Team New Balance
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When did you recognize that competing professionally was something you aspired to?
While attending and running at the University of Wisconsin, we were surrounded by several professional runners—Suzy Favor-Hamilton, Kathy Butler, Sarah Schwald—who I had the opportunity to train with throughout college, which helped me realize I could extend my running past college. I also knew there was a lot more I wanted to achieve in my running when I graduated—which included international level competition.
Favorite training venue:
What is your favorite workout?
600m / 1'rest / 200m / 10'rest / 500m / 75"rest / 300m @ 800m race pace or faster. So when I'm really fit I'll run equal to sub-2min pace for both sets. (This usually tells me how fit I am and gets me ready to race.)
Is there a place where you get an extra lift or home court advantage?
Anywhere in Canada where I have the support of family and friends.
What is your pre-race / warm-up routine?
I do a 15-minute shakeout run 8 hours before race time, I eat a meal 6 hours before, eat a PowerBar 2 hours before and warm-up 1 hour before, which includes 20-minute run, drills and strides, three backflips and I'm ready to go.
What gets you most excited to compete?
Big stadium, big crowd and being really fit.
What food or snack is your guiltiest pleasure?
Chocolate and ice cream.
What person has most-shaped your career or life?
My mom—she's inspired me to always aim high and do what makes me happy.
What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?
Dreaming big doesn't make you a "big dreamer".
Why do you run?
I love pushing myself to the limits in training and then testing those limits against the goals I've set in competitions. I also appreciate the friendships, values and experiences I've gained from being in the community of running.
What tips do you have for new runners?
Don't feel pressured to make your first goal to run a marathon—learn to love running first and slowly build up to longer distances instead of checking a marathon off the list and moving on.
