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Runner of the Month

Runner of the Month


Runner of the Month is a series of short interviews with various athletes from Focus-N-Fly to highlight their success and the motivation they use to keep running.

Eddie_Reyna_EATBEddie Reyna

Runner of the Month –June 2011

A self described “recovering workaholic who is trying to transfer it all to running,” Eddie is a 80 year-old retired physicist. Laid off from Lockheed a little over a year ago at age 79, he decided he could “now devote a proper amount of time to running, and study physics like I wanted.”  Unfortunately, he cheerfully explains that running has taken so much time and he feels so poorly organized that he sometimes wonders what he has done all day! Eddie grew up in Texas and after college, lived in DC and New Mexico among other places before being transferred by Lockheed to the Bay Area in 1987. As he tells it, “I’m a physicist.  There are only a certain amount of places where you can go!”  Married twice, Eddie has a blended family with several kids and grandkids.

This summer Eddie is entered in the World Masters Athletics Championships in the Marathon.

Coach: How did you start running?

ER: One night I was in the library stacks, and I came across Kenneth Cooper’s book – he runs a Dallas institute on aerobics and developed a point system for different types of cardivascular exercise.  I read his book, leaning against the bookshelves, and he convinced me!  I went down to the track at 2am, ran four laps in regular clothes and hush puppies, and that was it.  I ran many years in the Gulf Association [southern Texas regional association of USATF] and in 87, Lockheed transferred me here, so now I run in the Pacific Association.

Coach: Who is your running role model?

ER: Oh, I have a whole series of role models.  Any of the elite marathoners – when I see how far their legs return behind them when they run.  In 40 years of running...I really have a lot.   Tom Osler might be one.  He was one of the original ultra runner guys.  He ran races like 24 hours around a track and things like that.

Coach: What has been your most memorable running / racing experience?

ER:  2 or 3 of the Clarksburg 30Ks.  I probably got closer to racing a person than in any other race.  When I first came out here, I was not sure who they were, but I recognized them.  They were a lot younger than me but I was happy that I could keep up.

Another year, Sam Hirabayashi, who is a couple years older than me…we had been competing against each other for many years.  There was one race where we were within sight of each other for 15 miles, and then tried to put the hammer down on each other.  We don’t get to do that very often in the older age groups.

Coach: What have you enjoyed about working with Focus-N-Fly?

ER:   A couple of years ago, I realized I was having a hard time getting out the door and I recognized it as a real burnout.  I had never trained with anyone, but I started looking around online for training options and I am actually not sure how I found Focus-N-Fly.  It is so nice that I could join the twice weekly workouts, and be around the other runners.  The other nice thing that is that with the all the reading I have done over the years, I think that Tom has a really good approach to training, and I am finding myself very interested in trying the workouts. Some of them are different than anything I have ever done.

Coach: What is one part of your racing routine you can’t do without (sleep, pre race meal, tie shoes certain way, other ritual)?

ER: I am unbelievably methodical.  I don’t leave anything to chance.  I don’t think I have any great talents, except that I am extremely methodical.

Coach: What is your favorite place to go for a run?

ER: Before dawn, on a place like the Stevens Creek trail. I have never been much of an unpaved path runner.  Now, one of my favorite places is Cobb Track [where the FNF group meets].

Coach: In the next year, what goals do you hope to accomplish?

ER: I have never run a race at 80% rate age group grading [a sliding percentage scale based on the world record in a particular event relative to your age], and I think staying with FNF will help me do that.  My next goal race will be CIM.  I hope to get some respectable marathons.  I have had a couple of OK marathons, but my performances have never been as good as the half marathons and 30K’s,

 



Kennedy_EATBChristine again had an amazing performance, winning the women’s 55-59 age group at the Boston Marathon.  Although she didn’t quite hit her goal of surpassing the all time age group course record of 2:54:21, she improved her 2:57 of 2010 to 2:56 and it motivated her to come back and give it another go next year!

Recovering well and eyeing the World Masters Championship marathon in July, Christine took a few minutes out of her schedule to chat with us.

Coach:  I know you were close to your ultimate goal, but you had a really solid race.  How did you feel out there?

CK:  Well, I died in the last mile and a half.  Had absolutely nothing. Combination of being sick [prior to the race] and a few other things.  I had never felt that way before!  I was afraid to take the electrolyte fluid that day because it doesn’t agree with me and I didn’t want my stomach upset, but in hindsight, that wasn’t a good choice.

I made it to the finish line, and the only way I did it,  was because of what I did the day before.  I went to the finish line, and jogged backwards on the course out about a mile, before turning around and coming into the finish like I would on race day, trying to think about what it would feel like to finish under the banner.   When I got to the Citgo sign [traditional visual landmark on the course, a couple miles from the finish], it took everything I had to get to the finish, but I knew I wanted it.

 

Coach:  All the talk was about the wind producing fast times out there.  Did you feel the windy conditions?

