My best friend and roommate, junior Civil Engineering major, Emily Palmer, recently started training for the Capital City Half Marathon which is taking place this summer in her beautiful home state of Washington. Since I met her fall semester of our freshman year, Emily has maintained one of the busiest schedules on campus. When she isn’t in the lab doing research, studying for engineering exams, or practicing her Spanish, Emily can be found hanging out with her BFFs and her boyfriend, knitting and making pancakes. For those of you who are wondering, Emily enjoys bubble baths and long runs around the lakes. I sat down with Emily over coconut water and almonds to discuss her running career and some other fun things.
Q: We’ll start basic. Why do you love to run?
A: When I run, I love being able to go anywhere I want. It’s freeing. I love the feeling I get at the end of a run – the feeling that I’ve accomplished something, that I’m stronger, and that I want to live a healthful lifestyle every day.
Q: When did you start running?
A: I’ve ran sporadically throughout high school and in college, but just this past year, my father, who is in his fifties, began running regularly and training for various races. I started running with him over winter break. Running with him was such a positive, inspirational experience and I knew I wanted to keep up with it when I got back to school.
Emily and her dad in December 2012
Q: You recently ran your first 10K. What did you eat to nourish your body before and after the race?
A: The night before the race, I had whole-wheat penne with ground chicken marinara sauce for a carb- and protein-rich meal. The morning of the race, I drank a bottle of water. I don’t like to eat much before I run. After the race, I ate a bagel and drank lots of water to rehydrate.
Q: This summer, you are planning to spend several months doing service work in Peru. Will you continue running during your time abroad?
A: I would love to continue running, but my biggest obstacle will be my living situation, as I will be living in the mountains. Elevation and safety are new challenges that I will face in an unfamiliar place in an unfamiliar country. I will have to see when I get there what the conditions are like!
Q: What has been your biggest obstacle in your training thus far?
A: The biggest challenge has been finding the balance of dedicating time to school work and finding time to work out. If you work out outside, it needs to be before it’s dark, when you haven’t just eaten, etc. Staying committed means planning ahead and making time for both school and workouts. Also, sometimes I need to remind myself that it’s not all about running, that I need to exercise different muscles, stretch, and cross-train. Finding the perfect balance is always a challenge.
Q: How do you stay motivated when you lose focus?
A: I make sure that I put on my sneakers and go to the gym, because the sense of accomplishment I feel at the end of a workout after an exercise hiatus or a lack of motivation is enough to get me back into my workout routine. Also, on my Nike Plus app or on Post-Its, I write down notes about how I feel during and after my workout that always encourage me. My favorite is: “You won’t regret this.”
Q: What other types of exercise do you practice?
A: I do Pilates once a week, and I wake up and stretch every morning… even if it makes my roommates uncomfortable. I love doing light yoga, and I always try to do a bit of strength training every week.
Q: Do you have any tips or advice for new runners?
A: The biggest challenge to overcome is the mental aspect, and about 60% of overcoming this challenge is putting on running shoes and getting out there. Keep in mind that every day is different. Some days will be great; some days will be not so great. Don’t lose hope on a bad day. Keep going.
Thanks for the inspiration, Emily! HCXO.