A couple of years ago I was lucky to met Mary Eggers. She is one of my favorite people…ever. She has enough spirit for an entire cheerleading squad. Oh, and did I mention she is pretty fast? She recently became a coach for QT2 Systems, and I asked to interview her!
1. So, Mary, you are triathlon famous. Youve been in the biz even longer than me, you even have a picture of Luc Van Lierde winning Ironman Hawaii with you in the background! And named your first born after that record setting stud. How did you get into the sport? And when exactly was it??
I got into this sport believe it or not after having some difficulties with an eating disorder at age 20, after a ten year stint with Bulimia. I came home, got better and was allowed to begin swimming again. At that point I was a burned out post collegiate swimmer with no direction. I saw the Hawaii Ironman on TV (this was in 1994). To me it represented health which I didn’t have at the time. It offered me the opportunity to build my health from square one again. In 1995….. I did my first triathlon!
2. Who is your favorite pro triathlete (we know the QT2 peeps–Tim and Cait Snow, Ethan, Logan, Jessie, Pedro, and Doug are up there) so actually…whose your NEXT favorite??
My favorite professional triathlete is Jessica Jacobs. If you know her story you understand her work ethic and you understand her combined love for her family, her country and her sport. She is honest yet not narcissistic. She’s passionate yet not demeaning.
3. You were a pediatric emergency nurse, you are now a coach, a yoga instructor, race director/announcer, and work tirelessly for the causes close to you (Teens Living with Cancer, your sons education!).
What motivates you to give so much of your time to others?
When I look at that list I think…. Who fits THAT in????? Then I realize…. Oh my! I take every single day in small chunks because when I look at the big picture I faint.
When I came home sick to my parents I was at rock bottom at too early an age. My father steered me into situations that I was caring for others and working with people. Nothing helps pull you up like trying to make someone else’s life better.
My son is “on the spectrum” yet he’s so high functioning that he’s fallen through many cracks. I have learned the hard way that kids with special needs need an advocate because they are at risk for so many things. I walk a fine line between fighting for his opportunities (like meeting Hunter Kemper!!!) and teaching him that he has to work harder than his peers. He didn’t ride two wheels until age 9 and you’d better believe he cherishes every second of being able to do that. Our job as his parents is to raise a good man who is 100% independent. That right there is the biggest driving force of my life.
(Being a race announcer below!)
4. Please tell me how you have so much energy. You are like a 15 year old. Do you nap? Drink ‘Five Hour Energy’s? Much caffeine (coke or coffee?), Do you just not sleep?
I drink two cups (VENTI) of coffee a day. I take a 20 minute nap at 2pm daily. I am in bed by 9.
At the risk of sounding like a Hallmark Card…….I think my energy comes from absolutely loving everything that I do.
(This is a pretty typical picture of Mary…always laughing!)
5. Any advice for someone wanting to get into the triathlon biz?
Long ago triathlon became my family. I came into this sport a broken girl and the relationships that saved my life are the ones I still have today. This sport has grown tremendously over the past 15 years that I have been in it and we have amazing people here. My advice would be to get into this business because you love it. Be genuine, be realistic and do the right thing. If you can do that…… you will be successful!
You can find Mary’s blog here, and follow her on twitter here!
I am loving life right now. Because this happened:
My first avocado interaction on my own.
Used the above ingredients to make this, Megan’s guacamole!
SO YUM! guacamole success thanks to my neighbor Meg!
So back to that running thing…
My long run on Sunday was 87 minutes, and my legs felt surprisingly awesome, but my lungs/nose not so much! Many a snotrocket happened (sorry!). Monday was a a recovery run of 30 minutes. Yesterday was my first Zone 2 workout of the season–two by 12.5 minute intervals, 60 minute run total. I was skeptical after my long run but it was pretty awesome! We have a bike path right near my work and it is perfect for that sort of thing. The beginning of Zone 2 also means that….HILL BOUNDING IS BACK! Starting Friday! Maybe I will have PW photograph my first hill bounding of the season, too. It should be uncoordinated and hilarious.