CK: The wind at the beginning was a crosswind.  I was sweating a lot.  I didn’t feel like we had a tailwind, but I guess we did.

Coach:  You’ve talked about making the choice to run with the main field rather than start ahead with the women’s elite group.  How did that go this year?

CK: I was so happy to go at 10 and have all those people to run with,  and not go with the elite women [half an hour earlier].   I had a couple friends who ran solo like I did, behind the faster women in the elite field and ended up running 3:15 or 3:20.

Coach:  What is next on the calendar for you?

CK:  I want to go to the world masters championship and run the marathon.  I know it will be tough and it will be hot, but I think I will be ready to run another marathon.  I will plan to run some long runs on the course, do things like to go up there for a 20 miler on the course in the heat one evening [the competition will take place in Sacramento this July].

I will run for the US, which will be the first time for that.  We might have a US team, but we wouldn’t have had a team for Ireland [her native country].  So, I am looking forward it!

One of the things about the marathon is that you have people coming in that you have never heard of. So I never take it for granted and just try to prepare to run the best race I possibly can.

Coach:  Is Boston in the cards for next year and what did you learn with this effort?

CK: One of the things that I accomplished was that I went back to Boston with better turnover.  But I didn’t get enough long runs done…I got sick and didn’t get a half marathon. So, I feel like going back to Boston next year, I’d like to start preparing in December instead of January. Last year I was strong, but I didn’t have the turnover. I feel that I can go back next year and put the two together and go for 2:54 again.



Mosqueda_cropped

Edward Mosqueda is an East Bay resident who is running his first Zazzle Bay to Breakers on Sunday, May 15.  Keep your credit current, or else you might be speaking with him:  Edward spends his days as a bill collector!  He also finds time to occasionally usher at AT&T Park during Giants games.  Edward grew up in San Francisco and San Jose, attending Pinole Valley High School.  Still in his mid- twenties, he declares that he is “still too young for family!”

 

Coach: How did you start running?

EM:  I used to be more active in school, but was kind of in and out of the gym.  I always wanted to do the marathon, and started last year, probably September, around the time I got back from Mexico.  I had spent a month in Mexico, running there in Mexico City with my Uncle.  It is crazy high [altitude].  I was running and it felt like I was under water. I was chasing after my uncle.  He is a former boxer and has been active ever since he retired.  It shows!

 

Coach: Who is your running role model?

EM:  Just recently, I found out about [ultramarathoner] Dean Karnazes.  His story was kind of crazy -he was tired of his job and just decided to run from the city to Half Moon Bay one night!  I would say him, as of late.

Coach: What has been your most memorable running / racing experience?

EM:  This past one in Oakland, did the 5k [Oakland Running Festival]I .  I was going to do the half, but in the end decided to do the 5k.  My first one was the Kiwanis Napa 5K, but I showed up late.  That was a disaster.  I was much better prepared for the Oakland one.

Coach: What have you enjoyed about working with Focus-N-Fly?

EM: It has been interesting to see how the workouts have been set up.  I wish you had training runs in the East Bay!

Coach: What is one part of your racing routine you can’t do without (sleep, pre race meal, tie shoes certain way, other ritual)?

I’m not really a very organized person per se.  Before the Oakland race I had some good lasagna.  I’m not sure what I am actually going to wear on race day, since it is the whole “Bay to Breakers” thing!

Coach: What is your favorite place to go for a run?

EM:  I usually go local here to Point Pinole.  I do go to the gym and use the treadmill, but that’s about it.

Coach: In the next year, what goals do you hope to accomplish?

EM:   For this year, it was Bay to Breakers, and actually a couple days ago, I did a good 8 miles. For me that was pretty big.  So, going into the Bay to Breakers I feel confident.  Now, I am kind of looking past it, when before it was my goal to just finish it.  I’m also doing the Plate to Plate 5K, but my main goal is the (San Francisco) Half in July.



Jane Austin

Written by Dena Evans March 30, 2011
Austin_Pasadena

Jane Austin is 48 years old, married with 4 kids and one granddaughter.  One of her children is a 27 year-old sergeant in the Marines, one is a 25 year-old 1st grade teacher, one is a college student and her youngest is 9.  Jane has been a professional stuntwoman for 23 years who has lived in the LA area her whole life. Married to a stuntman, they have their own business, Hollywood Stuntworks, that manufactures fire gel and does rigging for movies and tv shows (think reality show challenges). You may have seen her in the Naked Gun movies, Star Trek Generations, Law and Order SVU, and other shows.  Her Husband did Pirates of the Caribbean and was on that set for 9 months last year.

 

Jane coaches cross country at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, and assists with her son’s club track team, Santa Clarita Storm, as well.  With her sister, she just completed the LA Marathon on Sunday March 20th.

 

 

Coach: How did you start running?

