Friday Spotlight: LeastBadOption
Hey readers! We've put in another week of life so let's reward ourselves appropriately with another new Spotlight. Today's athlete is coming to us from the west coast of the US so she'll be joining us here soon to answer everyone's questions. She's one more name that you've probably seen coming and going in our subreddit and I'm finally glad we get to feature her. Ladies and gentlemen get ready for this week's featured Spotlight runner... u/LeastBadOption!
Let's do this...
###The Runner:
First Name?
Stefanie
Age?
32
Where are you from?
SF Bay area
Occupation?
Speech Pathologist (May is Better Speech and Hearing Month, so go hug your friendly local SLP!)
###Running Q&A's:
What are your PR’s?
5k: 23:50
10k: 1:00:30 (training run)
What is your distance PR?
7 miles
What’s your highest recorded weekly mileage?
22 miles
What’s your comfy pace?
Varies anywhere between 9:30 and 10:30 these days
How long have you been running?
Off and on since 2010
Tell us why you began running?
I always wanted to be a runner. I don't know why, it just seemed cool. But my first attempt to start running (in 2007) was a total disaster! I went to a running shop, where the owner told me I had "the worst overpronation" he'd seen in his 25 years of running the shop. So he set me up with motion control shoes + inserts for flat feet, and I tried to buy into it. But it was like running with cinderblocks attached to my feet. I got the worst shin splints and achy knees, so I stopped running for a long time. In 2010, a friend introduced me to Vibram FiveFingers, which changed my (running) life. No pain, no shin splints, just glorious miles.
Most memorable running moment?
My very first 5k race was pretty memorable. I was terrified, it was 28 degrees out, it was a hilly course, and I had no idea how I was going to do. I felt awesome during the race though, and clocked in with a 24:44 (three minutes faster than I'd ever run in training) and won my age group! I think I got a $5 gift card to the local running store (that I never used) as my prize. I also have several great memories of silly things that have been shouted at me while running. Once I was walking home from a cold, rainy run and a guy yelled "you right gon' catch pneumonia!" Another time, a guy quacked at me.
Do you have a running mantra?
I am my own biggest cheerleader while running. One thing that frequently comes up is something like, "it's only 3 miles! You can run 3 miles backwards with your eyes closed!" If I'm really tired, it'll be something like "just run easy, just run easy."
What time of day do you prefer to run?
Morning! The earlier, the better (as long as it's reasonably light outside)
Any big races coming up?
No, I'm on the DL right now. :( I had planned to do a 10 miler in Dublin in August, but that's looking less and less likely.
What are your short-term running goals?
Get back on the road! Being injured sucks. It's been a whole month since I've been able to run (other than a handful of 1-mile runs) and I hate it. My PT said I can start doing trial runs again, though. Once I'm back running, my short-term goal is 10k under 60 minutes.
What are your long-term running goals?
I don't have a lot of specific long term goals. Get and stay healthy. Run at least one half marathon and one marathon. Do a triathlon.
What’s one piece of running advice you’d give to the younger version of yourself?
Listen to your feet. You know how when you were doing sports, you always had cleats on and ran on your forefeet? Yeah, keep doing that. (Okay maybe don't run on the sidewalk with cleats on.) Don't try to fix things that aren't broken. Also, you're an athlete. You were always an athlete. Don't let college turn you into a lazy blob.
What is something you need to work on to become a better runner?
Muscle imbalances, for one. My left quad is a lot more built up than my right, but my right leg is a lot stronger than my left. I think if I can get that sorted out, it'll be a big help. I also need to figure out how to be more comfortable running in "warmer" weather (like, 60 degrees+).
What is your current shoe choice?
Nike Free Flyknit. Prior to that I was in the Free 3.0 which I liked better. I finally splurged for shoes in a "normal" color (black) rather than going with the bright-colored shoes that are usually on sale.
Trail? Road? Track? Or Treadmill?
Road, although the only trail running I've ever done was with the Hash House Harriers a few years ago, so maybe I would like it if I tried it again. On on!
What is your ideal running weather?
45 degrees, light rain
###Just For Fun:
What’s your spirit animal?
This is a hard one. Maybe a mimic octopus? I like to think I am clever and a little bit confusing to observers, and I know I can come across as standoffish (but hopefully not dangerous like a poisonous fish). Plus they're just really darn cool. I mean, look how it can change its texture! Don't you want to change your texture?
What hobbies and interests do you have besides running?
I have plenty of hobbies/interests that I'm not very good at, but I am good at knitting! I'm a little slow at it, but I don't think there's anything I couldn't knit and knit well if I had enough time. I'm an okay swimmer, and I love biking (thus my goal for a triathlon). I'm also trying to learn to like cooking. I love surfing, but I suck at it (it's an accomplishment to stay up on my feet for 3 seconds or so, but holy heck is it fun). And I love baseball (GO NATS!).
Do you have any hidden talents?
Not that I know of. Could be they are just really well hidden. Or, wait, maybe here's one: I'm really good at packing things into small spaces (like putting all your stuff in the car when you're moving). This is a reasonably useful skill, except when it comes to things like packing boxes or suitcases, because then they get too heavy.
Biggest pet peeve?
This isn't really a pet peeve, but I have an irrational hatred of walking/running in the wind. I don't know why. Also spiders in the shower. Like, what the heck are you doing in there? Now I have to rescue you before I can take a shower.
Dream job! What would it be?
In a previous life it would have been professional athlete. Now my dream job would just be something I'm really, really good at. I think I secretly want to be famous, or at least well known. Or maybe a bartender-slash-brandy snob at a hipster craft bar.
Favorite Quote or Poem?
I love Wallace Stevens, especially Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird.
What is your favorite movie?
I don't really like movies, although I do like Hitchcock and some Kubrick films. If I had to pick, Strangers on a Train is pretty good (and Throw Momma From the Train is my secret, horrible guilty pleasure).
What is your biggest character flaw?
Do I have to pick just one? I can be aggressive. I obsess over things. I complain a lot (hello, Thursday complaint thread). And I'm really, really hard on myself.
What songs have you been listening to recently?
I've been on a big Modest Mouse kick recently, as well as my ongoing love affair with the Avett Brothers, so that and a variety of things that play on my Pandora stations seeded by Modest Mouse and the Avett Brothers (uh, that's two different stations, not one seeded by both). Tiny Cities Made of Ashes will always be one of my favorite MM songs and for TAB some of my current favorites are Live and Die and Satan Pulls the Strings. Basically, I could listen to Seth Avett sing just about anything and be happy. Have I mentioned I love the Avett Brothers?
What are some of your favorite non-running subreddits?
I don't contribute much elsewhere, but r/nationals, r/tattoos, r/baseball. And r/peoplefuckingdying is always good for a giggle.
###One Last Question:
What is the origin of your username?
I couldn't think of any good options, so I went with the least bad option.
That's it folks! Have a great weekend and enjoy the miles.
####Thanks for reading everyone!
#Please tag u/LeastBadOption when asking a question in this thread.
Previously Featured Spotlight Runners:
ATTENTION READERS!
I've been getting some more messages recently 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 of people. 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. Quite frankly, you're wrong. Being chosen 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 May 12, 2017, 11:48 AM UTC