Kris: I am a Runner

My weekend in Calgary was so busy that I barely had time to run the damn marathon. It was completely sold out for the first time with good reason. I lost count of the number of friends and bloggers who were running.

Everyone wanted to be part of the 50th Anniversary celebrations.

One such runner was Kris from Canadian Girl Runs. Kris ran her first marathon on Sunday. She shared the experience with her mom and brother who ran the half-marathon. I love how her family is so supportive and active. Maybe they will adopt me?

I thought it was fitting that Kris is in my runner spotlight today as she just celebrated a big milestone. Enjoy your read!

Name: Kris Murray

City: St. Albert, Alberta

Profession: Student

Runner Since: 2012

1. Why did you start running? What pushes you to keep going?

I started running to challenge myself. As a girl who grew up playing soccer and dreading punishment laps around the field, I thought I would give running another try. I signed myself up for a half marathon, found a beginner training schedule online, and started training. I ended up falling (literally sometimes) head over heels in love with it. The constant personal challenge running provides pushes me to keep going. I am determined to run farther and faster, and to have fun along the way!

2. What is your running/fitness routine for a typical week?

Right now I am training for the Calgary marathon, so my routine usually involves 5 or 6 days of running per week. I also do 1-3 strength/core workouts and a spin class. NOTE: Here’s Kris’ race recap from last weekend’s Calgary Marathon.

3. What does running mean to you?

Running = happiness. Running, even during the worst and most painful runs, has made me a stronger and more confident person. I’m never running away from my problems, I’m running towards solutions.

4. When did you have your first “a ha” running moment?  

When I ran my half marathon last year, the one that motivated me to start running, I ran it faster than I ever thought possible and I was genuinely happy and smiling the entire time. A stranger came up to me at the end and told me how happy I looked running and it made me reflect on all of my training and the race itself, and how happy it had made me!

5. How do you balance family with staying in shape? Is your family supportive?

My family is super fit so they have always been supportive of my goals. We all love to workout and often I get to exercise with my parents and younger brother! We are also a pretty competitive family so we are always challenging each other and pushing each other.

6. Best running memory? Tell us about it.

I have so many great running memories, but one of the best was when my mom and I did the St. Albert Fall Challenge Half Marathon in September. She walked it and started an hour earlier and I ran it. We finished at exactly the same time and got to run across the finish line together.

7. What has running taught you about yourself?

Running has taught me confidence. It has also taught me to listen to my body. I have never been more aware of my body than since when I started running. Between weight fluctuations, hydration, muscle changes, and fatigue, I love how running makes you so in tune with yourself.

8. Do you have any current running goals?

The Calgary marathon is my main running goal right now, but someday I would love to qualify for Boston!

9. What kind of runner are you? Competitive? Recreational? Goal chaser?

I am a goal chaser for sure. I love a challenge. I know I am not an elite runner and will never win a marathon, so making personal running goals is a big thing for me.

10. Has blogging made you a better runner? Explain.

Blogging has made me a better runner because it has allowed me to connect with so many other awesome people who run! I don’t feel pressured to run as much as I can and blog about it, I feel encouraged. It’s not about telling other people how to run, or racking up as many miles as you can, it’s about telling the world your running story, and just being you!