Click on the photo for a closer look!
Kristen is a friend of mine and the first person I approached about RUNNERS. Lucky for me, she was willing to be photographed not only once, but twice – below you see the result of our second shoot. She approaches life in the way she has approached running- open to the experience, sets goals, manages expectations, and keeps on moving forward. I can learn a lot from Kristen. Here’s what she had to say about her running experience so far – – –
- How old are you? How long have you been running?
I am 32 years old. I have been running consistently for about two years.
- Why do you run?
I run for my physical, mental and emotional well-being. I run becauseno matter how lousy my day, after a run I feel that I’ve accomplished something.
- What is the hardest part of running for you?
The hardest part of running for me is adjusting to the variable weather situation.
- Do you do other sports/athletics?
I love my “Boot Camp” that I participate in twice a week with the fabulous Angie Peterson – Angie P Fit4Life. She is a terrific motivator and keeps the exercises interesting – so it’s not what one might think of when they hear the words “boot camp.” She does whip you into shape, though – and she loves her whistle.
What got you started running?
I started running because running was an area where I never had any self-imposed expectations about how I *should* perform – so in my own mind, I couldn’t fail at it. There was something very freeing in that: I could only surprise myself. Once I started surprising myself, I was hooked. Plus I like to eat cookies.
- What sort of distances do you run, and which do you like best? I run 3-6 miles regularly. I’ve only recently got the itch to try to complete a half-marathon so that is a goal for next spring. My favorite right now is pushing for speed in the 5K range.
What/who inspires you to run?
- I am inspired by the people I meet who have been running a long time and run long distances regularly, while still balancing careers and familial responsibilities. I am in awe of their commitment. I am inspired by people who are just starting out and are struggling – but they are out there! You have to show up in order to succeed. I see people like this running and I just want to give them high fives and say “Go get ‘em!”