Katie (right; rocking her finisher shirt!) with running buddy Alison (left)

We love that you’ve joined us for all three of our virtual gatherings (Fall Fun Run, Winter Dash, Spring Fling); how has social media helped inspire your running journey?

Without social media, I wouldn’t be a runner. It’s as simple as that! My sister got me started three years ago, and since she lives in Arizona and I’m in Massachusetts we relied on social media to encourage each other. The virtual community and online social networks I’m part of keep me honest, keep me on track, keep me accountable, and give me unwavering support.

You recently completed your first half marathon on April 28 – go you! Do you have any top tips for runners thinking about taking the plunge to try a half marathon?

The Nike Women Half Marathon in Washington DC was a fantastic experience for a first half. It’s definitely more of an Experience Race (with 15,000+ runners!) than a pure Road Race, and that atmosphere of fun, camaraderie, and energy was definitely what I needed as a first-timer. I could focus on just enjoying the experience and finishing, and not worry about time. So my tips:

• Find a race that really interests you – whether it’s a large Experience like Nike or a small road race where you can push yourself for time. You have to want to be there.
• Do the long training runs. I worked up to a 12.3 mile run a couple weeks before the half, and the last two miles during the race were still very challenging for me. Do-able, but quite challenging.
• Just pick one and register! There’s nothing like a looming race date to provide great motivation.

We here at EBR like food. What are your favorite pre and post race snacks/meals?

I was experimenting with different pre-run foods during the training runs for this half. I can’t eat peanut or nut butters, unfortunately, so that was one typical suggestion that wouldn’t work. I tried half of a whole wheat bagel, which definitely disagreed with me on the long runs. In the end, I found that a banana and Luna bar with water pre-run was the best for me.

Post-run, I would really only need lots of water (sometimes with a splash of fresh lemon juice) immediately. After a couple hours, then I needed something rich in good protein.

I’ve also found that if I’m doing a run longer than about 90 minutes (I’m slow, so the half took me about 2:40), I need to fuel with something. What my body tolerates best during a run are gummie snacks. My favorite is the mixed berry flavor of Life Saver Gummies.

Tell us about your favorite running gear.

My Brooks Dyno 7 shoes (they’re actually wide enough for my feet!). My Garmin Forerunner 405. My Flip Belt (I need to order a second one!). Running capris from Old Navy. And for winter running in New England, fleece lined pants and tops from Brooks and inexpensive, lightweight fleece gloves and hats from Old Navy.

Are you inspired by any running bloggers? If so, who?

In addition to Eat.Blog.Run? I love the community at Another Mother Runner. And I find great tips at the Brooks Running Blog. Otherwise, my inspiration comes from my fellow runners, especially other running moms who are just struggling to find time, that I connect with online and in real life – like my sister Dani, my friends Katharina and Alison. One of the amazing things about the Nike Half was looking around at the hundreds, even thousands, of other runners who were running at my pace and we were all so supportive and proud of each other for doing our 12:00 minute/miles together. That was truly inspirational.

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Katie lives about 30 minutes outside Boston with her husband, three kids (11, 8, and 4), and two cats. She works part-time as a Director with media relations firm Savoir Media. She blogs occasionally at Katie’s Korner and likes to overshare on Twitter (@bunnums).

We love that you’ve joined us for all three of our virtual gatherings (Fall Fun Run, Winter Dash, Spring Fling); how has social media helped inspire your running journey?

Well, I LOVE the virtual gatherings that you all put on! Keep ‘em coming! I loving the running community, everyone is just so nice.

Social media has definitely helped inspire me as a runner, whether it’s by gaining new Facebook friends through my running group (more on that later), following runners of all paces and abilities on Twitter, or getting encouraging comments from people that I’m friends with on the MyFitnessPal app.

One thing I never imagined would happen was using social media as an accountability tool. When I started training for my first half marathon last fall, I would post my Nike + workouts on Facebook and on long runs, I would use their “cheer me on” tool. I was amazed how many people responded to those posts! People started cheering me on, commenting on my improvements and paying attention. Because it mattered to me, it mattered to them. That just goes to show you how amazing my friends and family are! It really helped motivate me to get off my butt and out the door every day for a run.

