Friday Spotlight: Skragen
What's up everybody? It's Friday! That means it's time again to showcase another athlete and see what makes them unique. Today we'll be learning a bit about a name that is becoming more and more frequent around here. Let's get crackin' and find out what makes this week's Spotlight runner tick. Introducing u/skragen!!! Let's roll...
###The Runner:
First Name?
Something pretty from Shakespeare. This may be weird, but I don't post my first name publicly online. It's pretty rare and I've had psychos track me down and show up uninvited just knowing it, my city, and figuring out one other thing about me. Not that any of you are psychos or my crazy ex, of course. But I don't want to have to get all j-lo from "Enough" on you and have to chop my hair off, lure you in, and kill you, so . . . just call me skragen. Unless we meet irl (see you soon, cherry blossomers).
Age?
36
Where are you from?
From LA/Pasadena, but live in NY
Occupation?
White collar work/prof (sorry, this is the other bit of info that makes me findable by searching for just 3 words in google)
###Running Q&A's:
What are your PR’s?
1 Mile - 9:43 (unofficial during training run)
5k - 30:58 (unofficial during training run)
10k 1:10 (my first and only real race so far.) I know, I know, I talk a lot for someone slow & relatively inexperienced in racing. But I'm a Cinderella story, the underdog, (and it leaves me plenty of time to talk to coaches & learn wisdom from them to share w/others)
Half Marathon - 2:49:01 (unofficial during training run)
How long have you been running?
Ran track (short stuff, lazy) in HS, then off & on since I was 25. I most recently got back into it, and more seriously than ever before, about 9 months ago.
Briefly explain why you began running?
In HS because I was fast (but not really that fast). At 25, to be fit/active as I approached 30. Last year, because I love it and wanted to get outside & supplement spinning at home (no gym membership). I also love plans and excel - running with my 225 mixes both perfectly.
Most memorable running moment?
Christmas day, I was on my first longest run at that time (10mi) and I ran past an old folks home and saw people going in to visit or pick up their loved ones for the day. I cried for part of that run (and some others) while smiling because it made me think of my grandmother who passed away. Sometimes you see such beautiful moments while running. During those moments, I often think of her and miss her and know she's watching me and proud. She was a badass. I am one too.
Do you have a running mantra?
I don't think so, but I have started using one mantra I saw here to get me through tough runs or failing runs- one day I will no longer be able to run, today is not that day. (It's nicely GoT-ish.)
What’s your highest recorded weekly mileage?
48.3
What time of day do you prefer to run?
I'm very sporadic time-wise and have loved them all (dawn, morning, mid-day, afternoon, dusk, night, middle of the night) and have suffered tough runs at all times too.
Any big races coming up?
My first half is this Sunday (NYC half), my first full is NYC with Team for Kids
What are your short-term running goals?
Working on getting a sub 30 minute 5k time and to maintain my streak for this entire calendar year, get up to 50-60mpw, go sub-Oprah in my first full in the fall, spread prehab & other info to help convert & maintain lifetime runners, and I'd love to do <2:30 on Sunday in my half, but we'll see. What are your long-term running goals?
I want to BQ and I want that jacket. I'm a long, long, ways off from that, but I've never not eventually gotten anything I've put my mind to and I don't intend this to be my first defeat as long as I can help it.
What’s one piece of running advice you’d give to the younger version of yourself?
Train, try, your coaches might know a thing or two. Oh and I've got a nice copy/paste blurb for you to handle that shin splint issue.
What is something you need to work on to become a better runner?
Just need more miles, I think (but happy to hear any other advice).
What is your current shoe choice?
Torn between NB Vazee paces and Zantes (originals), but I also have a few ASICS and a pair of Kinvaras.
What’s your comfy pace?
11:50-12:50 when I started Hanson’s in November. I hope it's improved since then, but not sure.
Trail? Road? Or Treadmill?
Road (preferably pretty, car-less paths). Sometimes trail, but I get lost in thought & don't want to injure myself.
What is your ideal running weather?
I like it all- spring is gorgeous, or I can be a badass in the rain. Total badass in the cold (only way to not be cold and be outside for that long), and half-nekkid, sweaty, golden badass in the summer heat.
Do you have any social media accounts you’d like to share? [Facebook, Strava, Twitter]
My Strava and my Smashrun
###Just For Fun:
What’s your spirit animal?
A jaguar (a black one)- I could state reasons why, but really? Mostly because black, beautiful, and a badass
What hobbies and interests do you have besides running?
Belly dancing
Do you have any hidden talents?
Master of googling & knowing things (but not sure I hide that, so I'll say belly dancing)
Biggest pet peeve?
No time to care about petty stuff that much? Wait- no- overcooked meat/fish. I was a vegetarian for 10 years - please don't ruin my steak now that I'm eating it again.
What songs have you been listening to recently?
Current running favorites- Black widow, Chandelier, Take Me to Church, Bang Bang, Blank Space, Closer, Cheerleader, We Can't Stop, Sexy and I Know It, Bills. [I like songs that get to work, on whatever - torturing, partying, bragging, loving, handling bidness - just make me get it done.]
What are some of your favorite non-running subreddits?
There are non-running subs?
###One Last Question:
What is the origin of your username?
It's a combo of 2 of my other user names (a random celebrity name that ppl have shouted at me although I look nothing like her and one of my favorite characters in one of my favorite books).
So mysterious the Skragen is! As usual, please tag u/skragen's username when personally asking her a question in this thread! All responses come to my inbox and if you've not tagged her personally, she has to browse through all the comments one by one which can be a daunting task when there is a lot of visitors to the thread. Please don't forget that all of our Friday Spotlight athletes may need time to respond to your comments and questions so give them some time to reply. Heres to you Skragen!
####Thanks for reading!!!!
Previously Featured Spotlight Runners:
ATTENTION READERS!
I've been getting messages weekly from a lot of people asking to be featured in the Friday Spotlight Thread. My response to them is the same every time. I do not get to personally choose who is chosen for each thread. With exception to Palindrome27 (which I randomly chose to get this started), every runner thus far has been selected by the person before them. It's one of the perks of getting nominated. There is no list of names. No spreadsheet with columns and columns of usernames. Nothing. So for those confused, users like Philpips was chosen by Despoena. Despoena was chosen by Craigster38. So on and so on. You get the idea. Doing it this way eliminates the hassle of having to personally pick someone every week. This keeps me neutral. Some of you have expressed your opinion (via PM) on who's been featured this far claiming that I have only chosen runners who are fast, have been running for a while, or compete in longer distance races. This is simply luck of the draw. There is zero favoritism here. Each featured runner gets to personally pick someone they find interesting. I apply no pressure to the runners to pick a particular skill level of runner. This is the beauty of the process. If you want to be featured, you can up your chances of being chosen by being an active member of the subreddit. Comment as much as possible. Submit quality content. Provide as much as you can as a runner to help keep this community growing and I'm certain your efforts will not go unnoticed. Just keep tuning in and making friends and eventually it'll pay off if you want to be featured. Thank you.
Posted Mar 18, 2016, 11:42 AM UTC · edited