Here is a great running survey from Jen Chooses Joy that I found on Running in NH Girl. Now you can read and find out a little bit more about “How I run!” I hope that you will join in the fun! Please copy and paste this survey on your blog so that I can find out more about how you run!1. Would you rather run along a beach path, or a mountain trail?

If you know me you know that the answer to this is definitely a mountain trail. I live right near the White Mountains of New Hampshire and have a small mountain range right out my back door so I have no excuses but to hit the trails!

2.  If you could choose the flavor of Gatorade at your next race’s aid stations, what would you choose?

No Gatorade for this girl unless its what being provided at a race (orange is preferable), I am a Skratch Labs girl through and through. I love the light refreshing flavors of Skratch Labs. Pineapples is my absolute favorite flavor of Skratch!3.  If I gave you a $100 dollar gift card to a running store, what would you purchase with it?

That is a tough question because there is so much amazing gear out there to buy! I would probably put the money towards a new pair of running shoes. I have my eye on a new pair of the Mizuno Wave Paradox for road running.

4.  Do you prefer to follow a training plan, or wake up and then decide how fast and far you want to run?

I am a training plan girl all the way because then I am accountable. I work with an amazing coach, Denise Goode from The Sustainable Athlete, an amazing endurance sports coaching business based in Maine that also provides online coaching and nutritional coaching services. Denise provides me with weekly workouts based on what races I am training for and adapts them based on how my training is going. Denise coached me when I was working on qualifying for Boston as well as for two Boston Marathons, my first Ironman 70.3 and countless other races. Denise also has an awesome new online virtual health and nutrition coaching, nutrition counseling business called Discover Your Well Being that you should check out!

5.  Would you rather start your run with an uphill and end on the downhill, or start your run with a downhill and end on an uphill? 

I know  it sounds crazy but I would actually like to end on the uphill. Ending on the uphill challenges your body when you are the most fatigued and helps your body to learn to work when it is the most depleted. This will help to build strength and will provide mental strength at the end of a race!

6.  When you can’t run, what type of cross-training do you choose to do?

When I can’t run I’m on my bike or in the pool of course! Or in the winter on my cross country skis!

7.  What is your preference:  out and back, point to point or loop runs?
Loop runs are great because I love to watch the ever changing scenery and then a run never gets boring!

8.  If you could recommend ANY running store to a new runner it would be?
that’s a tricky and sad question for me because we actually have no running stores near us (boohoo!!!!!) so I usually have to shop online or drive far far away to find one. Fleet Feet is a good one and The Bryn Mawr Running Company (the awesome running store that I visit when I go home to where I grew up!)

9.  Do you see any wild animals while out on your runs?
Yes! Most recently there was a partridge but I have encountered deer, porcupines, salamnders, woodchucks, snakes, black bears (eek!) and many other wild critters.

10.  Ever gotten lost while on a run?
All of the time. My sense of direction is not good! I would not make a good adventure racer as I usually end up going in the wrong direction. I am thankful for good friends to guide me and Google Maps for helping me to get back on the right path. If there is a map for a trail system I always pick one up!
11.  If you could have one meal waiting and ready for you each time you got home from a run for the next 30 days, what would it be?

It sounds crazy but a good meal to eat upon returning from a huge running adventure or race includes some salty chips (tortilla chips and salsa are the best) and then a big juicy steak and a pile of veggies and rice!

12.  Capris or shorts, what do you run in the most?

Neither. I am a Skirt girl all the way. I do own some capris and run in them every once in a while but you will usually see me cruising by in my Skirt Sports or any other running skirt!
13.  At what mile (or how many minutes) into your run does your body start to feel like it is warming up and ready to go?
20 minutes in is usually the sweet spot for me and this is when the endorphins start to pick up and the sweat begins to flow. This is why I hate 5Ks I always feel as though just when the race is over I am getting ready to start running!

14.  What do you do with your key when you run?

When I run my key is always tucked inside my handy Skirt Sports pocket in the shorties that are underneath or in the clever cleavage alley pocket in their tanks. If I’m wearing something with no pockets I usually wear a Flip Belt!
15.  If you could relive any race that you have done in the past, which one?
If I could relive any race that I have done it would be my first marathon the Nike Women’s Marathon in San Francisco. The course was so gorgeous. Hilly but beautiful and I would love to run out there again and start my running journey all over again!

16.  What type of run is your least favorite?
As I mentioned before I hate the 5K distance. I think it is absolutely torturous. The distance is important for working on speed but other than that it is painful . . . lungs burning, legs hurting . . . you catch my drift! I am a distance runner for sure!

17.  When you go for your run, do you leave from your front door or drive somewhere to start?
It depends on the day where I start my runs. I have some incredible running right outside my door. I can run in the mountains or run by the river or run on the road right past our organic egg farm. I love running elsewhere too though especially if I am running with friends!

18.  When running in daylight, are sunglasses a must, or an annoyance?

I’m an either or girl. Although typically if the sun is shining I wear sunglasses because I have very sensitive eyes. They are especially necessary in the winter when there is glare off of the snow. I am currently on a quest for better running sunglasses!

19.  When you get tired, what keeps you from quitting?

When I get tired my family and friends are what keeps me from quitting. I think about some of the strong people in my life and how hard they work and how they don’t quit and this helps me to keep moving forward! I also want to keep going so that I can be a strong role model for my kids and to show them that even when something is hard you shouldn’t quit!

Now it’s your turn to tell me “How I run!”

Please join in the fun and share your own responses to this great running survey. I can’t wait to hear more about your and what makes you love running so much!

Also, don’t miss my latest Giveaway from DYNAFIT, you can enter to win a Dynafit React Jacket by heading on over to my giveaway. Please share with a friend as this is a great piece of gear for any runner!