Road Runner Girl: Runner Spotlights #87

It is the boys' first weekend of summer! They were so excited when they got off the school bus on Friday! Summer is finally here!

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! ;-) And I'm running low on spotlights so now's your time to shine!!!

Today I'm spotlighting Kimberley from Black Dog Runs Disney! Yep you guessed it...she's a Disney lover like me! And she has the cutest black dog named Calypso! Keep reading to learn more about her and her running journey!

Name: Kimberley

State: Florida

When and why did you start running? I ran cross-country in high school and stunk at it. I started again when I moved to Florida in 1995 because…why not? Who wouldn't want to run in weather like we have?!

What is your favorite race and race distance? The Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon, hands down. I love the night start and the after party in Epcot to celebrate the Food and Wine Festival is the best! That being said, 13.1 is definitely my favorite. For the moment anyway. That 26.2 is just dangling out there like a really big diamond!

What is your race day routine? Throw whatever is handy at the alarm clock when it goes off at what is typically some ungodly hour of the night. Roll off bed, narrowly missing the dog. Pick up pieces of demolished alarm clock. Stub toe on bed post. Curse incessantly. Throw on whatever random pieces of running clothes I spent hours laboring over the night before. (Not really. As long as everything is somewhat tolerable to the human eye, it’ll work). Stumble into kitchen and curse at whoever left the light dimmer switch on high from the night before. Warm up either some oatmeal or a bagel with peanut butter and down a couple bottles of grape Propel. Make sure gear bag has iPod, sunglasses, baby wipes and requisite Tylenol, (I like to be prepared!), and stumble out the door.

What is your most favorite piece of running gear? Rock or KT Tape. I really don’t think I’d be able to run without it! I also love the 8+ Beecause Charms I have on my running shoes. Who says a girl can’t run with a little bling?

Do you follow any diet or take any specific supplements that complement your running? I take a multivitamin and an iron supplement. I also occasionally take echinacea and goldenseal to help keep my immune system working properly. If I start feeling a little under the weather, I’ll also add in some zinc.

What do you wish you’d known when you first started running? Pay less attention to what everyone else is doing and more to improving what you can do. Comparing yourself to what other runners are capable of doing is surefire way of driving you right into the dumps. The only competition you need to be concerned about is the one with yourself.

What is your fondest running memory? Crossing the finish line of the 2013 Wine and Dine Half Marathon at Disney. It was my best time at a Disney race and even though I didn’t hit my goal time, (thank you ITBS for trying to take me out at Mile 12!), I made it through and felt great when I made that final turn to the finish.

What is one thing that most people do not know about you? I know every word to every song played during the Illuminations show at Epcot. I know – total Disney Dork.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us? Completely obsessed with Labradors, all things Disney, and Moose Tracks ice cream. Much to my hips dismay.