You’re gearing up for a half marathon on May 5 – go you! Do you have any top tips for runners thinking about taking the plunge to try a half marathon?

I think my best advice would be to just do it already. If you are on the fence, signing up for a race is the best motivation you can have to get out there and get running. I’ve been a runner off and on for most of my life, but every time I start to fall off the running wagon I find a race, sign up and it totally motivates me! After college, I started focusing on my career and finding my own way through this crazy world and running was no longer a priority to me. Once I got engaged, my husband and I joined a local workout club that is put on by the track and field coaches at our city university in order to lose weight for the wedding. And I was hooked again. I signed up for a 5k about a year after our wedding, then a 10k six weeks later, then a 15k about a month after that and decided the next logical step was a half marathon! So, I just signed up. After my first half last October, I was addicted. It is hands down my favorite distance.

I think it also really helps to have a buddy or a running group that are training for the same race as support. Last fall, I trained all by myself. We had recently moved out into a very rural area outside of Wichita, I didn’t know anyone that ran in the area and I didn’t really have anyone in my life that I knew that was training for the same race that was at my pace. Firefly Yoga Studio is a studio in Wichita that has a running group (that is FREE to join, how awesome is that?!?) and I always wanted to join in, but the studio was fairly far from my house. This past December, they opened a west side studio that is much closer to my house so I’ve started running with their running group two days a week and have started incorporating yoga into my training. It has made a WORLD of difference! The group has improved the pace of my easy runs over a minute a mile and I’ve joined a huge support group. Two girls I know are also training for this upcoming half and run a Facebook page and blog called Build Lean Eat Clean and it’s so inspiring to read their posts and know that they are going through the same thing!

You’re also planning a super hero themed 5K in July – AMAZING! What inspired this project?

YES! I am SO EXCITED about this project! I am the current Wichita City Center Director for the Wichita Branch of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) and this 5k is a fundraiser put on by the Wichita Branch of IIDA for Rainbows United, Inc. in Wichita. Along with the Kansas City City Center of IIDA we form the IIDA MidAmerica Chapter and cover the majority of Kansas and some of Missouri. IIDA KC is now planning their 3rd 5k and we thought it was time to get in on the action here in Wichita!

Rainbows United is an organization here in town that has a wonderful mission of “enhancing the lives of children with special needs and their families by bringing together community resources and providing customized services.” The organization is very well known throughout the city and we felt like they would be a great beneficiary of our first ever 5k!

We here at EBR like food. What are your favorite pre and post race snacks/meals?

I eat the same thing every time I have a race. The routine keeps me calm and I can just focus on making it through the race without worrying about upsetting my stomach. I always eat a banana and a piece of toast with some sort of nut butter on it. Almond and sunflower butters are my current faves! And a water bottle full of cold water. I also chew gum every time I run. I know that bothers a lot of people, but it find that it helps me breathe and keeps my mouth from drying out as bad. If it’s a race over 10 miles, I eat Honey Stinger Chews for my fuel. They are really good and taste just like candy! And I cannot stand Gu, it just gets stuck in my throat and I feel like I’m running with a bowl of pudding in my mouth. Gross.

After a race is when I tend to indulge! I love love love breakfast food and we have a really good local diner here in town that is pretty much my go-to after a race. I get a big ol’ plate of eggs over easy, hash browns, pancakes, toast, bacon and chocolate milk! I mean, when you burn over a thousand calories in a race, you gotta make up for it somehow, right!?!

Tell us about your favorite running gear.

I’m a gadget lover, so I love running with my iPhone and I use the Nike+ Running app to track all of my runs. I have a FlipBelt that I like to wear during races and longer runs. It’s awesome to carry my phone, cash, car keys, etc. And that works amazingly with my second favorite piece of gear, my bluetooth headphones! Running without those dang earphone cords has changed. My. Life. Seriously, those things are so annoying! My husband bought me this set for my birthday last year and they have been amazing!

Are you inspired by any running bloggers? If so, who?

