Friday Spotlight: xfkirsten
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###Who's xfkirsten?
First Name?
Kirsten
Age?
33
Where are you from?
Born and raised in Issaquah, WA, but now live in Santa Monica, CA
Occupation?
Illustrator and Graphic Designer
What are your PR’s?
5K - 23:37 (11/2015)
10K - "49:00" but the course was 0.25mi short and I feel cheated (11/2014)
Half Marathon - 1:48:07 (01/2015)
Marathon - 4:26:21 (03/2014)
How long have you been running?
Since March 2009, so closing on 7 years. I've had stretches where I didn't run, though, so I've "started over" more than once. Injury breaks notwithstanding, on this stretch I've been running consistently since Summer 2013.
Briefly explain why you began running?
I was working in the Magic Kingdom, and came to work one day and found myself having to Frogger my way across a race course, which turned out to be the Walt Disney World Marathon. I loved the idea of running through the parks and the energy of the event, and signed up for the half the following year. Raced my first half in January 2010 (2:12), my second half two months later (1:52), and my first full three months after that (5:14... yep, it went about like that). I got hooked!
Most memorable running moment?
PRs and firsts seem like obvious choices, so skipping over those... probably hurdling a coyote. I was cresting the top of a hill in Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland, and was picking up speed on the downhill when a coyote darted out of the trees across the trail right in front of me. He was too close and I had too much momentum, so I did the only thing I could to avoid a collision and jumped. He kept running. I kept running. I like to think that both of us came away from that encounter asking "...WTF?"
Do you have a running mantra?
Probably something simple along the lines of "don't stop running."
What’s your highest recorded weekly mileage?
50 miles, while training for this year's LA Marathon... before injury derailed me. Still working to build my base back up, but taking it more carefully this year.
What time of day do you prefer to run?
I like the conditions early in the morning... but I love sleep more, so the majority of my runs are in the evening, right after work.
Any big races coming up?
LA Marathon on February 14! I'm still trying to decide on race plans for the spring. I've wanted to try an ultra for a long time, so possibly a 50k. Leaning towards maybe the Leona Divide 50k? I'd love to try a 50-miler, but I don't think I'll have enough of a mileage base to be ready by spring. Maybe for the fall...
What are your short-term running goals?
PR the LA Marathon! The last time I ran a marathon (LA 2014), I had less fitness to begin with, ran fewer training miles, and wound up with an 85+ degree race day, so barring any major complications, that should be no problem. The big question right now is really how far under my PR I'll be ready to go.
What are your long-term running goals?
Ultimately, I'd love to BQ, although I'm guessing I'll be into the next age bracket by the time I'm ready to try for that. Also, as I mentioned, ultras - at least a 50-miler and eventually a 100-miler.
What’s one piece of running advice you’d give to the younger version of yourself?
Don't stop running. Don't take breaks. Don't lose your momentum. (Is that one piece of advice or three?)
What is something you need to work on to become a better runner?
Patience. I have a tendency to want to do everything all-out, and I have to remind myself to slow down on my training runs and let most of my miles be easy. This year that came back to bite me in the ass, and I wound up with a poorly-diagnosed lower leg injury (I have a sneaking suspicion that it was a partial calf tear that didn't quite heal right) that kept me from training - or even walking properly - for the better part of 5 months.
What is your current shoe choice?
Brooks Ghost! Been using them for over two years now, and love them. I am looking to add variety, though. I have a pair of Altra Intuitions that I love, but I can only do a few miles a week, tops, in zero-drop. I did try on a pair of New Balance Zantes last week - at the recommendation of some of you fine folks! - and loooooved them. Those are on my Christmas list.
What’s your comfy pace?
Right now it seems to be around the 9:00 range, sometimes down towards 8:50.
Trail? Road? Or Treadmill?
Trail is my favorite. I'm a nature person, and I love the scenery, the variety of terrain, and the way even the same trail can be different from week to week. I'm lucky enough to live fairly close to lots of top-notch Santa Monica Mountains trail, although parking at the trailheads is either expensive or its own competitive sport, so I tend to do mostly road running out of convenience. About once a week I do some easy, social trail in Griffith Park with friends. When I go back home to visit my family, I can just run to the Cougar Mountain trailheads, so I take full advantage of that! Treadmill isn't even an option for me. I have a 5-second attention span at the best of times.
What is your ideal running weather?
45 degrees and cloudy!
Do you have any social media accounts you’d like to share? [Facebook, Strava, Twitter]
Twitter: http://twitter.com/xfkirsten (mostly running, NFL football, and flailing over wonderfully-mediocre TV shows)
Just For Fun:
What’s your spirit animal?
Probably a lion. I'll go out there once a day power through the hard work... then lay down and spend the other 22 hours napping.
What hobbies and interests do you have besides running?
I love illustration and painting. I do freelance natural science illustration on the side and would love to do it full-time if the market could support that, but it's pretty niche and becoming more competitive by the minute. I do a lot of drawing and painting just for fun - some that's more marketable, and some that's just-for-fun fanart because I'm a shameless fangirl.
I also love birdwatching and have gotten involved in my local Audubon group. Anything wildlife-related, really - I've always been fascinated by it, and worked as a zookeeper right after college. Reading is another big one - mostly nonfiction, wildlife/zoology, and fantasy, although I'll read anything that catches my eye. And all things Disney - Disney animated films are what inspired me to learn to draw as a child, and I've spent a significant portion of my adult life at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
Do you have any hidden talents?
I like to try anything that catches my interest. I took acrobatic trampoline classes from Cirque du Soleil performers for awhile, but being 5'9" made it difficult to get good rotation. I also was the "horse girl" growing up, and among the random things I learned was the basics of equestrian vaulting, which is sort of like the horseback gymnastics you see at the circus.
Biggest pet peeve?
People who walk three or four abreast and take over the whole sidewalk. I am a CHAMP at Red Rover.
What songs have you been listening to recently?
I am that Christmas music person. You know, the one listening to it in July? So I have my radio on the 24/7 Christmas music station right now at work! Outside of that, I love Disney theme park music (especially parades and shows) and film scores. Digging the "Live the Magic" theme from Disneyland's fireworks right now, gorgeous song! Or whatever catches my ear. My iPod has a little bit of everything!
One Final Question:
What is the origin of your username?
I was totally obsessed with The X-Files growing up (IS IT JANUARY YET?) so many, many years ago, I just decided to stick "xf" in front of my name. If I ever find it's taken, 99% of the time, I find out it's an account that I created and forgot about, so I've stuck with it just about everywhere.
That'll sum up this week's interview with u/xfkirsten! Don't forget that when you respond to this post, be sure to tag xfkirsten in your comment so that she is notified properly when you ask her questions. Also be aware that not every featured runner has the ability to respond immediately so be patient in waiting for a response if they are busy doing what ever it is that they do. Thanks for reading folks!!!
Posted Dec 4, 2015, 12:41 PM UTC · edited