The QT2 Holiday/End of Season Party is this Saturday. I am very much looking forward to it. The food is amazing. Our friends are amazing! 50 of our friends/teammates in a room with delicious food? Ill take it! You can find the recap from last years party here. Every year, it is at Maggiano’s. The first year there were only 8 of us, now 50! To make things even better, I get to carpool into Boston with BFF Brian because PDubs will already be there for a meeting. I never get to see BPH so that is very cool.
And just when I thought things couldnt get any better?? Tomorrow marks the completion of my second grad class (only 8 more to go 
) and the beginning of TWO WEEKS OFF! Woop woop! Now you can see why I am celebrating with guacamole!
Hoping that everyone else’s training is going well…its almost January which I find the hardest month to train in. Race season seems so far away! But…I always try to tell myself that the most progress is made in the winter.
QUESTION:
Are you a guacamole lover or hater??
I have been taking a lot of work home lately, and trying to squeeze in grad school work on top of it. I decided today would be no work Saturday (which means Ill have twice as much to do tomorrow but whatever–Im trying to not be obsessive about it! This edit shows its not working though.) So I woke up and headed to our local weekly 5k with PW. He ran the race while I jogged (soft j) for a total of 60 minutes. Dont worry, it didnt take him the full 60 minutes, I was running before and after too!
Here he is starting the race:
You can check out his race report, and the video I took during the race, on his website here
We came home and I proceeded to do my Saturday morning cleaning routine, followed by 3 episodes of Law and Order SVU. Really, I was just killing time waiting for 4:30–Ironman World Championships 2011 was on NBC from 4:30-7. So I watched that on the couch, prepping dinner during commercials:
Here is a fluorescent Crowie picture in my view during those 1.5 hours:
Since it was a relaxing today I decided to do my favorite thing: cook. I made my best chicken parm yet. I have a few hints as to make the perfect chicken for it:
1) use a mix of panko and regular (seasoned) breadcrumbs
2) DOUBLE COAT in the breadcrumb mix.
3) Saute it in oil first, to get it the right color and amount of crispiness
Once you have this:
You throw it in the oven and cook it for another 20 minutes and you’re set! It was the perfect cold weather meal on a night before a long run!
This is our only “home weekend” this month so I am taking full advantage. Next weekend is the QT2 Team Holiday party (which is, every year, a huge amount of fun), and then the next is Christmas! I should probably start Christmas shopping soon!
Sooo here is my first review: the Adrenaline GTS and the Infiniti Capri!
For years and years, I ran in only Asics. You couldnt get me in another pair if you told me I was on fire. Then my Ragnar Relay team got sponsored by Brooks. I decided to try out the Adrenalines because they were the closest to the shoe I was currently running in. And I fell in love. With the shoe and the company. While talking to them leading into the Relay, I realized what a down-to-earth company they are and how awesome their employees are. So I was sold! From that point on, I have been nothing but a Brooks girl!!!
This is the only shoe I run in, the Adrenaline GTS (this is the 12). It is a support shoe, which is good for me because I overpronate like its my job!!! It also has swell arch support, which again, was great for me because I need it.
It is a solid shoe–lasts the longest out of any shoe I have owned. I have run in versions 9, 10, and 11, and can tell you they have improved each year. This shoe actually won Best Update (in 2010 AND 2011) by Runners World. It features DNA cushioning technology, which conforms to each person, reacting to each step. Because I love this shoe so much, I am looking forward to trying out the racing flat. PW has a pair of those now, maybe I can get him to review those…
Ive been looking for a pair of running capris for years. I have always done the shorts to tight transition in December with nothing between. Then I got these:
I am 5’2″ and these are a little long on me but otherwise fit great. I can overlook the length because the rest is perfect, they are warm enough, and the price is right! They are not super tight at the calf which is good for me. I actually use these for weight training at the gym too, I love the fit so much (and they are flattering to boot).
It has the back pocket, which I much prefer over the front side pocket (it also comes with that one though–the “key pocket” as I call it).
QUESTION: Is there anything specific you guys would like reviewed on here (from Brooks…or in general?)
What could possibly prompt a third entry this week already? HUGE breaking news in ThatRunnerChick land, thats what!
Before dinner tonight, I got an email…from Brooks. They are reshaping their BrooksID sponsorship program and they have decided to sponsor me again!!! I am so excited to represent their brand again this year–they are a down to earth, for the runner company, who makes a pretty sweet running shoe.