JA: I did track in high school, and actually made it to state twice.  I went to Corvallis High school (small school), but was a sprinter.  Being a stuntwoman, I had to stay in shape, so did every single thing -  spinning, martial arts, etc, but didn’t get into running until about 6 years ago. My sister got into half marathons, doing one for her 50th birthday.  It turned into our every other month sister activity, and all of a sudden, two marathons later and who knows how many 5ks and 10ks later, I’m hooked.  My first marathon was LA last year, and my sister didn’t even do it with me…I just wanted to run the course, growing up in LA all these years.  And now, I’m the head cross country coach at my son’s school and he signed up for a club in Santa Clarita valley with me coaching his division.  My husband runs with us also- the last four weekends, we’ve had three races.  Last weekend, we were getting into the car at 5am and were just looking at each other saying, hey, this is what we do for our family activities!

 

Coach: Who is your running role model?

JA: It is my sister, Kim. I come from a family of nine kids.  Out of the nine of us, I am probably the most athletic.  My sister is a pastry chef and can basically make anything out of chocolate.  She made up her mind to do this running thing, and she got me doing it, at my age!  When she did her first one, I was like “Why? That is what cars are for!”  Now, we are out there in the pouring rain last weekend.  She was really the one who got me to break 5 hours.

 

Coach: What has been your most memorable running / racing experience?

JA: To date, it has got to be the marathon last Sunday.  We had some of our family members meet us at certain points along the course. At the end, my son, my brother in law, my niece, and my husband all ran parts of it with me. Running through the puddles, it felt like you already had your ice pack before the race was over.

Coach: What have you enjoyed about working with Focus-N-Fly?

JA: I love FNF because my schedule often changes.  I do tae-kwon-do, other activities, and all I have to do is just tell the schedule to have it change.  I don’t have the knowledge to know what I need to do- the mileage, etc.  I‘ve had personal trainers.  Countless personal trainers, actually!  But FNF is like having a personal trainer, it is so customized to me.

 

Coach: What is one part of your racing routine you can’t do without (sleep, pre race meal, tie shoes certain way, other ritual)?

JA: My thing is that I have to have a banana and a cup of coffee when I wake up on race day.  Have to. That is religious for me.  I have this counter in our mud room with everything laid out perfectly – Garmin, shoes, number pinned on my shirt.  As long as that is all laid out and my automatic coffee maker set, then I can go to bed. If I don’t have everything laid out like that, I can’t sleep.

 

Coach: What is your favorite place to go for a run?

JA: My most favorite place I have ever run was Hyde Park in London.  I looked at my Garmin and it said 5 miles, and I thought I had run one.  But my favorite routine run that I run all the time… Pt Mugu State Park.  It is really tough, with breath taking views from the top.  Just beautiful!!!

 

Coach: In the next year, what goals do you hope to accomplish?

JA: My best time in the half is a 2:01, so I really want to focus on the half in the near future.  My sister just signed up for CIM [California International Marathon] in Folsom, but marathons are so long to train for! My next half is a Cinco de Mayo in Irvine, and a Memorial Day one in Laguna.  By that time, I will probably sign up for another marathon, probably the one with my sister.  But then a friend of mine was talking about a triathlon, so who knows!



Jane Langridge

Written by Dena Evans February 28, 2011
Jane is 47 years old and grew up in London, England.  She has one sister and three brothers.  Her parents, sister and two of her brothers still live in the UK and one brother lives with his family in Australia. Jane moved to San Francisco in 1997 for work-related reasons.  Initially, she was planning on staying for a year or two but soon fell in love with the city and the Bay Area and decided to stay.  Jane finally became an American citizen in May of 2010.  She lives with her spouse, Louise, in the Bernal Heights area of the city with their two dogs, Byron and Poe.

This spring, Jane is gearing up for the 100th Bay to Breakers 12K, in part by attending our group training runs.

Coach: How did you start running?

JL: Running is a very new sport for me. In truth, I only started running this year!

Coach: Who is your running role model?

JL: Unlike many runners, I really don't have a running role model. That said, I was initially inspired to run and continue to be encouraged and supported by Valerie Azinheira, a marathon runner and Boot Camp SF Trainer.

Coach: What has been your most memorable running / racing experience?

JL: My most memorable running experience was actually a training with Focus and Fly. I had just started running and attended the first Crissy Fields Bay to Breakers training session. As a new runner was pretty daunted by the prospect of joining 'real runners'. Within a very short time, Tom and Kate made me feel so comfortable and capable that I was encouraged to run further and at a pace that I had never achieved before.

Coach: What have you enjoyed about working with Focus-N-Fly?

JL: As above. The trainers are completely genuine.

Coach: What is one part of your racing routine you can’t do without (sleep, pre race meal, tie shoes certain way, other ritual)?

JL: I'm definitely particular about how I tie my shoe laces!

Coach: What is your favorite place to go for a run?

JL: Yountville, Napa. The scenery and air are spectacular.

Coach: In the next year, what goals do you hope to accomplish?

JL: To complete Bay to Breakers in May and then in the 70 mile Tahoe Relay in June.



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