My helpful westcoast blogger/twitter friend Solana posted a list of 10 Personal Running Questions that she had seen on another blog. I wanted to share my answers in response to her post and figured this was a good place to do it. Here they are:
1. Best run ever?
One that sticks out in my mind was the 2011 Twelve Mile Creek Half Marathon. It was my first “trail” race and really made me realize how much I like running trails.
2. Three words that describe your running?
fast (in a relative sense!), necessary, focused
3. Your go-to running outfit?
These days I’m always trying different things to review for this blog. Typically shorts, thin socks, sleeveless shirt, and a visor as my basics.
4. Quirky habit while running?
Can’t think of anything… i’ll come back to this one! Still don’t have one… here is the best I can come up with: I like to say “hi” to everyone I see while I am running, and do all I can to avoid scaring others on the trails/sidewalks – I call it polite, but some might call it quirky!
5. Morning, midday, evening?
love morning, but its rare that my runs happen then.
6. I won’t run outside when it’s ____________
There’s not much that would keep me from running outside (other than non-running commitments!). I run outside all winter in the cold, all summer in the crazy heat/humidity. I really despise the treadmill.
7. Worst injury—and how you got over it.
This year I took a bit of spill and messed up my knee and lower back. I found that accepting the fact that resting was the best medicine helped. I also spent more time on my road bike, and got some great Graston treatment from my Chiro.
8. I felt most like a badass mother (father) runner when _________
I pass tourists on their bikes when I’m running along the Niagara Parkway!
9. Next race is __________
The Run for the Toad 50k trail race at the end of September.
10. Potential running goal for 2013?
Big goal is to do a 50miler. I think this is realistic given the other responsibilities in my life – 100 miler is too long at this point, but is a long (long, long) term goal!
Feel free to take these questions are answer them on your own blog, or in the comments below. I’d be interested to hear what you have to say!
runbikerace 
1. Best run ever?
2011 Rainbow Beach Trail Ultra. It was 45km and the first time I’d ever run more than 15km (ever). The run included about 20km of beach running on a king high tide and a 500m waist deep wade through a tidal lagoon, so it was quite an adventure. I bonked at 32km and barely managed to stumble to the 38km aid station where I spent about 20 minutes talking to the volunteers while I sat on the ground and gathered my resolve. I ran a 25 minute final 5km to the finish and sprinted the last 500m. I ran the whole course barefoot and just had the most wonderful 7.5 hours of my life. I got totally hooked on trail ultras that day.
2. Three words that describe your running?
Slow, persistent, passionate
3. Your go-to running outfit?
Cheap $8 K-Mart running shorts and either a race singlet or Mountain Designs sweat wicking t-shirt
4. Quirky habit while running?
I chat a LOT.
5. Morning, midday, evening?
Mornings rock but I enjoy night trail runs too after the sun has set
6. I won’t run outside when it’s ____________
Storming with lightning and thunder. They scare me
7. Worst injury—and how you got over it.
I have had agonising shin splints in my right leg for the past 15 years. I just today got CT scan results to say I don’t have stress fractures so I guess I’ll be getting over it with rest and physio. I had excruciating ITB pain for 12 years. I’ve got over that through barefoot running, physio and stretching.
8. I felt most like a badass mother (father) runner when _________
I run trail ultras
9. Next race is __________
To be confirmed. I just withdrew from all my upcoming races to focus on recovery from injury.
10. Potential running goal for 2013?
To start from scratch and build my mileage so that I can run pain free for the first time in my adult life. Ideally, I want to complete a 9-week Couch-to-5km program first. Then move on to a 19-week mileage build-up program so that I can then start a proper 20 week 50km program leading into a late-2013 or early 2014 50km event that I want to run within the cut-off rather than having to take an early start.
I can’t believe you ran a 45km race barefoot! That’s intense! I hope that once you reset your run training and start from scratch you are able to build back up injury free.
PS: Thanks for the questions. I actually really needed them right now