Road Runner Girl: Runner Spotlights #112

Brrr! I have been freezing all weekend! This Gulf Coast girl is NOT used to this cold weather lol! I have been enjoying running in the cold though. ;-)

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 Rachel from Running on Happy! Don't you just love her blog name? Keep reading to learn more about her and her running journey!

Name: Rachel

State: Ohio

When and why did you start running?

I had a very brief running career at the end of middle school and early in high school, but I was so slow and unmotivated that it is hardly a blip in time. I didn’t run again until after my first child was born. I had a lot of trouble losing pregnancy weight and finally I realized I had to do something other than sit around and go for “walks.” I took up running in 2010 and I will never look back.

What is your favorite race and race distance?

It turns out I really enjoy the 5K. I like to get runs done, and I like to try to go fast. Plus I feel like with every 5K, a new PR is almost always possible. One of my very favorite races is a small race near where I grew up, on the east side of Cleveland, Ohio. It’s small, I love the hilly course, and I feel a great sense of accomplishment every time I run. I also have a soft spot for it because it was my first official race. :-)

What is your race day routine?

I don’t really have one! If it’s a 5K, I just wake up, get dressed, and get to the race. I’m training for my second half marathon right now. My first half I didn’t really do anything special. Just had to wake up at the crack of dawn to get to the race on time. I’m not one of those people that wake up super early to eat because my stomach can’t really handle food pre-run. If I need to fuel, I do it on the course. But I usually fuel enough the night before that I’m good for the duration.

What is your most favorite piece of running gear?

I’m a big fan of my shoes. I know that’s such a weird thing to say. But without them, I wouldn’t be running at all, so yep – I love my shoes. :-)

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

No way. I just follow a healthy, balanced diet. I avoid process foods for the most part unless I’m in a pinch. I try to minimize sugar intake, but with a sweet tooth that’s hard to manage at times. :-)

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

I wish I had known how addictive it would be. I heard about it, but you don’t really know until you’re in it. And once you’re a runner… well, that’s all she wrote!

What is your fondest running memory?

I’m part of a mileage challenge group on Facebook. We are spread out across the country. After being part of the group for two years now, I finally had the opportunity to meet some of the people in the group back in March at a race in Louisville, KY. It was really awesome to meet face to face. I’m thankful for the camaraderie and now it’s even better to have voices with the names and profile pictures.

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

I’m planning on getting my JD in a year or two.