1. Name: Erica
2.Tell us about your past race/running experience: In middle school, I ran track…badly. Aside from being generally awkward and adolescent, at the time I was also learning to deal with loose and often painful joints due to a connective tissue disorder. It’s hard to run well with your shoulder hanging out of place, so I decided it wasn’t for me and took off after other athletic pursuits (which I also did badly, by the way).
Then in 2009, the Illinois Marathon made its debut. My Dad expressed interest in the half, and I was willing to try…but given the zero running either of us was doing at the time,and there being 13 weeks until (at time of contemplation), I suggested we train for the Myrtle Beach half (a “run a race and come visit your daughter” kind of deal). It was settled.
And then my Dad watched the “NOVA: Marathon Challenge”, and saw that Hal Higdon had a 30 week marathon training plan for newbies…and the next thing you know, he’s on the phone saying “we have so much time….let’s just run the full”. Um…ok?
The weekend of the Myrtle Beach Marathon arrived. T-shirts were picked up. Winter weather advisories went out. It snowed 4 inches that night, and the marathon was canceled. Much sadness. We signed up to run the Chicago Marathon the next morning — snow there would be considered “perfect marathon weather!”, and started training again. Had weather once again crushed our goals of marathon glory, I was willing to take it as a sign from God and give it up….but it didn’t, and we finished….and once you finish one, well….why not another and another?!?
3. What race did you run? The Illinois Marathon
4. Why did you sign up for this race? After Chicago, we were looking for another marathon to run. The timing, calendar-wise of Illinois was good, the fact that it was in my hometown, where my parents still live was nice — it was just overall, a good one to pick.
5. What/who inspires you to run? If it were not for my Dad, I would have never never never ever have begun to run, let alone train for a marathon. Doing our running apart, we keep tabs on each other through logging our runs online and calling and harassing each other; training for, and running a marathon with your dad is an awesome experience.
6. What is your best training tip? Stick to the plan! Skipping workouts leads to regret and panic in the weeks leading into the event.
7. Water or Sports Drink? Both have their place — I’m not one for sugary beverages, but in certain weather, or “any distance past X”, I do like to have a little of both.
8. Tell us about the outcome of the race: Nice weather, great company. We improved upon our last efforts, and that was good, too.
9. Your favorite post-race indulgence? Ummmmm….Diet Coke and veggie Chicago-style pizza.
10. Favorite part of racing in a Sparkle Skirt? What’s not to like about a sparkly skirt?!? You can sing “I feel pretty” in your head all along the course (or out loud, if you’re that kind of person).
*this was not my favorite part (I’m not THAT vain), but I would be remiss if I did not mention*….the compliments/personalized cheers were RIDICULOUS. As in quantity and frequency. I’m fairly sure strangers don’t yell “You’re the prettiest girl in the race!!” at mile 23 to just any female chugging down the road. Well, they yelled it at the one in the pink, sparkly skirt.
The Traveling Sparkle Skirts are a pair of Sparkle Athletic Running Skirts (one Hot Pink & one Turquoise) that travel the globe spreading the Sparkle Athletic love. Read more stories of the Traveling Sparkle Skirts HERE.