Road Runner Girl: Runner Spotlights #54

Hey friends! I hope you are all having a great weekend! It has been raining all weekend long here. So it's been an inside weekend.

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! You don't have to have a blog to be spotlighted...you just have to be a runner! I'm running low on spotlights so don't hesitate to send me that email! :-)

Today I am spotlighting Carson from Running Southern! She's an Alabama girl just like me!!! Keep reading to learn more about her!

Name: Carson Phillips

State: Alabama

When and why did you start running?

I started running a couple of years ago with my family. My brother ran his first marathon and I went with my husband and parents to watch him. The energy there was so contagious that my parents caught the running bug and started running immediately after. They started running local races together with my brother and I was the only one in our immediate family that wasn't joining in and felt really left out. So I joined them and about a year later my husband started too. Now we all run together.

What is your favorite race and race distance?

My favorite race so far has to be the Mercedes Marathon relay/Half Marathon in Birmingham, Al. The race is great, but the reason I love it so much is because I completed the relay with my family as a team. Doing it together was a great experience.

What is your race day routine?

I lay out what I will wear, stretch well, and eat something heavy enough the night before that it will stay with me. The morning of, I wake up and drink a cup of coffee and usually eat a granola bar first thing. On the way to the race I like to eat a piece of fruit, usually a banana. I get strangely nervous on race day so I occupy myself by talking a lot to other people while waiting for the race to start.

What is your most favorite piece of running gear?

I recently converted from a Garmin GPS watch to a Nike watch and I absolutely love it. No matter what it goes with me whenever I run.

Do you follow any diet or take any specific supplements that complement your running?

I tried the paleo diet last year for a few months and while I ran so much faster, my temperamental stomach couldn't take it and I had to go back to my normal diet. Now I just try to eat really healthy. I absolutely love fried foods (I am a southern gal after all), but limit them to only a day a week. I also do not eat many sweets and eat a lot of fruits and veggies. However, I do not deprive myself of things that I want. If I ever got to the point that I did I think I would resent running for it (because I love eating so much).

What do you wish you’d known when you first started running?

I wish I had connected with the running community I never knew how supportive this great group of people could be.

What is your fondest running memory?

I was on the Junior Board for a non-profit organization for a year and had the opportunity to help plan a 5k fundraiser for them and run in it. It was so rewarding to see the group’s efforts reap great benefits for the organization. It was a really proud moment.

What is one thing that most people do not know about you?

I love challenging myself physically and trying new things but one thing I will NEVER do is a triathlon. Why? Because I have a major fish phobia and could not do the swimming portion because I do not get in the water with them! I realize this is a completely irrational fear and I should probably fear drowning more than coming in contact with a fish!