I love bloggers, but runners really are the best bloggers, aren’t they?  Some of my favorites are:

• Ali on the Run: Ali is hilarious and so incredibly inspiring!
• Go Fork Youselves: I actually found Krissy through your EBR Rock Star series! She’s a hoot and I love following her Twitter, she has some of the best running tweets I’ve ever read.
• SkinnyRunner: Again, I think she’s hilarious. (Are we seeing a trend here?)
• NYCRunningMama: I loved hearing Michelle’s running story and her posts are always super informational and helpful. She’s always a great read!
• Build Lean Eat Clean: I know I’ve already mentioned these girls, but they are such an inspiration and I love that actually know them IRL and get to see them at races and around town!

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Catie lives with her husband, two dogs, cat, and 24 chickens in the middle of nowhere, about 30 minutes outside of Wichita, KS. She’s a commercial interior designer for an architecture firm in Wichita. Catie blogs over at C to the C (www.ctothec.blogspot.com) when she has free time and is just starting to evolve into a running blog. 

Tell us how and why you started running.

I’ve been an on-again-off-again runner since high school. I’ve struggled with staying in shape for a good chunk of my life. In the past I’ve gotten discouraged when I’d feel like dying after a mile or two — I never felt like a “real runner.” This past summer I moved to Boston and started biking everywhere. When I decided to take up running again I realized commuting via bike had really built up my endurance and I could actually run without keeling over. I’ve been slowly increasing distance and speed and recently completed my first 5k. I’ve always wanted to run races, but have an irrational fear of competitive sports. I’m proud of myself for taking the leap!

You are awesome for taking the leap! How did your first 5K go last month? And what (if anything) did you do to prepare yourself for this monumental occasion?

I’m a chronic over-preparer in all aspects of life and running is no different. I knew that if I could hit my goal time consistently, I’d be fine on race day. I try to run at least two days a week to keep my butt in line. I know that isn’t a lot, but keeping my expectations manageable has kept me from feeling defeated and throwing in the towel. I may have also bribed myself with some new Lululemon digs.

What are your favorite pre/post running snacks or meals?

I’ll start off by saying that the worst pre-running meal I’ve ever eaten was a giant Chipotle burrito. I’d eaten one for lunch but was still determined to get to the gym after work. Holy heartburn, Batman! I don’t like to run on a full stomach and have found that a banana seems to keep me powered up without feeling too full. I don’t drink a lot while I’m running, so I make sure I have a glass of water or two post-workout.

Are you inspired by any running bloggers? If so, who?

I don’t read many running blogs, but I love Jesica D’Avanza of rUnladylike‘s Friday Fitspiration posts. Without fail, I feel like being lazy and going home to lounge on Fridays after work and her posts have gotten me moving on more than one occasion. Jesica’s blog is also how I discovered Monica of Run Bang Run. Her journey is beyond inspiring — this perfectly sums up how I feel about running.

What’s your next running goal?

I’d love to do another 5k! I’m also working on getting my 5k time under 30 minutes — that will be a huge accomplishment for me, and I’m almost there!

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Kaitlyn Dowling is a digital strategist at Women Online and The Mission List. She lives in the Boston area with her chihuahua, Carla Sagan, and tweets at @kaitlyndowling.

My regular smoothie is a dark berry color that includes coconut water and a handful of spinach; pretty, yummy but also a little boring.

The other day, my BFF Whitney showed up at my house drinking a green smoothie and impressed me with her inclusion of kale! Not to be outdone, I discovered this recipe for a tropical green smoothie on simplegreensmoothies.com (a site started by a local blogger and runner that I hope to feature again!). Tomorrow, I plan to try it after my morning run as a recovery drink.

What color is your favorite smoothie? Could you go green?

When and why did you start running?

I started running last December 31.  It’s been 10 months since my first run ever.  My Aunt Anita from Texas signed my mother up for the Disney Princess Half Marathon and my mom kept telling me about it but she would never go out the door to run.  I finally decided to look it up on the internet and discovered that it was 13.1 miles.  I think my mom and I panicked so I registered so that I could make sure my mom crossed the finish line alive.  It was so much fun training with my mom that we decided to keep running.  We signed up for other runs after that.  I love to run because it allows me to clear my mind and have some peace.  I teach elementary students during the day and I am a mom of four children so running allows me to have a few moments to reflect and think about what I have to do next.

