Road Runner Girl: Runner Spotlights #78

Sooo...did everyone enjoy losing that hour of sleep last night??? I will admit that I LOVE this time change since it stays daylight for longer at night...but I hate having to transition to it. I LOVE my sleep and do not like losing that hour! Oh well...I will appreciate it tonight when I look at the clock and it's close to 7:00 and still daylight! :-) Here's to those night runs...not being dark!!!

Now it's time for another runner spotlight...my favorite time of the week! I love reading other runners' stories about their running journey! If you are interested in being spotlighted on my blog please email me at mindy@roadrunnergirl.com! I'd love to spotlight you! You don't have to have a blog to be spotlighted...you just have to be a runner! ;-)

Today I'm spotlighting Angela from Cowgirl Runs! What is really cool is that Angela lives in Canada! And she is a cat lover like me! Keep reading to learn more about Angela and her running journey!

Name: Angela

State: Calgary AB, Canada

When and why did you start running?

I completed my last accountancy exam in 2009 and was looking for a new way to spend my free time and take care of my body (which had fallen off when I was in school). Knowing I'd have some more free time in Spring 2010 I decided to challenge myself by signing up for a half marathon in October 2010. I'd run a few 10k races, but I think the last one was when I was 18, so a half marathon was going to be a new challenge for me. After that race I was hooked! I took a bit of time off, but started up running and racing more seriously in Spring 2013 and it’s going to take a lot to get me to stop. :-)

What is your favorite race and race distance?

So far, running SeaWheeze in Vancouver in August 2013 was my favorite race. The race was extremely well organized (I’d heard a lot about how it was disorganized in 2012) and the cheer stations and spectators were electric!

I absolutely love running my marathon, but I think right now my favorite distance is the half. I’m definitely not a sprinter, so the half caters to the distance side of things while not being quite so time consuming (training-wise) as the full.

What is your race day routine?

I’m not much of a morning person, so I try to wake up as close to start time as possible; I’m not one of those runners who wakes up 2-3 hours before the race to eat a good breakfast (this is something I’m working on!). I always have everything laid out the night before, so I’ll get dressed and then fuel which is usually my Vega Pre-Workout Energizer, Stinger Waffle and 1tbsp of peanut butter (and not the all-natural stuff!). Then I’ll walk/drive to the start line, drop my bag (I get really cold after races, so I always drop a bag with a sweater) and head to my corral.

My persona in the corral completely changes, I don’t like to talk and I’m laser focused. I think this is a throwback to my swimming days when I didn’t like to talk to anyone in the marshalling area because I was focusing on my race. Once the gun goes off, I’m back to my cheerful self.

What is your most favorite piece of running gear?

My Newton runners. I made the switch to these early in 2013 and I’m pretty certain they’ve contributed to my newfound speed and more efficient stride.

My iPhone (for music and RunKeeper) is a close second!

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

I’m not big on “diets” but I do watch what I eat and try to eat healthfully, but I would never deprive myself of beer, pizza or brownies!

Before all of my runs I have a Vega Pre-Workout Energizer, if it’s an AM run I’ll also have some food like a Stinger Waffle or ½ a Larabar and will also add Beta-Alanine to the energizer before a long run or a race. To recover I have Vega Recovery Accelerator or Vega Performance Protein after a workout followed by 1L of water with a Nuun tablet to restore electrolytes. I’m a very salty sweater!

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

The amazing friendships and community that would come out of it. I tend to do the majority of my training runs by myself, but even still I’ve made some awesome friends and my love of running has even turned into flying to Florida for a girls race weekend. I never dreamed this would happen when I started.

What is your fondest running memory?

Crossing the finish line for my first half marathon. When I signed up I really didn’t know if I was going to be able to do it, but I did, and I came in under 2 hours. I had tears in my eyes when I crossed because I was so proud of myself for doing it.

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

Only my mom knows this one: when I was 16 I went to write my learner’s exam and failed it that day. I was heartbroken. The next day I went back, wrote it and passed. I was so embarrassed I didn’t tell any of my friends, and now I’m putting it on the internet. :-)