Interview with a Pro

As I’m toeing the start line of my very first full marathon, I couldn’t think of a more appropriate post than an interview with THE queen of marathon running herself, SkinnyRunner! I’m so thrilled that SR took time from her busy running and celebrity stalking schedule to answer a few questions for me about running, racing and life in general.

For those of you not familiar with SkinnyRunner, she is a hilarious blogger that shares her everyday life in California with her husband and adorable dog, Marni. She is an insane runner, having run about a million races (which are all recapped on her blog) and I can only dream of one day having her running ability. Her blog will keep you laughing with her sarcastic sense of humor, up to date on Hollywood lives with her endless celebrity gossip and constantly in awe of her determined running.  Oh yea, and did I mention she also works for her family business as a fisherman in Alaska during the summer?  Unbelievable, I tell ya!

I hope you enjoy a little insight from the one and only SkinnyRunner!

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LER: You are a marathon pro! Any advice to a first time marathoner on race day?

SR: Don’t eat ethnic food the night before…. you don’t want to pull a Reuben Feffer…

(click image for source)

Nah, what I’d really suggest is doing a complete “dress rehearsal” run before your race – this means wearing your race day outfit, eating your pre-race breakfast, pre-dinner meal the night before, running your goal pace, basically emulating the marathon in a training run so you can figure out what works for you and what doesn’t.

And then stick to what you practiced! If you trained at a 10 min/mile pace and charge off the line with an 8 min/mile, congrats, you’ll have a great one mile split and a miserable race for the other 25. Be disciplined and start at the pace you have trained at.

LER: What is your favorite marathon you have run to date and why? Least favorite and why?

SR: I have a few marathons that are very special to me for personal reasons (I ran the Portland Marathon in honor of my nephew Sutton who had open heart surgery when he was born) but my favorite race of all would be the NYC Marathon. It’s so big and over the top – it’s the Kim Kardashian of marathons. Plus the whole dang city turns out for it, and you feel like a celebrity running it. And we all know I love me some celebrities.

If I could have one wish I’d wish for everyone to run the NYCM once in their lifetime. And then world peace. And then end world hunger. But marathon first.

My least favorite would probably be the LA Marathon, especially the first year I ran it in 2010. It was so disorganized and chaotic that I didn’t think it was worth the $135 price tag. at all. But most of all, I didn’t see one dang celebrity. rude.

At the start of the LA Marathon this year, sporting my BIC Band and what looks like an afro?!

LER: I know I’m hoping to eat my body weight in fro yo after finishing the Nike Women’s marathon – what is your go-to post marathon meal to refuel?

SR: This is so lame, I know and I fully admit it, but I always like a huge salad after any long run or race. The saltier the better, with pickles, saurkraut, kalamata olives, and feta cheese. So good yet sounds so lame. I actually eat pretty normal the day of a marathon but the next day is when I go all Mr. T wild on the food.

LER: I know you are a fan of compression socks and sleeves – do you recommend them pre, during or post marathon or all of the above?

SR: I’ve worn compression tights, sleeves or socks before a race, during and after, but studies seem to show that compression really helps most with recovery post-race, not during the race. But I say: if they feel good and you feel like they help you, go for it. Rock those tight babies.

At the Gansett Marathon in Lululemon compressions socks bought on clearance! Not everything at Lulu costs an arm, a leg and your soul.

LER: Is there one thing (music, compression socks, lip gloss) that you would never dream of running without?

SR: Besides pants? My garmin 405.

I’m obsessed with a few things: my husband, my dog and my garmin. I kinda want a back-up garmin just in case mine fails, but then my husband calls me a psycho crazybag and I remember that having a glass-encased shrine to my garmin is not normal behavior.

LER: I know you spend your summers on the fishing boat – do you ever get stir crazy and find the urge to just start running laps on the boat?

SR: Honestly, no. I miss running when I’m on the boat, but I try to compartmentalize that part of my life so running’s just not a big part of it. And….. now I sound like I have multiple personalities.

Holding a King Salmon in Kenai, AK

LER: What is the hardest part of getting back to your peak running shape after being on the boat for so long?

SR: Comparing my past times/fitness/pace/self to my “getting back into shape” self.

It’s incredibly easy to beat yourself up over what you used to do and how you can’t do that now. What good does that do? Does it make you get in shape any faster? No, it just makes you feel like crap so I really try hard to stay positive and not compare my ‘today’ with my past accomplishments. Sometimes you just gotta lie to yourself and fake it ’til you make it. …I am a supermodel, I am a supermodel, I am….

LER: Could you ever convince your husband to run a race with you? What distance would he go for?

SR: I’m pretty sure I could convince him to do anything for me… besides root for a football team that actually wins. I bet if I nagged him enough (I’m incredibly talented at it) he’d do a 10k with me. He’s not a runner at all, but he did recently quit his Diet Coke addiction so I’m pretty sure he could do anything. Like if his name was on the 2012 presidential election ballot, I wouldn’t even bat an eyelash. or vote for him.

Me and my man-child messing around

8. You are so up to date with celebrity happens, what one celebrity would you want to currently jump into their life?

I like that Heidi Klum has reinvented herself from just a model to an incredibly sucessful businesswoman as well as being a mom, and she seems very dedicated to her marriage so that’s who I’d go with. Plus, her legs are outta this world.

(click photo for source)
Heidi, why aren’t we running buddies? Why don’t you return my calls?!

A big thanks to SkinnyRunner for participating and for being motivation for me to be currently kicking some San Fran hill butt in my race!