It’s Monday so you know what that means. It’s time to bring you another awesome blogger!

The week’s featured blogger is Katie from Running A Ragnar.

Name: Katie

 

Blog: http://runningaragnar.blogspot.com/ 

 

When did you first start blogging and why?

I started blogging in 2011 to help organize my teams in a Ragnar Relay. Back when I started blogging, there really wasn’t much information about this overnight relay and I wanted to create a blog that helped other runners who were interested in this crazy 200 mile overnight relay. I continued on to organize two more teams and the blog continued to grow. After the last Ragnar I decided to set a goal of the half marathon, and then soon the marathon. While I don’t have any Ragnar Relays on the horizon, I blog daily about my marathon training, fitness routine, recipes, and life in New England with my dog and horse.

Blogging has been a great experience that has let me keep myself on track and accountable while also inspiring others. In blogging I have found so many other bloggers that motivate ME on a daily basis and keep me going.

 

What is your most helpful blogging tip?

My most helpful blogger tip is STICK WITH IT! You aren’t going to get 300 followers over night- but blog for yourself and keep doing it. Also, be pro active, read your favorite blogs and comment often. When I am looking for a new blog to read I head over to one of my favorite blogs and look at the other bloggers who comment. I have found some pretty amazing blogs this way!

 

What is your favorite fitness activity?

My favorite fitness activity these days has to be Body Pump. While running is my “main” fitness activity, I love Body Pump because it is a whole different ball game to me. As someone who spent their whole life thinking cardio was king, and weight lifting would make you “bulky” it has been so fun learning how to integrate the two to see the results I am looking for.

Because I am so new to strength training, Body Pump is the perfect place to learn how to life weights correctly, while being in a fun class setting with some awesome tunes!

 

What motivates you?

When I was in Utah a few weeks ago, I went to this little park to get some miles in. There I met this older gentleman, who stopped to chat. Turns out he is running his 37th Boston Marathon this year, and has run over 130 marathons total. If someone can run 130, and still going strong, I can run one!

I also have a high energy lab mix that I love to pieces- she gets me out the door on the days I rather sit on the couch!

 

What has fitness changed about your life?

Fitness has really made me stop, slow down, be patient, and focus on the little things. The biggest struggle with a lot of people is the “immediate gratification”. We want to see a six pack the second we finish doing crunches. Fitness doesn’t work like that… you have to focus on the day to day tasks/workout/meals that will get you the changes you seek in the long run. I have really learned to take a big goal and break it down into the little day to day pieces. Patience has never been my strong point!

 

What is your favorite pump up song?

An oldie but a goodie. Simply Irresistible by Robert Palmer– This was the “squat track” during body pump and whenever I hear this song I just want to get to working out!

Also loving Only You by Ellie Goulding – the “ab track” during Pump! I am getting so much awesome music from my body pump class.

 

What is your favorite running distance?

This question is tougher than I thought. The slacker in me wants to say the 5k because its the shortest distance I run, but in reality it is the hardest! I have this “3 mile theory” where you cannot judge a run until you get past the three mile “hump”. The first three miles my legs hurt, I feel awful, and want to quit. Once I get past those first three miles I feel great and ready to tackle the distance.

 

What is your favorite motivational quote/mantra?

When I am having a really tough time during marathon training, when I feel this is so hard and I wasn’t mean to do this, I remember this:

‘Of course it’s hard, It’s supposed to be hard. If it were easy everybody would do it. Hard is what makes it great”. — A League Of Their Own

 

What is your favorite piece of running/fitness gear?

Compression Socks! I know they are a little pricey but I feel the difference having these suckers on during and post race. And not to mention all of the fun and amazing colors!

 

What is your favorite “treat”?

How is one supposed to list one favorite!?! My favorite food is french fries. I try to get creative and make butternut squash baked “fries” or carrot fries, but there is nothing better than fresh cut french fries – real potatoes and in the fryer!

 

What is a long term running or fitness goal you have for yourself?

My long term running/fitness goal has always been the marathon. I have set little goals in between. I never thought I could run 5 miles, then I never thought I could run a half marathon, and after pushing through those goals, the sky is the limit right?

Marathon training has not been easy, and this is already my second attempt after tendinitis stopped me at mile 18 during training the first go around, but boy do I get teary eyed when I imagine that moment, crossing that finish line after running 26.2 miles for the first time!

 

Tell us something unique about yourself.

While running is what I talk about mostly, horseback riding has always been my number one passion and is a great cross training workout. I never grew out of that “I Love Ponies” stage and had the most amazing horse named Cow from 12-24.

 

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who is starting out running, what would it be?

Keep pushing and remember my three mile theory. I have gone out and run 18 miles and the next day, 3 miles can still be REALLY hard for me. Once you get past those three miles, no one can stop you. Keep pushing through and things get easier after 3 miles, I promise!

 

How do you find/make time to train?

It is hard, I won’t lie! I have to commit to mornings first thing when I wake up or first thing when I get home from work. I have a little box next to the door with all my running gear so I will walk in the door, change and run back out before my brain has time to tell me no!

Also, remember this quote:

“Don’t say you don’t have enough time. You have exactly the same amount of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michaelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo Da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein”. –H. Jackson Brown Jr.

 

What’s an accomplishment you are most proud of?

I have motivated a lot of friends and family to get running, even my father. I convinced him to run the first Ragnar Relay with me. This is a guy who never ran a mile in his life, and he was running 6-8 mile training runs on his own. I have helped friends train for half marathons, and been there for their first step over that 13.1 finish line. To really inspire or motivate someone like that is a huge accomplishment and helps to keep me going at the end of the day.

 

Go ahead and head over to Katie’s blog and check it out! You can also find her on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

If you would like to be featured in the Bloggers on the Run feature – please go here.