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Sunday, September 2, 2012

Runner Spotlights #3

I hope everyone's weekend has been going well! I'm so excited it's a 3 day weekend! I haven't done much this weekend...I had a 5 mile run yesterday and church today. It feels good to take it easy since the week was so busy. We are hoping to have a family and friends day tomorrow to celebrate Labor Day! Hoping some swimming is in store! :-)

It's time for another Runner Spotlight!  I hope you are enjoying these as much as I am! If you want to be spotlighted, send me an email at mindy@roadrunnergirl.com!

Today I am featuring Kymberly from agirlrunner! She started out running to lose weight and ended up falling in love with it! Keep reading to learn more about her!


Name: Kymberly Swope
State: Oklahoma

When and why did you start running? I started running in the summer of 2010. I was at work when a hurtful off handed comment by my boss caused me to wake up and realize my weight and body had gotten a little out of control. I bought an issue of Runner’s World Magazine and went to the treadmill the next morning and just started running. The magazine served to cover up the display.

What is your favorite race and race distance? I would have to say my favorite distance to run is the marathon. I have only run one of them but the dedication and perseverance it took to get through the training (and the race) taught me a lot about myself and served to earn me a lot of respect from people around me.
     As for my favorite race; it would have to be the Skirt Chaser that takes place here in Tulsa during the Oktoberfest. Women get a 3 minute head start and then the men literally chase the skirts. Instead of a T-Shirt, women are given running skirts when they register.

What is your race day routine? My race day routine is a little different than most. I get ready for the race, make sure I have everything connected to me that I need. I eat something small for breakfast (anything big makes me nauseous) and then I have coffee and a Red Bull on my way to the race. If I have to work afterward, I also make sure I have what I need for work in a bag.

What is your most favorite piece of running gear? My favorite piece of running gear would be a toss-up. My Garmin has given me the freedom from mapping a run before I go & has allowed me to see more of the city than I ever would have.

Do you follow any diet or take any specific supplements that complement your running? I try to follow a high carb diet (whole grains/wheat) and relatively healthy but I don’t deny myself “cheat snacks” if I’ve had a hard training day or accomplished something big. I need the carbs for sustained energy for the longer runs and heavier training I do.

What do you wish you’d known when you first started running?  I wish I had known it was going to be FUN! When I first started running, it was just to get in shape and lose weight. I had the wrong attitude about it; it wasn’t long before I did realize it was fun and started doing it for the shear enjoyment.

What is your fondest running memory? My fondest running memory is the Firecracker 5K from 2011. My daughter and her grandmother were at that race and missed getting a photo of me at the start. I got to mile 1.25-ish and heard “MOMMY!” When I looked up, there they were on the corner just cheering, screaming and clapping for me. I am used to only seeing familiar faces at the start and finish so it gave me a little extra push to keep going.

What is one thing that most people do not know about you? My first career aspiration was to be a Kindergarten teacher because I liked mine so much. My second was to be a firefighter.


Here are all the different ways you can connect with Kymberly!


Pinterest:  http://pinterest.com/agirlrunner/

Thanks so much for sharing with us Kymberly!!!

QOTD: Do you have any Labor Day plans?

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