Why this news is so huge? Because the benefits to the sponsorship is huge–they seriously outdid themselves this year. I almost dropped my phone while reading the email. Im going to take the opportunity to do a review on some of their product that I am receiving (totally of my own doing–they didnt ask me or require me to do it). Starting tomorrow with my standby shoe and new go to capris!
Until tomorrow….I have to go continue jumping around my house in excitement.
Pssssst…PS, PW updated his blog with details of his first training block, you can find it here
Yesterday, Jess of Little Miss Runshine tagged me in a blog trend. You are supposed to share 7 things about yourself and then tag some other bloggers to get in on it too! So….here are my seven:
1. I LOVE candy.
I could live off of it alone. However, I don’t like orange and yellow candy. This includes (but is not limited to):
orange and yellow starbursts
orange and yellow skittles
orange and yellow nerds
orange and yellow gummi bears
etc.
2) I dont always love running.
Does anyone? In fact, there are many times when I despise it until I put on my running shoes and start–then I remember why I do it. Most of the time its pretty alright though. It helps when I am well-fed and rested, too!
3) I sing and dance all the time.
My husband, friends, and coworkers can attest to this. I often sing falsetto. And make up random songs about my surroundings. I am not above breaking into dance in the middle of lunch. Don’t get me wrong though–I have absolutely no talent in either one!!
4) I could watch Law and Order all day.
Its sort of a problem. Whenever I have a spare hour (which is very, very rare right now), I will watch any episode. Ive seen most of them, but lucky for me theres usually multiple ones on, 24 hours a day. SVU is my preference though!
5) I am an extreme time manager/organizer.
This is hard to believe because it didnt set in until I was 25 or so. Now, I cant have things on my to-do list for more than 2 days before I panic. I can’t work at school unless my desk is spotless. And I cant work at home unless my house is spotless! As soon as I am asked/assigned something, I like to have it done by the end of the day. Its a little out of control.
6) I am the worst email responder, of all time.
The above characteristic does NOT apply to emails. For someone reason, I am lucky if I respond within 3 days! PW makes fun of me for it all the time, it is my New Years Resolution every year, but I just cant seem to conquer it!!
7) I can sleep anywhere, anytime.
Maybe I am borderline narcoleptic. I fall asleep within seconds of my head hitting the pillow. I can take a 3 hour nap at 4pm and it wont affect my bedtime. I can sleep in the car, on the couch, sitting in a chair. Definitely on a plane. And I can go to bed at 6pm, no problem! What can I say, its a gift.
Coming up with 7 things was hard!!!
I am tagging:
Megan
Mary
Xtina
Emily
Kim
Elaine
Matt
Steve
Can’t wait to read them, guys!!
I think that song is played at least 3 times on the radio when Im in my car on the way to work (my 20 minute drive), and now it is perpetually stuck in my head!
Anyways, so even though I didnt really blog about it this week, I have been running. It was a cah-razy week in ThatRunnerChick land which was kind if a bummer for my Thursday run, but I cant help it now! This week I have in total a 30 min run, two 60 min runs, and an 80 minute run today. My zone 1 pace continues to drop. After a few years running QT2 style, I am consistently amazed at how much fitness you can keep over an “off season”. My first year, I start zone 1 in 10:30s, then I started the next season at 9:30′s, then the next at 9:00′s. Its pretty awesome.
Last night we went to a Thanksgving/dinner party. Much food was consumed. We started with Brie and raspberries (next to spinach artichoke dip, my favorite appetizer ever.) Chrissie made an impressive spread, my picture doesnt do it justice. We had mood lighting (candles) and my now retro iPhone couldnt handle it. Im sure you can get the jist of it though:
Some of my dinner dates:
(It looks like they have sunburns but I promise its the lighting!!)
Dessert was a spread as well. I brought my favorite apple pie. There was also a chocolate ganache cake, pecan pie, and fruit tart. I, of course, sampled it all1
Finished off the night with some very serious foosball playing:
We didnt make it home until 2am (!!!), so it was a late start to the morning for me. I have to get my run done so I can sit down and write a research paper today. Wish me luck–it’s been years since Ive written one of those!!
