1. How did you start running?
I started jogging in college (Harvard). Before then, I did gymnastics, but there was no gymnastics team in college, so I took up running. I had a friend who had run Boston 5 or 6 years straight, who convinced me to run the New Bedford Half Marathon on three weeks training (my longest run had been 8 miles). She then convinced me to run Boston, which I banditted (and did again the next year, don’t tell anyone). In med school (UCSF), I was doing triathlons, but met a classmate who was running for the Excelsior team and was convinced to run with a group. I ran the Zippy 5k, and was hooked on group training.
2. Who are your running role models?
Maureen Hogan. She agreed to do America’s Finest (August Half Marathon in San Diego) and Twin Cities (Marathon) with me, kind of on a lark, but she was really supportive and I really appreciated how she put herself out there for someone else. There is also a local woman who is in one of the veteran age divisions, but is always consistently doing her best each week on the PA circuit. I hope to still be out there like her when I am that age.
3. What has been your most memorable running / racing experience?
Twin Cities in 2008, despite how awful I felt (Helen ran a PR of 3:15). I really thought the training I did with Tom prepared me and I was healthy, which is a big thing for me. I had a hard time with fueling, so I kind of bonked at the end, but I would go back – its an amazing course and really well supported. Doing 2006 Big Sur with my brother was the most fun – getting to see it from his perspective was great.
4. What have you enjoyed about working with Focus-N-Fly?
Tom and the banter of the collective group. Also, the great training. The reason why I stick with it though, are the people, especially after I had switched training groups. It is a nice mix of people at different levels with different goals.
5. What is one part of your racing routine you can’t do without (sleep, pre race meal, tie shoes certain way, other ritual)?
Bagel, peanut butter, and banana before a long race
6. What is your favorite place to go for a run?
Mt. Tam. I’d like to learn more of the trails on the peninsula and in the south bay, but Mt. Tam is my default.
7. In the next year, what goals do you hope to accomplish?
I’d like to break 3:10 in the marathon and get my 5k down under 19 minutes.