Over the Next Hill Fitness
Welcome! We all know, as we age, it’s harder to put ourselves first and get in enough fitness, flexibility, and nutrition. Maybe you’re new to formatted exercise, maybe we need to push to the next level or set some goals. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to run a 5K, a marathon, or even an ULTRA marathon. This podcast is designed to get you moving and headed towards those goals. You’ll have opportunities for general coaching during each episode or you may contact me for personal coaching afterward. Are you ready to get over this next hill in life? Let’s get started.
Over the Next Hill Fitness
S2 Ep 14 Beth Zerilli’s Inspirational Marathon Journey and Training Insights
Ever wondered what it takes to transition from casual running to completing some of the most prestigious marathons in the world? Join us as we sit down with seasoned marathoner Beth Zerilli, who has turned her post-college hobby into an impressive running career. Beth shares her journey of running 20 marathons, including six Boston Marathons and two Chicagos, and how a serendipitous coaching opportunity led her to the Boston Marathon. Hear her inspiring recount of how personal events like the Boston Marathon bombings reignited her passion and the ambitious goal she has set to conquer the World Marathon Majors.
Beth and I dive deep into the world of endurance training, discussing unique events such as the "Superhero 17" and "Hop 21" that are crucial for Boston Marathon prep. We share our own experiences with overcoming injuries and adapting training strategies over the years. From transitioning from 10Ks to marathons to the role of half marathons in maintaining muscle memory, you'll gain valuable insights into the dedication required for long-distance running. Our candid conversation aims to equip all runners, whether seasoned or beginners, with practical advice and motivation.
Running a marathon isn't just about the physical training; it’s also about proper nutrition and fueling strategies. As we age, our bodies demand different fueling techniques. Beth and I discuss how our nutrition plans have evolved, transitioning from sugary gels to gentler options like honey stinger cookies. We even cover the logistical and emotional challenges of entering major marathons through lotteries or charity fundraising. Join us for an episode filled with inspiring stories, practical tips, and a shared passion for the marathon journey.
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Hello and welcome back to Over the Next Hill Fitness Podcast. I'm Carla Coffey, your coach and host for the program. Thanks everybody for rating, sharing and following the program. There's a little button on there that you can do all those things. You can email me, carla at CoffeyCrewCoachingcom, follow me on Instagram, facebook I'm on threads yeah, I think that's it and then, of course, podcasts. There's also now a button that you can send me like a text through. It's right there in the middle of the show notes, I believe. At the bottom of the show notes you can see the links for HydraPatch and get 10% off of your HydraPatch order. There's also a link that you can buy me a cup of coffee, which is just a monetary way to support the program. So I really appreciate that.
Speaker 1:Today I'm going to be talking to Beth Zerilli. You guys, she has had the opportunity to run Boston marathons so many times. She's run the New York marathon, Chicago, so now she's got her eyes set on doing the rest of the majors, because that's kind of what comes next when you have so many under your belt. She started off just running five days. So if that's where you're at and you're thinking you could never run a marathon, so if that's where you're at and you're thinking you could never run a marathon, she is proof that you can. So let's listen in to her story. Welcome to the show, Beth. It's so great to have you on the show. It's great to be here.
Speaker 2:I'm excited.
Speaker 1:So let's, talk about your running?
Speaker 2:How long and when did you get started running? So I started running after I got out of college just to kind of get fit and I started doing a bunch of 10Ks. I just kind of fell into some people at work that were running. It was something we did in the evenings and then I was teaching elementary school in like a middle school high, like a middle school elementary, and they needed someone to coach the track team. And I had no business coaching that track team but I was one of the youngest people on staff and so they asked me if I would do it.