I love that your upcoming November 18 half marathon will be with your mom (and that you’re planning to run a full marathon with your mom!)! What inspired you to run together?

My mother and I started running together because of the Princess Half Marathon.  Now we are addicted to running.  We have fun and encourage each other along the way.  We try to wear somewhat matching outfits when we do a race.  Today we finally figured out what we are going to wear to the Women’s Half Marathon in November.

Talk to us about running with people. Particularly on long training runs and races do you chat or listen to your own music? Do you stick together the whole way or plan on some meet up points along the way?

I love getting together with friends to run.  We usually will just meet up and go our own pace.  It seems that everyone I know doesn’t run the same pace as I do.  My mother even goes on her own as well.  I have been averaging about a 10-11 minute mile.  My goal for my fall race is to complete the Half at a 10:30 pace.  It’s just nice to see your friends out on the road and we smile and meet up when we all are finished.  Then we talk about how it went.  I personally like to run without music.  It’s nice to have some alone time to think about what is going on.  I also use that time to pray and ask God for strength because I know in my own strength I could never even run a mile.

Let’s talk eating! What’s your favorite pre or post race snack or meal?

I have been blessed with an amazing husband who is usually ready to cook me pancakes as soon as I get home.  Most of the time they are fresh off the stove.  His pancakes are the best and my whole family loves them.  Before I run, I like to drink a tall glass of orange juice and have a whole wheat English Muffin with peanut butter on top.

Are you inspired by any running bloggers? If so, who?

I LOVE reading the Skinny Runner blog.  She is amazing because she runs so many miles a day.  I wish I had her time and energy.

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Jessica is a wife, mother of four children, and teacher in a small town in Plant City, Florida.  You can learn more about Jessica at Mom to Marathon. She developed passion for running 11 months ago and is excited to complete her third 1/2 marathon in November.  When not running, Jessica is busy chasing her children around and driving them to their basketball games, church events, and track meets.  She’s looking forward to her first full marathon in January.

What is your blog is about and why everyone should click over after reading this interview?

The “Part-time” Working Mom blog is about one woman’s daily struggle to find balance between work and personal life.  As a glass if half-full kind of gal, I look for the bright side of life, even when I’m overwhelmed and exhausted.  Among other topics, I enjoy sharing highlights from my running life.  It’s wonderful to connect with other moms and small business owners, so I welcome you to check out my blog.

You recently ran your first 10K, and then ran your first marathon relay with friends on October 6. How did it go? How are you feeling about your upcoming Manic Mommies 5K on November 10?

The 10k was a new distance for me and it was a rewarding accomplishment.  I’m now encouraged to run farther.
The Marathon Relay was sooo much fun!  If you haven’t run a relay race with a team of friends, you’re missing out.  I highly recommend it!  Six of us teamed up to each run a leg (of various lengths) of a marathon course in Hopkinton, MA (the town where the Boston Marathon begins).  It was a very interesting race, both the course and the relay concept, and we had a blast cheering on one another throughout the morning.  As for my part of the race, I was very pleased that I pushed hard and even passed a guy younger than me on the killer hill halfway through my leg.

Next up is the Manic Mommies 5k in Savannah and I can’t wait.  I have been speed training in hopes of breaking my PR for 5k and I look forward to running in a different (and beautiful) area.  It would be particularly sweet to run a personal record after having to skip out on my last 5k (Monster Dash) due to illness.

We here at EBR like food. What are your favorite pre and post race snacks/meals?

I prefer cereal such as multigrain Cheerios or oatmeal the morning of a race and sometimes an iced latte.  Meatballs and spaghetti the day beforehand works well for me.  And I always want an iced coffee after a race.  The slogan says America runs on Dunkin, I say I run for Dunkies.  Bagels and/or bananas are good right after racing too.

Tell us about your favorite running gear. 

