Fitspo Friday: Jennifer Goodale a/k/a @IRunThere4Iam

Today’s Fitspo Friday Feature is Jennifer R Goodale
Follow her on @irunthere4iam Twitter
She’s on Facebook: irunthere4iam
Make sure to check out her blog at runningforreagan.blogspot.com

Q: Have you always lived a healthy fit lifestyle?
My mother’s diet life could be compared to Oprah’s! Growing up with such an unhealthy attitude towards food and no example with regard to exercise (from either mom or dad), we were lucky enough to turn to sports at an early age and developed a healthy fit lifestyle. (Don’t get me wrong, our parents were AWESOME! Just not too into eating tofu or running 4 miles:). When college rolled around, I was preparing to join the Marine Corps through the ROTC program and also rowing at UNC-Chapel Hill. This prevented the freshman 15 and I have managed to maintain a relatively healthy lifestyle over the past 10 years.

Q: What keeps you going, motivated?
Two things in particular keep me going.
1 – Feeling “in shape” and liking the way my clothes fit. I don’t have a job (SAHM) that earns income, so I don’t have the luxury of buying new clothes should my old ones cease to fit. This is incentive to stay at a steady weight. But it’s more than that, I love it when 3 miles seems like a warm up and running isn’t a chore, but a thing I GET to do.
And 2 – Remembering just how miserable it is to have to get back “in shape.” When my baby turned 3 months old, I ran a 1/2 marathon. Then, I spent the next 3 months doing nothing. No running, no gym time, just eating junk foods over the holidays. When I finally got back in the game by joining a running club, it was agony. 3 miles took me 34 minutes (and I was used to 25 minutes or less). I never want to feel that way again.

Q: What is your favorite workout?
Track workout: 1 mile warm up, 2 x 800m @ RP, 4 x 400m @ RP with a partner. Switch on and off so your rest time is clearly defined.

Q: What are some of your goals?
To run another marathon. I have completed 2 marathons in my life, but they were run back when I didn’t even like the sport. I’d like to try my hand at it with actual training. To run a sub-21 5k.

Q: What are some of your accomplishments or things you’re proud of?
I’m proud of my service in the Marine Corps. I completed nearly 7 years, and if my husband and I didn’t want a family, I’d probably still be in. I’m proud of my ability to hold down the fort as a single mom when my husband is deployed for 7-month spurts. It’s not always easy, but I think I’ve kept a pretty relaxed attitude through it all. And I’m proud of my most recent stroller 10k PR – 46:22.

Q: What is one random fact we should know about you?
I absolutely hate even numbers. When the training plan calls for a 4-miler, I have to tack on an extra .1 just so it’s not an even distance. Yes, I’m totally insane.

Q: What words of advice would you like to leave the readers?
Quit spending all your time preparing for life. Life is what’s happening right now. Worry less, laugh more. I promise, it’s a good way to approach this crazy world.