Speaker 2:And this is like 1998. And at the time one of the kids that was on the team, his dad, asked me if I ever thought about running the Boston Marathon. And I said you know, sure, everyone's thought about it. And he said well, I have a number. Um, it's the first 50 people who raised $500 for muscular dystrophy. Get the number. And my coaching check was $500. So I handed over my my coaching check and I started training for my first marathon um with the L street runners club in South Boston. I believe they still exist. I was living um in Quincy at the time and I just ran with this club a couple times a week and on the weekends, and that was my first marathon.
Speaker 1:The Boston Marathon was your first marathon. Yes, wow, how exciting is that? That's crazy. So now you're done, nothing compares Right, right. So since then have you ran it again.
Speaker 2:Yes. So this last fall I ran my 20th marathon and that was Chicago. I've done now. I've done six Bostons, two Chicagos, Los Angeles, two San Diego's, maine, columbus, ohio. Yeah, I'd have to sit down and start counting, but I know I'm at 20. Yeah, because after the first one I moved to Los Angeles right afterwards and joined a running club and ran the Los Angeles Marathon that March.
Speaker 2:So Boston used to be able to, you know, years ago, get dropped off in Hopkinton and someone would be selling like these little kind of numbers that weren't official and all the money would go towards some charity, and they let you run it. The only stipulation was you could not get one of their trophies at the end. They let you run it. The only stipulation was you could not get one of their trophies at the end, uh, you know, one of the medals. But they, at the time they used to actually allow that, um, at any rate. So I, I kind of got a couple of marathons. You know, I got three marathons under my belt in a year and a bit, um, and so it kind of went from there where I decided I was going to get two marathons a year.
Speaker 2:I did that for a little bit and then had kids, took a little hiatus and then, you know, my brother was turning 40. He wanted to run one in Columbus. That's where he was living. So my sister, brother and I all trained at different spots of the globe and got together and then, honestly, I kind of got out of the long distance thing for quite a while. I lived in Canada for a bit, in Toronto, and again, mom of younger, moved back to Boston and my friends, bill and Denise Richard, you know, were friends of ours from college. Their son actually was the youngest victim in the Boston Marathon bombings in 2013. So when they started Team MRA in January of 2014, that's when I started long distance running again and since then I've run at least one or two marathons a year without taking any breaks.
Speaker 1:So it sounds like you have a couple of states under your belt. Are you trying to get all 50 states?
Speaker 2:No, you know, um, I think if I were to do any of those types of contests, I don't think I would do the 50 states. I know someone who just finished it and I know how long it actually took for her to do it. Um, I had thought it's too bad that I didn't get those 20 in all different States. Um, but I'd love to see what. Maybe at some point, the Abbott, um, the Abbott, like world six marathons majors.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, the world majors, because I already have Chicago, new York and Boston, and Boston so I would own. So I would basically need now the three that are overseas, so I would need London, berlin and Tokyo.
Speaker 1:Right. Yeah, that's a race right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so that's what I. You know, I have more friends who've done that and I think eventually I would like to do that yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's on my bucket list. Now I'm almost done with my 50 state and I would like to do the seven continents too, oh my gosh Seven continents in seven days. I know someone who did that, I know a couple of people did that, David Gilbrey did that. Yeah, that's a lot of money.
Speaker 2:There is a seven and seven and it is a lot of money.
Speaker 2:It's like I think almost 50 grand, and at the end of it you might not get Antarctica because it can really depend on whether or not they're allowing the plane. So it's not only about making sure there's no flight delays, it's about shipping your stuff ahead to different places. It's pretty entailed. I would be lucky if I could do Boston on Monday and then London on the weekend, right or Big Sur. A lot of people do that two in the same week, nevermind seven.
Speaker 1:That would be insane. So far I've done four in five days is the most I've ever done. Wow, I think I could. I think I could do seven in seven days wow, that's impressive couldn't afford it. That would be the biggest thing right so a lot of people out there listening buy me coffees, buy me $50,000 worth of coffee so I can go to America. Right, let's start a GoFundMe page that's right. So um, your sister runs, your brother runs, you run. Do any of your children want to run with you?
