Friday Spotlight: TheOnlyCaveat
Happy Friday! I'm having some weird internet connection issues this morning so making this brief because it's cutting in and out.
Today's featured runner is finally getting her shot at the weekly thread. She's been a familiar name for a few years now and I'm personally glad she's being highlighted today. I've always been curious about the person behind the name. I can't believe we hadn't seen her Spotlit yet so today's the day. Ladies and gents... u/TheOnlyCaveat!
Let's do this...
###The Runner:
First Name?
Nicole
Age?
30
Where are you from?
Sonoma County in Northern California
Occupation?
Currently a stay at home mother, but in the next couple of years I'm going to be working on getting a nursing degree.
###The Running Q&A's:
What are your PR’s?
Some of these may not be quite accurate as I haven't had Strava all that long and I don't have everything written down somewhere, but Strava says...
- Mile: 7:07 (I think my actual mile PR is 6:40-something)
- 5k: 23:48
- 10k: 50:45
- Half marathon: 2:02:15 (actual PR before Strava was 1:54:xx during a training run.)
- Marathon: 4:14:25 (Strava has 6hr+ but I have a chip timed race with the four hour time)
What is your distance PR?
30 miles. I was training for Lake Sonoma 50 and it was my longest training run. I had a great run but the next day my psoas major (hip muscle) was just completely wrecked. I had to stop running for a while and then found out I was pregnant and dropped from the race entirely.
What’s your highest recorded weekly mileage?
60.5 miles
What’s your comfy pace?
Before I got pregnant it would bounce around at about 8:45 - 9:15. Now, at 5.5 months pregnant and running in the summer heat it's more like 10:30 - 11.
How long have you been running?
I started running in April of 2015, soooo a bit over 2 years.
Tell us why you began running?
I had my second child in January 2015. I was unhappy with my weight and started walking, which was OK but I figured if I moved faster I could lose weight faster. I found C25K and the rest is history, I suppose. It sucked at first. My shoes were too small and I felt bad telling my husband I needed to spend $120 on running shoes when I wasn't even sure it was something I was going to stick with. But he was super supportive and told me to go to the local running store and buy whatever shoes I liked. He believed in me when I didn't really even believe in myself and he is still supports me 100%.
Most memorable running moment?
There are so many...running my first marathon was obviously a big one. It started out pretty good and at mile 13 I got the envy of all race photos but not long after that I started deteriorating pretty quickly (I hardly drank any water and hardly took in any calories, I think maybe 2 gels before about mile 17). The last 10k took me about 80 minutes, I was just falling apart - walking, stopping, doubling over trying to cry but the tears wouldn't come. I was so mad at myself and I just knew that marathon running was not for me. Maybe 2 miles from the finish, this woman about my age is struggling along and she's got some guy with her cheering her on, like, "You can do this, come on. Don't stop. The only way the pain will stop is to finish this thing!" She kept complaining that her knees hurt and for some reason that was annoying me haha. She tried to stop next to me and the guy said, "No stopping. Just run. Let's finish this thing!" And then he pointed at me and said, "You too! Let's go" And I don't know what it was about that, but it fucking charged me up and I stood up straight and said, "OK." And I ran the rest of the way. So, to that guy, thank you. That was a big moment for me and it really embodies what the running community is like to be a part of. I finished 37 minutes behind my goal time, completely dehydrated, shivering and miserable. But I finished! And then 8 weeks later I ran another marathon on a way more challenging course in 4:14:xx.
Do you have a running mantra?
It used to be "Earn your beer, bitch." Now it's "Do what's best for your baby" which is much kinder and reminds me to listen to my body and not push my pace while still encourages me to get out and run my miles, because I know that continuing to run really is good for a healthy pregnancy. But, to be honest, I'm looking forward to the "Earn your beer, bitch" runs.
What time of day do you prefer to run?
Morning. I like running fasted, I like the quietness of it, and I like getting it done when I'm feeling motivated in the morning so I don't have to drag myself out for a sub-par effort in the evening.
Any big races coming up?
I'm running the Water to Wine half marathon in about a week (August 6th). It's not really a big race because I'm pregnant so I don't have any crazy goals I'm trying to hit. My A goal is to run it faster than I ran the first half marathon I did nearly two years ago in 2:20:xx. My B goal is to not pee my shorts. Maybe I should switch those.
What are your short-term running goals?
I'd like to keep running through my entire pregnancy. I know women who say they ran the very same day they went into labor. I'd like to do that. I know that sometimes things happen that are out of your control, but I'd like to run as long as I can. Post-baby goals for next year are to run a sub-4 hour marathon and to win a local 5k race.
What are your long-term running goals?
I'd like to qualify for Boston. I don't know that I'll have the money to actually go to Boston, but to get a qualifying time would be great. Also, that damn Lake Sonoma 50 race. I was pretty much devastated when I had to drop it when I found out I was pregnant. I'm hoping 2019 is my year to get that done. And, long long term, I'd love love love to run Western States.
What’s one piece of running advice you’d give to the younger version of yourself?
Do some damn speed work, woman. And squats. And also, stop eating gluten. You should not be afraid you might shit your pants every time you run. Maybe go see a doctor about that. (I still haven't seen a doctor about that.)
What is something you need to work on to become a better runner?
I still need to focus on strength training and speed work. They are both things I enjoy but I think I'm just uncertain about how to go about it. My PRs are pretty unimpressive, and I know I've got a lot more in me. I'd like to fulfill that potential.
What is your current shoe choice?
