I love reading about running. I love delving into articles training and diet plans, advice and race reports and descriptions. That’s one of the reasons I love introducing runners on my blog. Telling stories comes natural to me as I spend all day interviewing and writing articles for the newspaper. Fast or slow, runners are some of the coolest people I know.
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Take Samantha, for instance. She’s a goal chaser. Samantha has set her sights on some pretty awesome goals this year. She’s chasing a sub-two hour half-marathon and a 24-minute 5K. Oh and she’s training for her first marathon in June.
Name: Samantha MacDonald
City: Timberlea, Nova Scotia
Profession: Nursing
Runner Since: 2011
1. Why did you start running? What pushes you to keep going?
My sister started running for weight loss she would always try to convince me give it a try. I would say “No, it’s not my thing, boring.” Eventually I gave in and started Couch 25k and started training for our first 5k race. I ran my first 5k and was hooked. I continued to train and push forward and grew to love running.
2. What is your running/fitness routine for a typical week?
Well right now I am training for my first full marathon and I am following Hal Higdons Novice 1 program so I am running two short runs, one semi long run and one long run during the week. Days in between my runs I am doing 8 minute abs, planks and physio exercises.
3. What does running mean to you?
Running is my “me” time. Its the most relaxing part of my day. I get to groove to my tunes, clear my head and block out everything else that’s happening and just focus on putting one foot in front of the other. Running is my happy place; it’s my therapy 🙂
4. When did you have your first “a ha” running moment? Tell us about it.
I feel like as of late while pushing myself through these long runs and even committing to a marathon, I have “ah ha” moments daily. Recently while at the 25K Moose Run I waited for the race to start and was thinking to myself look at these people they are real runners. I am going to be the last one to cross. By the end of the race I realized I am a real runner (I wasn’t even close to finishing last).
5. How do you balance family with staying in shape? Is your family supportive?
Most of my family doesn’t understand why I would run all Sunday morning but they are supportive. Sometimes it’s hard to balance life and things going on around you with long runs but I just have to make it a priority and get it done.
6. Best running memory? Tell us about it.
So far my best memory was finishing my first half marathon. I was so proud of myself! Also running my 3rd half a few months later and shaving off a full 10 minutes.
7. What has running taught you about yourself?
Running has taught me how strong I am physically and especially mentally. I have achieved more than I ever thought I was capable of.
8. Do you have any current running goals?
Currently I am training for my first full marathon. I choose the Johnny Miles Marathon in New Glasgow, N.S. on June 15. My goal will be to finish and not to walk. My other goals for this race season are to run a 24 min 5k, and run an under two hour half-marathon.
9. What kind of runner are you? Competitive? Recreational? Goal chaser?
I would say I’m a goal chaser. I love setting new goals for myself every race season and working towards it. Makes me so much more motivated when I have a goal in sight.
10. Has blogging made you a better runner?
Blogging definitely keeps me motivated and pushes me. Reading other people’s blogs about training also gives me that extra motivation. Also it’s like my very own training journal I can look back and read and relive all my long runs, races etc.
Connect with Samantha:
Thanks for stopping by. Next week come back for a Q & A on a Western Canuck runner.
Yay Sam! I am super excited for you and your first marathon!!! It is such an awesome feeling and I can feel your determination for sure. 🙂
Good luck with your training and hope you have a great first marathon! 🙂