Speaker 2:Um, so both of my kids have done the Boston marathon 5k. You know they do the weekend of um. My brother only did he was a one and done marathon and my sister that was her second and that was it. So both of them haven't run a marathon and well over a decade. Um, so my brother's more into biking, but, but my kids, I'm always trying to get them to kind of get the running bug, um, and, truth be told, when I was their age, I didn't have it yet either.
Speaker 2:You know, I have a 19 year old, a 23 year old. I was probably just a little bit older than the 23 year old when I really started enjoying it, um, and my 19 year old plays hockey, so, um, yeah, so my hope is, though, that they kind of start to fall into it, because for me, like when I've moved to different places, that's what kind of got me involved in meeting people, um, whether it's running friends at work, or when we moved to Los Angeles joining the LA leggers. Um, you know, I, my neighbor and I used to run when I lived in Toronto. Like it's always, I've always tried to find some little kind of running community, um, and my latest one being, um the charity teams it's what the it's actually called charity teams and um, it's a woman named Susan Hurley who basically runs all of these different charities, uh, runners.
Speaker 2:So she helps people um fundraise, she trains everybody, um, it's quite an amazing group. There's like hundreds of runners, is you know? She has a number of merit, a number of charities, and I met her when I ran for team MRA, um, and so you know she, um that community is strong. Whether you're training or not training, I'll still go on the Boston course in the wintertime just to see everybody and just to be kind of in the excitement of watching people training for the Boston Marathon.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so is that strictly in Boston that she does all that?
Speaker 2:training. Yeah, so they basically trained in the course. She does all that training. Yeah, so they basically trained at the course. So, um, you know they have some fun events along the way, like they have one, it's called a Superhero 17, and we all take a bus out to Natick and then you run, basically you know, back to Boylston, um, but you're running from Natick to Boylston, you know right on the Boston marathon route to Boylston.
Speaker 2:You know right on the Boston Marathon route, and then, when you get to your maximum mileage, at 21, they do an event called Hop 21. And you get on a bus at Boston College and they take you right to Hoppington and you run the first 21 miles of the Boston Marathon. So at that point you've now seen every single part of the course. So when Boston actually hits, you've done that, um, and they also train you to train the hills kind of in both directions. So like when you're running 17 or 18, you're running, you know you're running out eight or nine miles and that puts you right in the thick of the hills, and then you turn around and you come back. Now you're going in the direction of the actual marathon. Then you turn around and you come back. Now you're going in the direction of the actual marathon, so you're kind of running the hills on both sides, um so it's good training.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, it's really really good training.
Speaker 1:Wow, that's great. So, uh, during your journey now, have you had any setbacks along the way?
Speaker 2:Yeah, um, when I first first started, um, you know, I was a young kid, uh, didn't have probably the proper footwear, um, and I was like going out back to back days and started to develop this pain underneath my kneecap, which I later discovered is called runner's knee Um, and I started actually getting these little like you know getting at the time. Cause this is, you know, this is like pre-internet. So I was getting books, um, from you know, from famous runners that had written, like runners, repair manuals and things like that. So in my earliest days I had to take a little time off and get smart. And then then for a long time I never ran back to back days because I was so afraid I would get injured again. And it really wasn't until the pandemic, when I started running back to back days and just seemed like it was everything was working out OK. But this last, you know, everything was working out okay, but this last, you know, occasionally I fall right Like does he get a lazy foot? I have fallen I have luckily not gotten too injured, you know, just kind of scraping up my hand. I have like a little arthritis in my hand. I know that's from when I fall.
Speaker 2:But this last spring I think you and I actually had had an appointment at this time I fell running with a friend and I fell down so hard on my left side of my body that I actually bruised my ribs, and so I started, I finished my run but I noticed my breathing was really ragged and so the pain kind of continued. To end up going for x-rays and, uh, good thing that I didn't crack anything but um, but for about four to six weeks I could feel it. Yeah, um, I was able to run if I took the they. They prescribed like heavy duty ibuprofen. So if I took the ibuprofen I actually could run, okay, but then you're so doped up so, yeah, it was just like you know.
