Tag: trail running

The Runner Diaries — Elizabeth Carey

On By idratherbestrongthanskinnyIn Inspiration, race recap, running, The Runner Diaries, travel2 Comments

Welcome to The Runner Diaries, where we’re sharing a behind-the-scenes look into a week of training with runners of varying ages, paces and GPS coordinates. Get The Runner Diaries delivered to your inbox, here.

This week, we have 33-year-old Elizabeth Carey, a public relations guru and runner who just recently relocated to Seattle, Washington. The former Division I athlete and post-collegiate sub-elite is currently figuring out the best way to juggle her full-time job (and side gigs) with her new status as an age grouper and recreational runner, all while training for ultra marathons in the process.

THE RUNDOWN
Name: Elizabeth Carey
Location: Seattle, Washington
Age: 33
Training for: Trail and ultra races—including Backcountry Rise
Training plan: About eight months ago, I hired coach David Roche, whose, “Some Work All Play” philosophy and Trail Runner columns about training appealed to me. Although I have been a professional coach and worked with a range of athletes, I cannot coach myself.
Part of any running communities, clubs or training programs? Oiselle Volée, SWAP Team
How long you’ve been a “runner:” Since joining the high school track team in the spring 1999.
Weekly mileage: 35-55 (ish)

RUNNER’S STATEMENT

Running is my lifeblood. It’s a constant, evolving presence in my life—one that introduced me to  confidence, health, my best friends, a career, heartbreak, and hope. It’s become more ritual than routine—a daily spiritual practice, an exercise in self awareness, a river I revisit.

As a former Division I athlete and post-collegiate sub-elite, I’ve struggled with my identity as a current age-grouper and recreational yogger. This is a privileged, superfluous perspective. I cannot forget that running and racing is a gift. So I continue to chase both fitness and the confidence to compete wire-to-wire. With a focus on feel and flow, I’m exploring new trails and distances, ignoring splits.

Sunday | Day One

9:30 a.m. — Wake up to the sound of laughter and kids running down a hall. My husband and I stayed with friends after going to a season opener football game at the University of Oregon. The kids aren’t ours, but they are cute. We get up and hang with the family.

10 a.m. — Smoke from nearby wildfires is so dense I wonder if I should run the 8 miles that’s slated. I’ve run through this summer’s unprecedented smoke all over the Pacific Northwest, but this is the worst I’ve seen, and I can feel a burning taste at the back of my throat even as we just sit around. I’ve got a headache (half hangover, half need-a-coffee) anyway, so email my coach to see if I can swap today’s run for tomorrow’s rest day. Continue reading “The Runner Diaries — Elizabeth Carey” →

The Runner Diaries — Katelynn Wagner

On By idratherbestrongthanskinnyIn Inspiration, marathon training, race recap, running, The Runner Diaries, travel1 Comment

Inspired by Refinery29’s Money Diaries and The Cut’s Sex Diaries, welcome to The Runner Diaries, where we’re sharing a behind-the-scenes look into a week of training with runners of varying ages, paces and GPS coordinates.

This week, we have 24-year-old Katelynn Wagner of Ithaca, New York — a plant-based trail and ultra runner who is training for the Finger Lakes Fifties 50 miler.

The Rundown:

Name: Katelynn Wagner
Location: Ithaca, NY
Age: 24 years old
Occupation: Molecular Biology & Genetics at Cornell University
Goal Race: Finger Lakes Fifties 50 Miler on July 1, & Cat’s Tail Trail Marathon (also pacing a friend at the Leadville 100 mile race)
Training Plan: Very loosely following a schedule of long runs that I made, and letting my body determine the mid-week miles.
Running communities & clubs: I am a member of Janji Corps and an ambassador for Trail Sisters
How long have you been a runner? I ran XC in high school but a 10k was as far as it went, until I had my daughter in 2013. I signed up for my first half marathon to try to shake the “baby weight.” Then signed up for a trail 30k and couldn’t get enough!
Why do you eat a plant based diet? I chose a vegetarian diet shortly after having my daughter in 2013. I chose this equally for both health and ethical reasons. I had always thought of making the next step to a vegan diet but had never been able to make it stick. Then after reading Eat & Run by Scott Jurek and Thrive by Brendan Brazier I decided to make the transition. It is certainly more work, but well worth it. My performance has increased significantly and my recovery time has plummeted. I can’t say that I am super strict. Eating out (which we don’t do often) can be a challenge. And the thought of sending someone a list of ingredients they can and can’t cook with when they’ve invited me over for dinner always seemed too rude to even think of. So in those circumstances, as long as it is vegetarian I am happy to eat it. But when I cook for myself it is vegan, and I can tell the difference in my health and performance. Continue reading “The Runner Diaries — Katelynn Wagner” →

The Runner Diaries — Morgan Sjogren

On By idratherbestrongthanskinnyIn Inspiration, marathon training, running, travel1 Comment

Inspired by Refinery29’s Money Diaries and The Cut’s Sex Diaries, welcome to The Runner Diaries, a behind-the-scenes look into a week of training with runners of varying ages and abilities. We’re asking runners of every level, genre and distance (road vs. trail, endurance vs. speedsters, hobby joggers vs. elites) to share their workouts, training runs and nutritional choices during a seven-day period to get a glimpse into the inner struggles and tribulations of what it means to be a runner.

This week, we have 30-year-old Morgan “Mo” Sjogren of Northern Arizona, a digital nomad, competitive trail runner and full-time running bum who is currently training for the U.S. Mountain Running Championships this June.

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THE RUNDOWN:

Name: Morgan “Mo” Gonzalez
Location: Currently on the road living the Jeep-sy life (literally!), or on a ranch in Northern Arizona
Age: 30
Training For: Trail and Mountain Races + Random Adventures!
Goal race? U.S. Mountain Running Championships in June, some low key trail races this spring and a Peruvian Running Adventure in May!
Following a training plan? No, just a basic knowledge of how a standard training week should be structured/previous experience/learning as I go.
How long you’ve been ‘a runner: I asked my Mom to run a cross-country race with me when I was nine.
Goal weekly mileage: I don’t worry about this much, but right now 45-60 miles per week + some hiking.

Runner’s Statement:

Last fall I started trail running and fell in love. I went on some big running adventures (like running across the Sierras and back, and running the Tour Du Mt. Blanc). I started racing on the trails and placed 6th and 10th at the U.S. Trail Half and Marathon Championships. After focusing on the track for my entire career I’m excited to get dirty this year and explore all that trail and mountain racing has to offer. Not to mention, any awesome running adventures or travel opportunities that present themselves. I’m currently bouncing around the southwest dirtbag-style, and checking out tons of new trails!

I work remotely and take full advantage of this in my running bum/Jeepsy lifestyle. It allows me to explore so many new places on two feet, meet and connect with beautiful and diverse people and ultimately gives me a lot of inspiration for the work I do (I think much clearer outside than at a desk). This week, I took a road trip to Bear’s Ears National Monument for a story I am writing for REI Trail Run Project and enjoyed some amazing training runs along the way. Continue reading “The Runner Diaries — Morgan Sjogren” →