Road Runner Girl: Runner Spotlights #104

Happy Sunday everyone! I hope you are having a relaxing weekend! I've enjoyed lots of family and sister time this weekend! It's been great!

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 Amber from Run Mom Go! She is a mom like me and is also training for her first half marathon...which she is running in Disney World! Keep reading to learn more about her and her running journey!

Name: Amber M

State: Florida

When and why did you start running?

When I was in high school, I ran sporadically, when I wasn’t busy with my church’s youth group or marching band. I never really trained for anything. Fast forward to this past spring (2014) and I took the plunge to sign up for my first half-marathon. So, I had something to work toward. As I began really getting back to running, I wanted to run not only to train, but to be a good influence for my children.

What is your favorite race and race distance?

I ran the Keys100 in 2009 with only TWO weeks to train. To-date, it’s the most and least fun I’ve had racing! My favorite distance depends on the course. I love the short 5K races, but like the challenge of a 7-10K.

What is your race day routine?

Hope that I get sleep the night before (if a morning race)…Drink 6-10 oz of water…hope that my husband will join me and drive me to the venue…race. No, I don’t eat before a race. I never have. And I’m a big proponent of race how you train!

What is your most favorite piece of running gear?

My Kryoskinz cooling patches. They are fantastic! www.kryoskinz.com

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

I don’t do Paleo, Raw, Vegan, etc…but I do watch my portions, how things are cooked (fried vs grilled) and I ALWAYS check labels. Hydrogenated oils, HFCS, and MSG are three of the ingredients I never buy in things. I also try to keep things as minimally processed as I can.

I take no supplements, but use Jelly Belly sports beans, Gu Water Tablets (I love their Peach Tea flavor), and nuun tablets for my water. I’ve also developed an affinity for Clif Bloks (my three year old always asks if I need a “running gummy”)

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

The horror stories (chafing, blisters, and lost toenails) are NOT normal and usually can be prevented with proper fitting clothes. I also wish I’d been confident enough to get compression capris from the beginning. My cheapie knit ones were horrible!

What is your fondest running memory?

I have two. My son running his first 5K with me, at the Ft. Worth Zoo Run this year (2014) and then him crossing the finish line with me at my 10K I used to submit a time for my half corral placement.

What is one thing that most people do not know about you?
I’m the first Physical Therapist in Florida to achieve a specialty certificate in prenatal and postpartum PT.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
Anyone can run. The only bad run is the one you don’t do. Don’t limit yourself, make your limits goals! Once you reach the goal, set a new one!