Runner's Survey

Today is a good day.  I know it.  It just started out that way.  First of all, the sun is out.  Kinda.  Well, at least there is some blue sky in between the puffy clouds and it is not raining.  This is pretty much the first time I've seen the sun in about 14 days.  Really.  Secondly, blogger is working today.  Yesterday, I could not get on my blog page or read anyone's blog all day.  It is funny how unbelievably aggrevating that is, it is almost like my addiction to Facebook, in that I was kinda having a panic that I couldn't blog or read blogs.  Very unimportant in the grand scheme of life, I know, but I do like reading blogs.  Anyhoo, all is back to normal now AND the sun is out!  What more could a girl want?

I read this on another blog and liked learning about my bloggy friends so I thought I would share as well.

What is your favorite type of cross training?
I love them all, because they all offer different things for me.  I like spin class because my friends are there and we chat and sweat and laugh and gossip.  I like swimming because it really feels like a whole body workout and makes me tired afterward.  Tennis is just completely different and I love it because of that.  (Also it was my favorite sport in high school and I still wish I could be a professional tennis player.)

What is your favorite song to run to?
Anything that is fast and upbeat.  Right now I like anything by Ke$ha, Tonight tonight by Hot Chelle Rae, Dirty Bit by Black Eyed Peas, and a guilty pleasure is Mean by Taylor Swift.

What brand of shoes do you wear?
I love my Nike Lunar Trainers.  I am on my second pair.  They were on the discount rack at the Nike Outlet and I thought they were the ugliest things ever, but they were sooooo comfortable.  Nothing hurts ever. 

Do you wear a hat when you run?
No freakin' way.  I sweat enough already without a hat.  I can't imagine how hot I would be with a hat on.

What is your favorite temperature for running?
I think between 60-70 degrees is just right.  Although I have perfected the running attire for comfortable running at 20 deg, 30 deg and above.  Just the right amount of layers makes all the difference. 

Do you have any big races coming up?
I am doing a sprint tri June 5 and also the Warrior Dash June 25.  I am also considering a 10K sometime in the summer and another sprint tri in September depending on my daughter's field hockey schedule.  I'll probably add 2-3 other 5K races here and there as they come up.

What is your favorite distance?
I have only raced the 5K distance as I just started running last year and my main goal was to do a sprint triathlon.  However, as I get better at running, I am running longer without any problem.  I now feel like I'm taking it easy if I only run 3 miles.  About 5 miles right now is my favorite distance.

Do you run solo or with a buddy?
I mostly run alone but I would love to have a buddy to do longer runs with.  My daughter (11 yo) comes out with my occasionally and she is great company, but when I'm wanting to train or race, I really prefer to be by myself.

Are you a morning, noon or evening runner?
Evening for sure!  I am never awake enough to run in the morning.  Noon I could do but I'm at work or in the summer it's too hot. 

What's your favorite post run snack?
I'm not sure I have a favorite snack after running.  I usually don't feel like eating until 1-2 hours afterward.  Mostly I just want water with the Propel Zero packet in it.  Oh, and a Mt. Dew if it's after a race in the morning.  Love me my Mt. Dew!

What is your favorite race?
I'm not sure I've raced in enough races to have a favorite.  But so far my favorite was the Nor'easter Sprint Triathlon because it was my first tri and I did well.

Do you wear a Garmin?  If not, how do you track your runs?
I do wear a Garmin, however, every run I do lately gives the milage as 5.15 miles even when I know it was 4 miles.  I think it is on it's way out.....(I bought it on eBay used and think I got a lemon.)  Before that, I used the Nike+ iPod thing in your shoe.  Which wasn't that great either as far as accuracy.  It got better when I figured out that I needed to calibrate it first..... duh.  The lady talks to you when you reach a certain distance--"you have completed 1 km", "you have 2 km to reach your goal".  I think it would be more effective to say things like "pick up the pace, fatty.  I don't have all day here", or "my grandmother could run faster than you".  Again, here I go with getting off topic...

What race is your favorite race medal from?
I don't have any race medals because I haven't done any 1/2 or full marathons.  But I do love my mug from the Nor'easter Tri when I placed first in my age group!  I think you get a medal for the Warrior Dash so I'm looking forward to that being my first!

Who is your running idol?
I don't think I have a running idol per se, but I do admire a few folks' accomplishments.  A local doctor in our area is running 50 marathons before he turns 50 (or is it in 50 states?  not sure).  Anyway, he has 4 kids that are high school aged to pre-school aged and he finds time to go all over the country to run marathons.  He is also an Ironman.  Kudos to him.  I admire that he is able to do that with such young kids at home.

I think EMZ's running 100 miles in 24 hours during her charity run is pretty awesome too.  I was thinking with my 10-12 mile/week pace, I would have to run 10 weeks to do what she did in 24 hours.  Not to mention she raised a lot of money for the women's shelter. 

I used to think that Lance Armstrong was the most amazing thing ever with all his Tour de France wins and comeback from cancer.  Until we find out he's a cheat.  (Obviously not a running idol, but a biking god.)  I wish he hadn't ruined his greatness with cheating.  Just the comeback from cancer story would have been amazing all alone.  But now it's tainted with his doping.  He's still amazing--I just wish he wasn't a cheat too.

How long have you been a runner?
About a year and a half.

Do you run with your wedding ring on?
Yes, always.  If I'm awake, it's on my finger.

What's your favorite workout? repeats? long runs? tempo? fartleks?
Ok, I'm not even sure what that question means.  lol  Occasionally, I do fart during my run.  But only if I have gas.  I like the run when I get to to outside in the sun, by myself, after a day at work and be alone with my ipod for 40 minutes when no one is asking me to make something for them or tie their shoe or help with homework or 'where are my pants?' or make dinner or look at the dirty house that no one else is cleaning.  That's my favorite run.

Only two, yes TWO! more days until I choose the winner for my giveaway!  You'd better hurry up and enter!  Now that the sun is back, those polarized lenses are going to be useful!!

And thank you to Christi from Pedestrian Runner!  She showed me how to change the color of my words.  (I know, I'm a computer idiot... but I can be taught!)