This last week has been really busy, and I have several draft posts going but so far I just haven’t managed to sit down and have the motivation to finish them. So, instead of staying dark, I thought we could get to know each other a little better! Here’s a fun running survey I saw recently. I’d love to hear your answers or at least your answer to one of these questions in the comments (or link to your blog post if you write one).
- Would you rather run along a beach path or a mountain trail? This is actually really hard. Given where I live and how much I LOVE running at the beach, I’d say beach path, but honestly some of my favorite and most memorable runs of all time are on the trails. I find myself fully engaged in running when I run on new trails, whereas when I run at the beach I tend to need distractions from a friend, music or podcast.
Running near the ocean is my happy place - If you could choose the flavor of Gatorade at your next race’s aid stations, what would it be? Water only please! I don’t like the taste of any Gatorade and prefer to simply take salt pills for electrolytes.
- If you had a $100 gift card to a running store, what would be the first thing that you would purchase with it? New running shoes or a new Oiselle tank top or two! You can never have too many of either.
- Do you prefer to follow a training plan or wake up and decide then how far and how fast you want to run? Training plan for sure! I love planning my months and weeks and checking things off! But I also like to have some off weeks/months each year to do whatever I want.
- Would you rather start your run with the uphill and end on the downhill, or start your run with the downhill and end on the uphill? Start with uphill and finish downhill for sure!
Hills! - When you can’t run, what type of cross-training do you choose to do? Strength training or yoga. Lately, it’s 21 Day Fix or Beachbody on Demand Yoga Studio, but I really do love a good group yoga class at a nice studio.
- Which is your preference: out and back, point to point, or loop runs? I tend to run out and backs when I plan my own runs, but since joining the Seaside Striders Running Club, I’ve run a lot of loops. For races, I actually prefer out and back or loops over point to point because it means I get to sleep in later and don’t have to take a bus to the start!
- If you could recommend any running related item to a new runner, what would it be? I always recommend that people go get fitted for the correct running shoe before they start running. I can’t tell you how many people have unnecessary pain while running becuase of the wrong shoe!
- Do you ever see any wild animals while out of your runs? Now that I read this question, I am starting to wonder if I’ve done this survey before!? And turns out I have. But maybe you started reading after that and you probably forgot the answers since I clearly did! And if you’re curious, the answer is: pelicans and squirrels on the 101 and lizards, rabbits and rarely, a coyote, on the trails near my house.
Pelicans! - Ever gotten lost while out on a run? Yes! My running coach comes up with pretty crazy routes so I’ve gone off track. I always know where I am since I carry my phone with me, but I’ve definitely made some wrong turns and added mileage.
- If you could have one meal waiting and ready for you each time you got home from a run for the next 30 days, what would it be? Eggs and avocado toast!
- Capris or shorts? Depends on the time of year. Oiselle Rogas are my short of choice – so comfortable and they don’t ride up!
Love my Rogas! - At what mile into your run does your body feel warmed up and ready to go? It really depends, but usually mile 2-3, sometimes 5!
- What do you do with your key when you run? Put it in my back pocket (and recently I forgot to zip it and dropped it in a public toilet! It was traumatizing!).
- If you could relive any race that you have done, which one would it be? I had a blast at Rock n’ Roll San Diego in 2014 when I set a PR! I ran a really solid race and negative split big time and had a lot of fun interacting with the crowd. If I could re-RACE another race with a different strategy, I’d go back to M2B and avoid getting the stomach flu beforehand!
What about you!? Answer 1 of these questions in the comments!
I usually run from my house, so no key needed. But if I’m meeting up with someone to run at a public trail, I take off just the car key and tie it into my shoe laces. Been doing this for years!
I used to tie my key fob to my shoe and one time I lost it!!! I had to run all the way to the airport from balboa park in San Diego to meet my ex boyfriend at the airport so that we could share a cab back to our apartment (I had no phone or money), retrieve my second key and drive back to the park. At the time, I was not a long distance runner AT ALL so it was sooo far for me to run/walk!
Oh! I love these! You learn so much about each other when reading responses 🙂
Ever gotten lost while out on a run?
YES! I’ll preface this story by saying that I have a terrible sense of direction and still get anxiety about driving somewhere new, even with Google Maps! Well, 2 years ago I decided to volunteer as a mentor for a beginner 10-week 5K training program through a local running store (I scored a free pair of running shoes for volunteering!) The Saturday before the race, we were running 3 miles, easy peasy, right? I had a route card the coach gave us and everything. Well, I missed a turn and we got lost (keep in mind, this was in the neighborhood literally across from the college I went to for 4 years!). My group ended up running 3.75 miles, which was farther than anyone in the group except myself had ever run. They were all complaining that the run seemed to be taking forever. We were the last pace group to return, and the coach was just about to head out looking for us. I told the group that at least they know they could definitely cover the distance in the race!
HA! I love this story!!! Thanks for sharing. That is definitely one for the books!
This is fun! So hard to choose just one question to answer, I guess I’ll have to do the whole thing on my blog one of these days. I love point-to-point races, but you’re right that taking the bus to the start is not very fun. Have you ever done the America’s Finest City Half Marathon? The buses to Point Loma left SO early & then we had to wait around out there for ages. The two local (Durango, CO) races I do every year are point-to-point but luckily my husband will usually drive me out to the start line.
You should definitely do it on your blog too!
Yes I’ve done AFC three times! IT’s such an early wake-up time. I am considering doing it this year but honestly the early morning and bus situation is deterring me! I’ve been spoiled with the last 3/4 of my races being within a 10 minute drive in downtown Encinitas!!
Glad your husband will drive you! AFC you can’t even get dropped off!
I train in Griffith Park, right in the middle of LA. I’ve seen coyotes, rabbits, bobcats, deer, squirrels, rats, hawks, and a rattlesnake!
That’s awesome! Sounds like a pretty cool place to train and who would have thought LA had so much wildlife!
Runners must be a lot alike. I found most of my answers mirrored yours…except the shorts…I have not tried those :-).
The race I would relive is the Nike Woman’s Marathon in San Francisco 2006. I t was my first marathon and I felt the most prepared after training with Team In Training. Wish they would bring back the Nike Woman’s Marathon!
That race has always intrigued me! Sad it’s gone!