I lucked out with my trail shoes, the first pair I bought have proven to be everything I could hope for. They are the Saucony Peregrine 6s and I love everything about them. I have a narrow heel and a wide forefoot, which has caused problem for pretty much every road shoe I've tried (yep, even Altras give me blisters at the widest part of my foot). I've never had a single problem with my Peregrines, and I have used them for all my trail miles including my 20+ mile rain storm run/swim and my longest run ever of 30 miles on rugged trails. Love those damn shoes.
My road shoes are a different stories. I've run a lot more on roads than I have on trails. I liked my Altras a lot, I wanted to love them, but they'd give me blood blisters. Right now I'm running in Hoka Claytons, which are really really good. They're still not my dream shoe, but I'm getting closer. I think I need to experiment with the Hokas some more and find the perfect shoe.
Trail? Road? Track? Or Treadmill?
You know, I really love the trail and the road about the same amount. Everyone told me that once I started running trails I'd never want to run on the road again, but I just haven't found that to be true. I do love the trails - the scenery, the nature, the technical aspect of it all, but I also like to just get into a comfortably hard pace and just float over the road and let my mind wander. They both really really appeal to me. The track is something that I do love on occasion, but my town's high school track is kept locked up. When I do get in there, though, I love doing track work type stuff. Intervals are very fun and rewarding. Treadmill? Uh, no fucking thank you.
What is your ideal running weather?
Low 50s. Cloudy. This also happens to be my ideal snuggle up in bed weather, though, so that can be hard.
Do you have any social media accounts you’d like to share? [Facebook, Strava, Twitter]
###Just For Fun:
What’s your spirit animal?
I have a tattoo of a sloth on my arm and I like to joke that that's my spirit animal, but it's more like an animal I admire how chill they are. Sloths are just fun creatures. My spirit animal, like an animal who I connect with and see myself in, would have to be something much more volatile. Probably a tiger.
What hobbies and interests do you have besides running?
I don't really have any other hobbies. I spent many of my teen and adult years trying to find a hobby because I dealt with depression, insecurity, eating disorders, etc and I knew I needed something to be into that would keep me occupied and out of trouble. When I started running I knew I had finally found that and honestly it's been my only hobby since I was a child collecting horse figurines.
All sort of science-y stuff interests me. The human body in particular. Nutrition is something I spend a fair amount of time reading about. I became vegan about two years ago and started learning about the health benefits of a whole foods, plant-based diet. I also wanted to make sure that I was getting all the nutrients I needed being vegan, particular one who runs and is in my child-bearing years. And most importantly I wanted to be absolutely certain that raising my children on a vegan diet was going to be healthy for them. So I learned a lot about nutrition. Booze also interests me, at the risk of sounding like an alcoholic. I miss having a really well-made beer or cocktail. For any cocktail drinkers out there, check out Death and Co: Modern Classic Cocktails.
Do you have any hidden talents?
Uh, I'm not sure I even have any obvious talents...
Biggest pet peeve?
Oh, basic stuff... People who don't use their blinkers. People who don't return the shopping cart to the store front or corral. My husband always puts garbage and recycling stuff on the counter by the sink. The trach can is under the sink and the recycling bin is right next to it. But he just puts his stuff on the counter. I have no idea why he does this.
Dream job! What would it be?
I don't know! I'm really hoping that I'm going to love being a nurse.
Favorite Quote or Poem?
I love Lewis Carroll. "The Jabberwocky" and "The Walrus and the Carpenter" are both really fun. Also, John Lennon's poem "I Sat Belonely" holds a special place in my heart.
What is your favorite movie?
I can't pick one, but Coen brother's have many that I love. Just depends on my mood.
What is your biggest character flaw?
Aaaah, hahaha. Hmm, if I'm being perfectly honest here, I have some pretty bad ones. I'm prone to fits of rage. I'm much better than I used to be, but even as a small child, I would just get worked up into these uncontrollable explosions of anger. I've put so many holes in walls I can't even count them all. I can usually feel them building up over a few days or hours, and then something totally insignificant like walking into a messy room will just set me off. I used to take the rage out on myself because it was easier to hide than breaking things around the house, and I'm sure it has a lot to do with the fact that I became a drug addict for a few years. I've gotten therapy and all that, although I'm not sure the therapy was really as effective as just growing up and dealing with it on my own. Running helps, of course, and being in a really healthy supportive relationship. I'm not sure I would call this a "Just for fun" question hahaha.
What songs have you been listening to recently?
The Lumineer's "Ophelia", the songs "You're Welcome" and "Shiny" from Moana (the latter was written by Jemaine Clement and yes it's a kid's movie but that song is fuckin' awesome), and that entire album "Straight Line" by Pete Bernhard. A lot of you probably aren't familiar with Pete Bernhard, he is the frontman for the group "The Devil Makes Three." Here's a couple songs I really like from his album Straight Line.
What are some of your favorite non-running subreddits?
I spend about 90% of my Reddit time on r/Running, but sometimes I get really into the Ask Reddit threads. AMAs are fun, and I like the science stuff like ELI5 and Ask Science. Occasionally I browse r/Vegan but I usually regret it because there is so much drama over there.
###One Last Question:
What is the origin of your username?
I've been Redditing for maybe four years and this is my second username. I was getting harassed on my original account about some things I had said about some regrettable years when I was a drug addict, so I wanted a clean start. I think it was on Reddit that I saw someone say, "The only caveat is...blah blah" and I don't remember what the hell they were talking about but I remember they sounded very smart. Not long after that I heard (or maybe read on reddit again) someone talking about how if you use the work "caveat" everyone thinks you're smart. So here I am.
That's it folks! Have a great weekend and enjoy the miles.
####Thanks for reading everyone!
#Please tag u/TheOnlyCaveat 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. Just browse the table of previous athletes above and you'll see that a wide variety of runners have been on display. 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 Jul 28, 2017, 12:00 PM UTC