Speaker 2:So I kind of I kind of started weaning myself off the ibuprofen but, um, but yeah, I've been pretty fortunate to not have had any injuries, especially in this last decade. I mean, this last decade has been my most consistent running, um, and I haven't had to, like you know, miss a marathon or you know, I like to do Falmouth every summer. Um, I don't get a number, I, I grab a charity bib, um, so yeah, I haven't had to miss any of the things that are really important to me so far.
Speaker 1:That's knock on wood. So you started out with 10 Ks um, and then you went straight to the marathon, so you didn't do any halves in there.
Speaker 2:You just went. I did do yeah, I did do a bunch of halves. I did go from 10 Ks to my first marathon and then when, and then after, I, you know, basically had like three under my belt. Then I started meeting people that were not interested in running marathons, but they were more interested in running half marathons, and so I started. I basically started sticking with halves for a little while there, um, until I got back into doing bulls again.
Speaker 2:And even now, um, like I'll do a half marathon. Usually I try to keep up. If I'm going to do a half marathon, I am more inclined to do that in the fall and then use that as a launching pad to start training for a spring marathon. Um, whether we Boston or, like I've run Newport, I've run Providence, like those are all in the spring, so you can kind of train with the Boston team and run any one of those Um, so it kind of depends on the year. Like I feel like I've got.
Speaker 2:You know, late spring or um, or late fall is when I like to run a half late spring just because I just ran a marathon, I may as well Um, and then late fall because I feel like if I don't start getting into double digits. I might slip back and I don't want to have to go back to square one when it comes to training, right, because you kind of get most of that. Muscle memory is nice and strong right now, but if I feel like at 53, if I were to take some time off where I really wasn't doing any, any double digits, um, it would make me a little nervous that you know that. It would seem too ominous.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I agree. Yeah, and so do you run all year long outdoors? Yeah, I agree.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and so do you run all year long outdoors? Yeah, yeah, I run all year long. I have the right kind of gear and yeah, I actually prefer I mean, I don't obviously I don't like a brutal day, but I do like winter running. Yeah, there's something about getting out in that air that I really enjoy, and I also run at like five 30 in the morning, because I run before I go to work. So, um, that's not ideal, but sorry, I saw a cat.
Speaker 1:They'd like to be on my recording. Yeah, I um, I don't mind running in the winter time, uh, but like you would like, not to brutal, but because I work third shift, typically I would come home, take a nap and then run in the afternoon. So then I keep that schedule in the summertime and so I'm running in the heat of the day and I love it. Oh my gosh, I absolutely love it.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh, that's impressive, the hottest run I do. I feel like it's Falmouth every year because that starts, I think, around I don't know eight or nine in the morning and it's in August. So that's my hot run, yeah, but like today, I didn't run until 8am cause my sister was in town and we did a small run together and I was dying of heat because I generally try to be done before then.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, I love heat. Just bring it, bring it on. So, oh, that's awesome. How did you learn to fuel and hydrate?
Speaker 2:Was that part of this other training that you do with the group? Yeah, that's a that's a good question, because I feel like, um, different things work for different seasons and you know, like when I, you know, when I was like, when I was like in my 20s, I really was into like goo and you know I take one every hour um, and I was all about the water, um, and I didn't, I and and I did straight up Gator, I didn't have to water it down. So it was like my 20 something gut could handle like things that as a 50 year old I cannot handle. And when I first started back I was 43. And that was the year of the sport. The very first season back was like the year of the sports jelly beans, and I used to, I used to love those words back in the day was Jolly Ranchers, right, so I had packed, I was packed with sugar, um, but then over time I developed kind of a sensitive stomach and you know, one of my Boston marathons, um, the thing with Boston is the Boston. You know that the race doesn't start for me because I'm a charity runner until 11.30, and so I had had a mixture of the wrong food, too much of the right food before and by mile 8 I started having serious stomach problems and so I still finished, still finished. I finished white as a ghost, but, um, I've just had to really kind of get smarter and just kind of like be okay to switch up my foods if I need to.
