Define your relationship with running. 

I’ll answer this question with a quote: “There is a fine line between love and hate.” Honestly, I’m in love with everything there is to do with running. I love the muscles I have, the energy it gives me, and the awesome feeling I get after a good run. But you just have to hate these things to a certain point, too. That’s when my rational brain kicks in and tells me it’s just weakness showing through and I need to push myself harder. Running is honestly my passion, and it’s how people recognize me.

What advice would you give to someone looking into running? 

First off, I’d tell them not to be afraid to just get out and run. No one’s going to make fun of them for running, and if they do, they’re probably just lazy and jealous that they don’t have the motivation to get off their butts and go run themselves. Also, invest in a really good pair of running shoes - don’t just use any old pair lying around. Seriously, your feet and legs will thank you for it later. 

Get a special app with a GPS system in it too, for your smart phone if you have one. Like Nike+ or MapMyRun. These apps make it a lot easier to tell how long you’ve been running and how much farther you need to go that certain day. I also use a website called dailymile.com to track my distances for the week. It gives you cool little facts, like how many times you’ve ran around the world and how many TVs you’ve powered. 

Have you ever followed any sort of training plan? Which ones and how did you like them?

No, and I really don’t ever plan to. Sometimes I’ll refer back to a plan that I created on runnersworld.com to get me ready for my 1-Miler in April, but other than that… I honestly don’t follow anything like that. I like to make up my own plans and go with my own flow. So today I’m running 4 miles and hopefully getting a nice PR. 

What are your PR’s? Time, distance? 

This isn’t exactly official**

5:49 Mile

22:13 5K

13:23 2 Miles

46:56 Longest run

How many miles a week are you usually running and what’s your normal pace? How would you like to improve this? 

I’m running approximately 19-23 miles a week as of right now. I would like to get up to about 30 miles a week with an average pace of 6:30 per mile. I need to start doing some more speedwork and find ways to improve not just my endurance but my stamina and strength, because my first mile is always my fastest (training to be a 1600m champ) and then I run the rest a slower pace. Right now I’m averaging around a 7 minute pace. 

Do you carry water or powerfood with you on runs? If so, what kind? 

No, I don’t. Usually I run about two miles, stop back at my house and get a long drink of water then head back out and finish whatever mileage I have planned for the day. The only powerfood I’ve ever used during a race/run was a Gatorade Prime, and honestly it seemed like it hurt my performance both times I used it.

Show us a picture of your sexy running calves!

Well, if you insist…

You can see a picture here. 

What was your favorite race you’ve run? 

Probably the only race I won last year. It was perfect conditions: not too cold, not too hot. I was scared to death because there was one girl seeded above me to win it, and she could run her mile at least 30 seconds faster than I could. So I went into it knowing I was going to lose. When I got to the starting line, people kept talking about how the girl was so stupid for scratching out of the mile just so she could set her own school record in the 2 mile. Another girl from her school kept talking about how she was going to win it now, and I just kept thinking that there was no way I was going to lose. I finished that race at least half a lap ahead of everyone, with my worst recorded time of 6:18, and was smiling the whole way through. Possibly the best day ever.

Have you ever been injured because of running? How? 

Not to jinx myself, but no, I have never been injured because of running. I’m extremely lucky because of this and I thank God that I haven’t been. If I injure myself now my dreams are literally going to be crushed. So I just hope that I keep going and continue to be this blessed.

How has running changed you or your life? 

Oh this is such a bad question to ask me… Prepare for a major post coming on. Running makes me feel so good about myself. I realize that half of the people in my school couldn’t keep up with my training on a good day, and that makes me so confident in myself. But that’s not why I have such a passion for it. Running has changed my life because it led me to see that I’m not always going to be perfect at something. I have to fight and work hard and push myself mentally right now to get where I need to be, and I love that. It gives me something to work for and look forward to every single day. 

My friends call me crazy, but isn’t that what the lazy call the dedicated? I’m just trying to make my difference in the world, and if that means competing in the 2016 Olympics, then I’m damn willing to try my hardest to get there. I’ve hit my wall, but one day… When God is willing to let me crash right through it, running is going to be the thing that makes me known in every single household, on every single television. 

Just watch me. 

What kind of clothes do you run in? Actual running clothes or old t-shirts? Show us a picture! 

This also varies. I run in actual running shorts and sports bras (obviously, don’t want the titties flopping everywhere — jk, I’m a runner, I don’t have those)! In all seriousness though, I wear old t-shirts with the sleeves cut out. If I’m alone, I’ll sometimes take off the shirt and use it as a sweat rag — ew, I know — but other than that, that’s basically what I run in. 

Picture of my favorite things to run in: 

Where do you run: treadmill, street, track, trail? And why do you prefer running there? 

I run on the road in front of my house or my own treadmill. I actually don’t prefer running either place, actually. On the treadmill I can only go about 75% and can never give 100% because if I put it all the way on 10 mph, it seems it’s going way too fast and I’ll fall off. The road in front of my house is also congested with dogs and traffic, and I hate it. Especially when it’s 90 degrees out. My ideal running place would be an indoor track, but there isn’t one around where I live. The closest thing my entire county even has to a track is the road around our baseball field, so sometimes I’ll go there to practice my mile. 

What’s the strangest or most embarrassing thing that’s every happened to you on a run before?

There was this one time, I went out for a run and couldn’t even finish it because I got bit by a dog. I was literally at .68 and had less than .4 to go before I would have gotten a PR and finished my mile, but my neighbor’s dog just runs up to me and bites me directly in the buttocks. Not embarrassing enough, you say? Well, two people saw it, and I started crying because I was so scared. Then my neighbor’s brother had to take me home in his car. It tore my shorts, and I couldn’t even walk the next day it was bruised so bad.

Totally just made a Forrest Gump reference, btw ^^

Show us a picture of your running shoes! What are they and why do you like them? 

You can see a picture of my running shoes here. They’re Nike 3+ Free Runs, and they’re literally the most perfect shoe on this side of the universe. It almost feels like they weigh nothing, and it’s the most comfortable ride. I love them because they’re a crazy color, and they’re soo flexible. Seriously, worth every penny.

Who supports you the most in your running goals and why do you pick them? 

This one is a tough question. Probably my father or my best friend. My father because he’s been at nearly every race I’ve ever ran and is proud of me no matter what happens. My best friend because she’s never doubted I can do anything I set my mind to. She’s willing to make some sacrifices for me just because she knows I have to run, and whenever we’re meeting new people, you can tell she’s so proud to tell them that her best friend is a runner.