I don’t know what I’d do without my Asics sneakers.  I have a tendency to pronate and they provide just the support I need and they make me feel speedy.  Thank you to PR Running for pointing me in the right direction.  If you’re near the metro-west area of Boston, check them out.  There’s nothing better than getting help finding THE perfect running shoes.  I also enjoy the RunKeeper app on my smart phone for tracking my runs and announcing splits as I desire (typically once per mile for my average pace).

Are you inspired by any running bloggers? If so, who?

Yes, I am inspired by Run with Jess.  I have been following her for over a year now, have participating in virtual races, and I’ve picked up some great tips.  Overall, it’s just nice to hear another running mom’s stories and hear what works for others.  After reading “Train Like a Mother” I recently started following the Another Mother Runner blog.  I’m even contemplating training for a half marathon next year (did I really just admit that?!) and I would use their “finish it” training plan.

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Amy-Sue Hasselbaum is a business owner, mom of 2 kids (and 3 cats), and wife who enjoys reading, karate, wine, and of course, running.  She lives in Bellingham, Massachusetts and is also known as the “Part-time” Working Mom.

First, we have a new look. Look at our website – isn’t it pretty? We hope you’ll enjoy navigating it. We hope to feature you (and perhaps even your adorable kids) on it!

Second, we have a new mission. Originally, Eat. Blog. Run. was about the on the ground relay team. Awesome as that was, now we want to be more: Eat. Blog. Run. is an online hub for those who love (or hope to soon love or love again!) eating, blogging, and running. We’ll be this hub by:

• Motivating those looking for inspiration, whether off the couch, in a running slump, or somewhere else entirely.
• Sharing handy gear and training tips (both for running and cross-training).
• Sharing favorite nutrition tips.
• Inspiring parents to share fitness (and running) with their kids.
• Featuring awesome running bloggers.
• Building an online network of support and motivation around our online running events, e.g., Fall Fun Run 2012 (more on that next!).
• Coordinating on the ground running events, e.g., relay events (stay tuned!).

Sound awesome? We think so too! So go on, add us to your feed reader and follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Viva la EBR! We can’t wait to connect with you!

Is it time to start thinking about our next race?

When we first arrived, we were greeted with this fruit and electrolyte drink basket in our rooms, perfect for us running athletes! There was a kind note from the manager thanking us for staying with them and giving us encouragement for our long running weekend ahead. They even filled our refrigerator with chilled water, Gatorade and Olade! It was very nice and unexpected.

We also hit up the buffet for breakfast each morning and wore our fantastic sparkley skirts. I bet they’ve never had so much bling going through the breakfast line! Waffles anyone?

One of my favorite things about the hotel was their toilet flush in their bathrooms. This might seem a little silly to blog about, but I found it refreshing that they are trying their best to be aware of the environment. The half filled dot is for a light flush and the full filled dot is for a more powerful flush. I need one of these installed in my house, as my little ones like to flush the toilet all the time just to see it swirl down. At least with this toilet, they could do so without wasting so much water!

Thank you to Country Inn and Suites for making our stay during our race a little sweeter!

May 1: Eat.Blog.Run. Live Blog (from Emmie)

May 2: EatBlogRun: Recap (from Meg)

May 4: Running The Relay race #EatBlogRun style (from Linsey)

May 4: The Month in Review: Running, Fundraising, and Mominatrixing (from Whitney, Heather’s Rookie Moms partner)

May 5: My Team (from Christine)

May 5: Stop and Go (from Samantha)

May 5: The Relay: Challenge, Camaraderie, and Comedy (from Kari)

May 6: Eat. Blog. Run. Thank. Sponsors. (from Kari)

May 7: A series of EBR posts (from Brenna)

May 7: I Survived Eat Blog Run (from Jane)

May 8: Eat. Blog. Run. Rally. (from Christine)

May 8: Eat Blog Run was One Wild Ride (from Marie)

May 11: Part 1 The Relay, Part 2 Sponsors and Such, Part 3 Sparkly Skirts Part 4 Tough as Nails, Part 5 Running the Race (from Carrie)

May 27: Eat Blog Run on Whrrl (from Kelly)

And if you need more Eat. Blog. Run. love, check out the #eatblogrun Twitter stream or follow us at @EatBlogRun.