Speaker 2:So I like the honey stinger cookies. I don't do gels, I don't do those gummy things. Um, I can't do any kind of super intense sugars. Honestly, I love those plain, like animal crackers, like that's, you know, um. So yeah, it's it. It depends one season. It was like peanut butter, um, those peanut butter filled pretzels. I can still sometimes do those, um, but the honey, the honey cookie, you know, the honey stinger cookies are really pretty much what I pack, like you know, my shorts up with um for a marathon or for heavy training, and then there are, there is nutrition along the course, um, and if I have gate and then when I have Gatorade which I do, cause I need those electrolytes like everybody else, I have to water it down. I can't have it like straight up. But yeah, so I it just depends, I feel, like on the season and not having anything like nothing, chocolate, like anything like that. For me personally just doesn't work.
Speaker 1:Yeah, like that, for me personally just doesn't work. Yeah, yeah, I appreciate what you said about, um, having to change it up as you go, because sometimes people just totally, you know, I got sick on this, so now I don't do anything. Well, yeah, change some things up, something will work rather than running. Yes, exactly a full marathon on zero.
Speaker 2:In my opinion, you know, that's just, that's a long distance exactly, and even before going out for those longer runs, you know, I was like only going to eat half an English muffin and then I would realize I'd be too hungry. Or then I was like you know what, this is a great time to eat a bagel. Like I love bagels. I never indulge in them anymore unless I'm running. I mean, half the reason why I like to run distance is because I like the food and I like the dinner the night. I love, like you know, a 15 mile run and then you treating yourself to like a really good meal.
Speaker 2:That to me nothing feels better than you know, after a super long winter run. You never feel more relaxed than that, like Saturday evening with like a glass of wine and you know something super yummy, because it's like you feel like you really kind of earned, earned those rewards, so to speak. Absolutely um, and for me that's the runner's high. The runner's high really happens when the run is over with um, and I really get the kind of those aftermath benefits.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I love that runner's high, that's. I just love that feeling of you. Know, we were, my husband and I were in the car the other day and there was a bike path and we were coming back from Indiana and I said, oh, there's a bike path, and I always say, when I see one, I could be running on that right now. And he beat me to the punch, you know. He says you could be running on that right now and I'm like no, let me out of the car, just let me run.
Speaker 1:So what's your next adventure? Do you have anything on the books?
Speaker 2:so, um, I I like to run Maine, the Maine Marathon, this October. The last time I ran it was a couple years ago and I had a really great run, um, and for me I'm not a fast runner, so a really great run is like breaking five mile five hours. Um, so I did, and I did that my last Boston as well, um, and I hadn't done that in a while. So I'd like to do Maine If I'm not ready for the fall. They do have a half option, so I could always take the half if I need to.
Speaker 2:I have, and I do have a partner, kind of a partner in crime. We've had a group of women who've been doing all these marathons, but now we're at a point where you know half the group is like 58, half the group is like 54. And then you've got one or two that are even younger and the ones that are 58 are like I'm good, now I don't want to do any more falls. So they'll come along to cheer, or they're going to come along if there's a half, but they're not interested in doing like New York again or Chicago again. Um, so the one person I can constantly talk into things, she, she's on board If I decide I want to do the fall in the fall, um, and I would like to maybe think about another Boston.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I've got another um, I have a niece who is going to attend Boston college in the fall, and so essentially, my sister has three kids. One of them is going to live in the North end with my oldest daughter and then two of them are going to Boston college and that's where my family is always stationed when I run Boston, cause my husband went to Boston college, um, for his master's, so they're always positioned right there, right right where the Hills are. So, um, I did tell my niece when she got into bc. I'm like, oh, maybe that means I have to get another boston marathon number.
