Continuing forward from the 10 Running Relation Questions started on Another Mother Runner, I am profiling some of my mother runner friends who don’t have a blog. These girls are my friends in real life, have been a motivation for me to start and continue to be an inspiration to me.

Last time, we met Ashley, a BAMR running in Phoenix Heat with a Double Stroller. Today, I am introducing you to Michaela, another military wife and mom to Will (6) and Evan (3). Diagnosed with Type II diabetes while pregnant with Evan, she made the decision to turn things around. She got moving. And move she did !! Starting with a 10k, a half marathon and then a full marathon! All in incredible time. Undergoing an amazing transformation from couch to athlete. Michaela has been an amazing inspiration for me to stick to my goals and to bounce back if I’ve got off-track.

Best Run Ever – I ran Cade’s Cove in the Smoky Mountain National Park last March while preparing for the Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon. 22 miles of really, really tough hills. I ran with 3 of my friends and it was just an amazing run. The hardest training run I have ever completed. I felt like a hero after I finished it – 22 miles at close to marathon pace on a really, really tough route. Now, if only the marathon had gone that well.

Three Words to describe my running: Mine, freedom, accomplishment

My go-to running outfit – I’m not certain I have one. I am always wrestling with my running clothes, trying to decide what I’m happy with wearing. In the winter, it is Under Armour winter weight tights and a jacket. I am not 100% happy with anything I wear in the summer. I love my Athleta skirts, but not for long runs.

Quirky habit while running: I do math in my head to make the miles go faster. Which is really funny, because I am terrible at math. If I’m running a half marathon, I use even numbers. After the first 2 miles, I tell myself “I only have to do that 5 more times, plus the extra 1.1 which is just the icing on the cake.” Then after 3 miles, I say “I only have to do that 3 more times, plus the icing on the cake”. It keeps me entertained and breaks the run into small blocks. Or layers, like a cake. Mmm….cake.

Morning, Midday, Evening: Mid-morning for me. Once I can get my preschooler dropped off at 9 – I hit the road. Super early on Saturdays. I love to run with my friends and that will get me out of bed early.

I won’t run outside when it is: HOT – I crumble in the heat.

Worst injury and how I got over it – Early in my running career – before my first 1/2 marathon – I had some swelling in my ankle/Achilles. I went to the wonderful people at Fleet Feet and I was fitted for the correct shoes (Brooks Adrenaline) and I have been running injury free since.

I did have to stop a 20 mile training run short last spring for terrible pain in my hip, but I wasn’t injured. Lots of foam rolling fixed that issue.

I felt most like a BAMR: In Napa just last week. I participated in my first Ragnar Relay with a bunch of my friends. I’ve never competed as a team at anything in my life – I never played a team sport as a kid or in high school/college. It was amazing to be a part of a team, working towards a common goal. Not to mention, not many people get a chance to run an overnight endurance event – our team completed the 200 mile relay in just over 27 hours.

Michaela’s Ragnar Relay Team at Napa – “Wine-y and We Know it” placed 2nd in their division!!

My next race: The Savannah Rock and Roll 1/2 marathon. That course holds my half marathon PR of 1:54:28. I wonder if I can break that record?

Potential Running Goal for 2013: I have a few – to run the Goofy Challenge in January with my husband and one of my best friends. Also, to run another marathon for time. After my last marathon, I’m a little gun shy about doing it again. I’d like to finally run a 1,000 mile year too.

Michaela is sure to meet her goals and have the best fun time at Goofy!