!

 

Where are your favorite places to run?

In Houston we have Memorial Park.  I love the Huntsville State Park, running through the forest!

 

What is a typical week of training for you?

  • Long run on Sunday.
  • Workout of Tuesday and Friday.
  • The rest of the week I have a single run and two days of double running.

 

How much mileage do you run in a week?

Anywhere from a low of 60 miles a week, to maybe 70-80, and during marathon training 90-100!

 

What is your favorite Gue Energy flavor?

Vanilla!

 

What are your favorite foods?

Zydeco bars, they are based out of Louisiana where my husband is from!  We found them and they are a really good recovery snack.  My favorite flavor is the brownie bar!

I love Mexican food!

 

What do you love to wear running?

Sports-bra, and running-shorts with a hat! I love compression-socks.   

 

If you could run a destination marathon, what would you choose?

The Berlin Marathon would be fun.  I would love to run a race somewhere in Europe where culture is different and compare it to races here in the US!

Eventually, I would love to run the Boston Marathon.

 

What are your running plans for this year?

This year, I plan to run the Houston Marathon. 

The weather is perfect, people are around me the entire time.  Last year in the Houston Marathon, it was the last day to qualify for the Olympic Trials and there were so many women running with the 2:45 pacer!  

 

Do you have a Favorite quote?

I have always have loved this quote,“Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.” I feel like it really describes my running journey from the beginning.

 

Do you have advice for other runners?

My advice is to keep going and keep training, because that is what running takes.  It takes time, years and years of training to put the miles under you.  That is how you see improvement, over years and years of time.

My friend and I were just talking about how when you are younger, you want to be running these fast times.  Then, later on you look back over years and think, “WOW!” 

Running is something you have to be very patient with.  

 

Follow Megan on Instagram:

@megansaloomruns

 
 
 
Photography, courtesy of Megan Saloom.
 
 
 
 
 
That Pretty Runner