Speaker 3:So maybe she'll do it with you, potentially boss.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's, that would be nice, especially since they're already in the city. When I read because I'll go in every single saturday to train, right, um, it's a big commitment, though, to ask a college kid to. It's a big commitment, though, to ask a college kid to start up on those sneakers for 7 30 in the morning on a saturday, I suppose. But, um, yeah, but maybe I will. Maybe I'll see what I can do. Yeah, get one of them to run yeah, tell her.
Speaker 1:I heard there's a thing, uh, the freshman 15 or something. Tell her that'll help keep that off for her. It's a great way to combat that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I did apply to get into London, but I did um, it's all lottery so I did not get in. So my goal is to keep keep trying to like pick away at Berlin and London and seeing if I can get on off, off the water initially, and if I really can't, then I'll start to do charities.
Speaker 1:I looked into um, the charities for Berlin, and it seemed so overwhelming. I first of all couldn't find an English site, so everything was in German. But you can kind of pick up the words you know and then you just have to do the math for the money. So for me the biggest thing will be finding it in English. But yeah, because I want to get those, I only have Boston. Um, I applied, tried to get into New York this year and I couldn't get in. So I'll keep trying that. Those ones too.
Speaker 2:Yeah, keep trying for New York and the fundraising for New York is not as bad as Boston. It's not great but it's not as bad. It's like $3,500. I did it for St Jude's when I did, when I did New York and and it was actually it's great. It's great to do New York least once. It's kind of like Boston, where there's a lot of moving parts, you have to take a ferry to Staten Island, there's a lot of sitting around, but it is really cool. It's it's it's a very cool marathon. I really am glad that I did it. I wouldn't mind doing it one more time. I have a friend who's never done it, but hopefully not with charity, like it's always such a such a another part of the puzzle and I'm an elementary school teacher, so it's not like I'm in big business. So I live in a town of like 8,000 people people, so it's not easy to fundraise.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm gonna. Um, I'd like to try to qualify, but I think those days might be behind me. But, yeah, I'm gonna keep putting in for the lottery. I know something will pop up eventually, right, exactly? So you've got main in the fall and I think, I think you'll do the full, I think you can get ready for that. Just talk your friends into it. So, of all the distances, which is your favorite? A marathon is my favorite.
Speaker 2:I wish I could say a half. A half will probably become my favorite, because I do have halves. I do every year, like I always do, the Newberry Port half in the fall, as long as I'm not doing a marathon at that time. And I and there's another one in like right next to my hometown in December called the frosty half um, the colonial runners club. They put that on Um, so I try to do that one every year as well. So I I do like a half marathon, but there's just something about the training of a full marathon that I really do enjoy. So I'd say marathon's my favorite, because it feels a little crazy too. And then half marathon would be my second.
Speaker 2:My least favorite is a 5K. I just ran the Fiesta 5K here, which is like an evening run on a Thursdayursday with, like you know, 1500 runners. It was very hot. You would have loved it, but I it's speedy, that you know. And when you're not a speedy runner, a 5k I mean, yes, it's good to do one because it pushes yourself and makes me run faster. Um, because the longer, longer the the slower I am. But yeah, I hate them, I hate a 5K.
Speaker 1:I'll do them occasionally, but I don't like them. Yeah, I only typically will do a 5K. If my husband's doing one, I'll do one with him, but I've been pushing for Ainsley's Angels. They have the wheelchairs that you push, they call them chariots. Yeah, and I'll do a five-day then, because you go as a team, right, there's usually three or four runners and you're taking turns pushing, and so I enjoy that, because now somebody else is getting to do that. But before that race I have to run three or four miles just to get warmed up. I'm, you know, honestly, because I'm a slower runner.
