Introduction by Garrett McCullough:
“Emily is one of the friendly regulars at the Tuesday evening social runs. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know her this year. Emily frequently leads the faster runners at the social run. I would like to say that I run with her but in reality, I can only keep up with her until she’s warmed up. She’s so fast!”
Where are you from and where do you live now?
I’m originally from Birmingham, AL and moved to Berkeley, CA for college then moved to Truckee, where I live now.
When did you begin running and/or long-distance running, if that applies? Why?
I started running in college when I joined Cal’s triathlon team. Since then, I’ve run on/off, but still haven’t gotten into any running longer than a half-marathon.
Do you race? Does racing motivate you? If not racing, what motivates you?
I haven’t raced in the last couple of years, but I’ve done a couple of races in the past. I only enjoy racing when I put in the time and training for it, and I haven’t really been motivated to train/race for a while, but maybe I’ll get back into it.
Do you have any dream races (either hoping to qualify for or get selected for)?
I don’t have any dream running races. I do think it’d be cool to do an Otillo race though since it’s a swim/run, which are my 2 main sports.
Do you have a favorite on-trail food or nutrition strategy and favorite post-run meal or beverage?
I have a pretty sensitive stomach, so I haven’t figured out how to eat on runs and can’t eat until a couple of hours after I run. But usually when I can eat after a run, I want cold fruit or a smoothie, and fries.
What was your favorite running experience this past year?
Probably running with a friend up to Castle Peak in the early morning. There’s just something about getting up for an early morning run and running up to a viewpoint. Plus that was the only time I’ve gotten a visitor who was willing to get up early and do a run with elevation.
What was your most challenging/ character-building experience this past year?
I wouldn’t say I’ve had any big challenges pertaining to running in the past year. Probably the only challenge I’ve had with running is that I’d gotten kind of tired of running near the end of last year, so had stopped running for several months. Once I got into that lull, it was hard for me to start running again since I just felt so out of shape and tired of running by myself all the time. That’s actually what got me to try out DPMR. So far, it’s been great running with people again!
What are your upcoming racing/adventure plans?
No race plans as of now. My big trip this year is to visit my sister in Nashville, TN to welcome my first nephew!
What do you do for a living? Is it hard to fit in time for training?
I work remotely as a software engineer. I’m lucky enough to have a flexible schedule, so it’s generally pretty easy for me to find the time to train. I guess the hardest thing is just finding the time to run along with all the other activities I want to do.
What led you to join DPMR?
I wanted to meet more people and find some running buddies 🙂
What has been your favorite DPMR experience so far?
I’ve been going to the Tuesday social runs pretty consistently and have thoroughly enjoyed those! It’s been great meeting people and being social again!
Favorite local trail?
I love the Shirley Canyon hike up to High Camp. For running, it might be Castle Peak.
Do you have a mental training technique, mantra, or similar that you rely on to combat the mentally trying times of a longer run?
I like to break runs up into segments, so I have small “goals” along the run.
Do you listen to audio while you run and if so, what have you been enjoying lately?
I usually just listen to music on my runs. I’ve tried listening to podcasts or audio books in the past, but none have stuck.
Recovery technique(s) that you swear by?
Stretching and rolling out after a run help me a lot. I also roll my ankles easily, so I try to do balancing exercises to help strengthen my ankles, which has helped when I do it consistently. Other than that, just sleeping and eating well!
Do you have a favorite piece of running gear?
Bluetooth earbuds (I currently use Soundcore P3) and a running watch that can either store music or connect to spotify, so I can be phone-free!
What other outdoor or indoor interests do you have?
I love swimming and enjoy activities that involve being in or on water! I started XC skiing this past winter, which was super fun! I used to bike (mostly road) so would like to get into mountain biking. I also like reading, watching movies, and hanging out with friends!
Any interesting facts about yourself you would like to share?
I have a hyper-active dog, Cyrus, who I’m trying to teach to swim, so he can join me for swims in the lake.
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