November Runner of the Month | Leigh Lindsey
When and why did you start running?
I have a very dear friend, Peggy Schmidt, who comes up with ideas and then we do them! Paint a room? Yes! Start running? I guess so! That year, I had been pretty strict with what I was eating (or rather not eating) and had lost weight and so we added running! Peggy decided we needed to do The Blast in March 2013. That run benefits Neuroblastoma research at Cook Children's Hospital in Fort Worth. In 2013 we did that one, then The Komen for the Cure 5k, then the MRTT summer virtual, the Wicked Wine Run for my birthday, and then my first Showdown 5k! I placed in the Athena division...now that was a runner's high! In October that year, Peggy convinced me to do a relay at Monster Tri! My daughter swam, Peggy biked, and I ran. We rounded out the year with the Polar Dash! When we start something, I guess we go all in!
Most recent race? 2020 has been hella weird. So I think my most recent race was Carson's Crusade virtual race.
Favorite piece of gear? I don't run with much, but I do love my Fitbit Ionic watch. If I run at night, my Knuckle Lights are worth their weight in gold!
What shoes do you run in? Right now, I'm in Hoka Mach 2. I'm eyeing some new Brooks though, they were my first shoe love!
Favorite way to cross-train?
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Best running memory? My second Red Blue Half Marathon (2015). Crossing that finish line faster than the previous year, under a giant American flag, with so many MRTT sisters! I was truly euphoric after that race! I'd trained for that one with Peggy and Gerri Elsing. Training and finishing with friends is special!
What is your favorite race so far?
I'm always gonna love 5ks the most. I do love the Showdown 5k. It's truly flat and fast and has fun swag. I also had a blast at the Seattle Marathon 5k in 2019. I've NEVER run hills like that! It was also the most beautiful course I've ever run.
What is something that most people do not know about you? I don't know! I'm a pretty open book! I used to volunteer at a big cat sanctuary - In-Sync Exotics. I fed, cleaned up, and played with bobcats, tigers, lynx, lions, etc!
Favorite tune to rock out to while running? When I'm not running or walking (because I do a LOT of walking) with friends, music is the best thing. I have curated a playlist on my Spotify that has tunes that put a pep in my step - Lizzo, Dave Matthews Band, AJR, The Chicks, Miranda Lambert, Prince, 311, Cardi B...
Best part about running? Friends are obviously the best part of running! I've made so many friends and run with so many different ladies. When Alicia started this group, our boys were playing baseball together. She bullied me into joining this group she had just started, even though I said "I'm not a real runner".
Who inspires you? Fellow "back of the pack" people. Running isn't easy for us. We haven't been doing it for 20 years. But those ladies out there giving it 100% and doing THEIR best Every. Single. Time. Not comparing their time to other people, but only themselves. Those ladies with tears in their eyes as they cross the finish line because they FINISHED. Those ladies inspire me to keep going.
What has been your biggest challenge so far?
Not gonna lie. My weight is a constant challenge. I constantly struggle with it. Even when I eat amazing and exercise, my body is VERY slow to let go of the weight. I've been thoroughly checked out at the doc, I'm in amazing health! This is just how I am. So I will keep at it. Don't get me wrong, I love my curves, but I want to feel better in my clothes. I have some solid goals for 2021...like most people, things went a little off the rails in 2020.
Any words of advice? It's ok if things don't go according to your plan. Stop running for a while? It's still there, you can pick it back up. Fall off the curb and twist your ankle? Take care of yourself and get back out there when you're better. Just can't run anymore? Walking is phenomenal! It's ok if things don't go according to your plan, it's ok to take breaks or switch things up or fall in love with a new way to exercise.
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