Speaker 2:I know exactly what you mean I know exactly what you mean. Like that's the problem with the 5k. By the time that you know, I'm like okay, I feel comfortable, now the race is over. So I feel miserable for the whole entire time because I am not used to going out first of all that fast because I let myself warm up, but then when I'm in that point, like okay, now I'm gonna get my grief, it's like the race is over.
Speaker 1:Yeah, exactly the same way. Exactly. Usually around mile eight, when in the marathon, is where I really am starting to feel my stride feeling good, you know, and but yeah, I like, I like, yeah, I like that point in the run of myself yeah, three miles.
Speaker 2:Um, I gotta do three miles before I can do three miles yeah, well, in a marathon, when you hit eight, two, like, all I keep thinking is like, oh, it's only this far to go now, like, like you know, I'm quickly doing the math and being like it's under 20. I've done under 20 how many times when I train right, so yeah, um, so most I train is 21.
Speaker 1:I don't know if you go all the way up to 26, but I only go up to 21 well, I typically don't go to 26, but the last marathon I trained for um, so I ran around the lake near us with a friend. We were training together and then, um, I was running a 10k with my husband that day, so he stopped in and picked me up for the 10k. Well, I had parked my car halfway around the lake so we could use it as a stop right to refuel and stuff. Yeah so, and I said, okay, when the race is done, when the 10k done, I'll just run to the car. It's just quote unquote over there. Well, so I ran more than 21. I think I ran almost 25. But it was fine.
Speaker 2:Oh my.
Speaker 1:God. And it was all day, because you know we started early and then I had to get to the race in time to get the bib and all that Right. So then you're standing around waiting for the race to start and then you got to get through all the traffic after the race and so, yeah, it was. It was an all day event. That was great. Training is what I like to think of it. It worked so, um. So what kind of advice would you want to give people who are considering doing a marathon?
Speaker 1:or just even considering a 5k, or what kind of advice would you give people?
Speaker 2:Well, I mean ideally, I always think, find a running buddy. That's what makes me so consistent, as I have someone that meets me at 530 in the morning, morning, um, so if you can try to find either a running club or, um, a running buddy that is willing to run at the time of day that you're most inclined to want to run. So when I was in my twenties, I liked the evenings, um. Now I like the mornings, um, and also just taking it slow. You know, I feel like younger people do this a lot. Where they go out, they go out really fast, um, and then they're super uncomfortable and they're like, oh, I hate running, instead of going out like comfortable pace, just have a conversation with somebody and, you know, take your time, enjoy scenery, you know, don't? I think? Also, too, it's like I got to blur my music. It's like, honestly, I think, if you'll run more consistently, if you're actually listening to like an audible, like listen to a book on tape, so it's like someone's telling you a story and you're just focusing on a rhythm, because I feel like in music, the rhythm changes and so your pace will change, um, so for me and that might be me getting older, but I. I find that's a lot. I'm a lot more consistent if I'm not running with a friend than to just like listen to, like listen to a podcast or listen to something that's going to hold your attention but not distract you from your actual run, um. And then I also think, don't rule out doing run walk. Um, you know Jeff Galloway's method. You know, as I've aged, I've done a lot of run walk where you know I run hard. For a minute I walk for 30 seconds and my overall marathon time is usually faster than when I actually run straight through. Um, my recovery time is quicker. I don't have, you know, joint pains in my hips when I do it. So, you know, be okay with you, know what it is that you know you need, like whether that's running every other day, cross training, um, but I love it.
