Road Runner Girl: Runner Spotlights #12

This weekend has been fun so far! Friday night we went out to dinner as a family and went and walked around a few stores. Then Saturday I ran 16 miles that morning with the girls and then Andy and I went to the University of South Alabama football game for his birthday! Go Jags! We've had fun!

It's time for another runner spotlight! If you are interested in being spotlighted on my blog please email me at mindy@roadrunnergirl.com! I would love to feature you!!!

Today I am spotlighting the awesome Gina from Noshing on Asphalt! She just ran her first marathon a few weeks ago...the Marine Corp Marathon! She did awesome! I also love that she lives on the Gulf Coast like me!!! Keep reading to learn more about her!

Name: Gina McKnight

State: Mississippi Gulf Coast

When and why did you start running? I got back into running last year (I tore my MCL years ago and stopped running) after realizing how much I missed it. Running a marathon has always been on my list of things to do but in order to run 26.2 miles you….wait for it….have to be able to run first! When I started back running last year, I remember being excited when I ran 2 miles without stopping, now I’m proud to say that in 10 weeks I’ll be checking ‘run a marathon’ off of my things to do list!

What is your favorite race and race distance? Right now my favorite race distance is the ½ marathon. I’m training for my first full so who knows, maybe that’ll become my new favorite. My favorite race is the 2012 Rock-n-Roll ½ marathon in New Orleans. This was my first ½ marathon and I totally fell in love with everything about it – especially the crowd vibe!

What is your race day routine? I lay out my gear the night before so in the morning I get up, eat my Kashi cereal (I’m a bit OCD, I even bring it with me for out of town races), stretch and then soak up the pre-race environment. I love the almost palpable nervous energy before a race starts. Post race, my running girls and I always stop at a fun restaurant.

What is your most favorite piece of running gear? Hands-down, without a doubt, my Garmin. It has almost become a part of me and I am SO lost without it. It’s like my inanimate BFF.

Do you follow any diet or take any specific supplements that complement your running? I’m a clean eater which totally compliments running. I can tell a huge difference in my running after I've splurged on a non-clean meal. My favorite fuel during a run is Honey Stingers chews which are like GU Chomps but organic and all natural.

What do you wish you’d known when you first started running? I wish I would have known how addictive and expensive races are. They are like crack and I can’t get enough of them. I just wish I could find that allusive money tree people talk about. If anybody knows where one is, feel free to message me!

What is your fondest running memory? My fondest memory is from my first ‘real’ race (i.e. not a small local race). It was the Double Bridge Run 15k in Pensacola, Florida, and I got to run it with the person who inspires me (Mary, she’s like a mom to me) everyday to run! I just remember the huge surge of energy I had entering the finisher’s chute and crossing the finish line hand-in-hand with her. That was the very moment I got hooked on racing.

What is one thing that most people do not know about you? Hmmm… That I really, really love tattoos. In fact, if I could pull it off, I would most likely be covered in them. Instead, I just admire other’s ink. For people who only know me on the surface level this is a complete shock (but that’s what happens when you judge a book by its cover).