Cassie’s Pre-Race Pulse
Cassie is a fellow University of Michigan alumni who I met when our fraternity and sorority were paired for Greek Week. We performed an awesome A Capella version of Mr. Brightside by The Killers. She is still seeing the bright side of things and is out to running in Chicago these days. Cassie was the first to respond to my survey and graciously answered some extra questions about the charity she is running for and her running team.
Q1: What are 3 words which best describe running to you?
Dedication, Perseverance, Victory
Q2: How many marathons have you run?
This is my first.
Q3: What attracted or inspired you to run the Chicago Marathon this year?
I watched the marathon as a spectator last year, and watch my boyfriend finish the race and be so elated. I’m excited to have that same feeling as I cross the finish line.
Q4: What do you hope to gain from this year’s marathon? Any personal goals?
I hope to gain a sense of “I can do anything” by finishing the race. I’m just hoping to finish under 5 hours with the ankle tendonitis issues the past few weeks.
Q5: Are you running for a cause? If so, what would you like to share about the experience?
I’m running for Chicago Youth Centers. It’s been wonderful to get to meet some of the children I’m raising funds for. Really brings it home. At the start of the year I was still working for Career Builder, and they got a group together to run for Chicago Youth Centers. They are a big reason I signed up this year. I have been a runner for a while, but a marathoner? I was unsure at best. Running for a cause helped convince me to sign up.
To learn more about Cassie’s cause or to donate please visit: http://teamcyc.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1065270&lis=1&kntae1065270=577F40EB5EAE4D839E61CCA352A98984&supId=384425648&team=0&nmv=true
Q6: Can you tell me about the running team you train with?
I train with Track and Trough Athletic Union (TTAU). They are all Chicago area runners, the name comes from the running meeting points (north park track for speed workouts and the “trough” along the lakefront path for long runs). I got involved because my boyfriend runs with them. We enjoy it because it is an “everyone is welcome that loves to run” team. When he and I started dating, I was just kind of “merged in”. Before I signed up for the marathon my longest race was a 10k. Now I’ve done 3 half marathons and the soldier field 10 mile with the team.
For more information about TTAU, visit: http://www.trackandtrough.com/
Q7: What was the hardest part of training for you?
The hardest part of training has been the injuries. I’ve had tendinitis issues throughout training, and staying motivated has been difficult given this.
Q8: What is the funniest thing that has happened to you while training for the marathon?
I fell flat on my face during the first mile of the Chicago Half. I can laugh about how ridiculous I must have looked re-pinning my bib and continuing on, now that it’s over.
Q9: Will you be listening to music while you run the marathon?
I’ve been transitioning away from listening to music if I can, and enjoying the sounds outdoors. If I do listen to music though, I run with Pandora and usually leave on the Robyn station. Gets me pumped.
Good luck Cassie! I hope the ankle holds up and you cross that finish line with that same big smile on your face! Keep posted for Cassie’s post-race interview.