Speaker 2:I think running is one of the most generous sports and it's cheap, other than your sneakers. But, like, once you get into a series of sneakers, you know you'll, you'll scout them out on Amazon or your local running store, maybe start getting you good deals that sometimes happens for me. And other than that, you can run anywhere Like you can. All you need is a pair of sneakers. So I like that part about running that running is really an option for so many people because you don't have to buy an expensive bike, you know. You don't have to buy really inexpensive anything Um, because there's just so many different types of sneakers out there, you know. So, yeah, don't be afraid to try to try something new and hopefully find a running buddy. To me that's like getting into a running club or a running buddy. It's the best thing to do, especially if you just moved somewhere.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, except for when they talk you into doing things like marathons.
Speaker 2:That's what I do.
Speaker 1:That's where I come in. I can tell that you're that person.
Speaker 2:I am that friend. I am the friend who gets everybody to get back into running and do a marathon. I've talked more people into running than like I mean. Yeah, people will be like I'm not going to actually talk to you for very long because I know if I do, I'm going to sign up for something. That's awesome. I don't know, like mix the matching shirts, like yeah, that's great, I like a goal yeah, that's also not I like safety in numbers yeah, absolutely, it's not expensive.
Speaker 1:Also, if you don't plan to go to antarctica yeah, that's crazy.
Speaker 2:Chicago is also. Chicago felt like antarctica this last fall because they do it on Columbus Day weekend, so the flights get jacked up. So it's actually cheaper to do New York than it is to do Chicago, but it's easier to get into Chicago and the fundraising is not big for Chicago and it's a flat run. It's got a lot of great things, except for flights. So if you can't take time off like before and after that weekend which a school teacher can't, it was like it's really ridiculous flights this time. So I'm not doing Chicago until I retire.
Speaker 1:So last question for you is there anything that you wish you would have learned sooner, or something that you're really hoping to learn, that you haven't learned about running, or even just about yourself?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I sometimes wonder like I've just started CrossFit recently, so I'm not running. I was running five days a week, so I'm not running five days in a week. Last two months I've started running um Tuesday, Thursday, Saturdays, and now I'm doing CrossFit Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Um. So I'm really curious to see, over time, if that makes me maybe a stronger runner, Um, and maybe I'll notice that in the way I actually run.
Speaker 2:Um, I tend to kind of, you know, write myself off as kind of a slow runner and my goal really is to just keep running Like I'd. Like I really would like to be somebody 20 years from now that is still doing races. Um, maybe I'm not doing fulls and doing halves, but I would like for it to still be part of my daily routine, and that's kind of what this whole CrossFit kind of chapter is, too is just getting stronger. So, yeah, I'm interested in discovering kind of what that looks like as I'm aging, and what modifications will I need to make and be open to to make sure that that's still a part of my life.
Speaker 1:Fantastic. Wow, yeah, that's great. You know so many of us as a whole. We get stuck in our rut and we don't ever want to make changes. But you're making changes. All the time you change your food, you change back into CrossFit. That's so fantastic, good for you. Time you changed your food, you're changing that into crossfit. That's so fantastic good for you.
Speaker 2:yeah, it's, it's um, I'm not always willing to change, but this has been a new thing. But yes, I am, I am happy, like I I went in saying don't ask me to do box jumps, and this last class I just took on monday, I actually yesterday I was able to do like I don't know how many boxers I ended up doing, but I was like all proud of myself because I could. Finally I'm conquering the box, but I don't want to get injured, so I will, you know, modify when I need to.
Speaker 1:That's great Good for you, good way to conquer that hurdle that's great.
Speaker 3:Thank you all right.
Speaker 1:Well, thank you so much for being on the show, beth. I really appreciated it and we'll look forward to maybe hearing from you again after some more races.
Speaker 2:All right, sounds good, thanks, bye, bye all right, friends.
Speaker 3:Well, I hope you enjoyed that program. Again, don't forget to follow, rate and share it. If you know someone that their story just needs to get out there, or maybe that's you look me up on all of the socials threads Instagram, Facebook. You can email me directly, Carla, at coffeecrewcoachingcom, and we'll get you on the show, or your friend or whoever. So thanks again for listening and have a great day.
