Blogger On The Run: The Sweet Life
Ericka from The Sweet Life is the latest Women's Running Blogger On The Run. Find out how she broke the 4-hour mark at a recent marathon...
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This week’s Women’s Running magazine Blogger On The Run recently achieved a shiny new PR and broke the 4-hour mark at the Marine Corps Marathon! Meet Erika from The Sweet Life – she’s a marathoner who dedicates her time to helping others (both through her blog and volunteering for the organization Back On My Feet). Read Ericka’s story and find out why her favorite running memory is a family affair. . .
Women’s Running: How would you describe yourself?
Ericka: I’m a happy, passionate and compassionate person and I try display all those things on my blog. Running is a huge part of my life and has part of inspiring me in so many areas. I love marathons but I also love Crossfit and working with Back on My Feet — an organization dedicated to helping recovering addicts and homeless through running.
WR: How did you begin running?
E: I began running to lose weight but years later, when I began signing up for races, I began to really love it.
WR: What keeps you running and training?
E: There is nothing like the feeling of crossing the finish line of a marathon. Running marathons represents overcoming so many challenges in life. Training is part of the excitement – it’s the journey to accomplishing more than you ever thought you could.
WR: What type of run is your favorite?
E: Long runs are probably my favorite – for the overall benefit. Though I sometimes dread them, I get so much out of them mentally, physically and even spiritually. I always feel revived and focused after a good long run.
WR: What’s your favorite race memory?
E: One of my favorite race memories is preparing for and running the 2011 Marine Corps Marathon with my Mom. It’s so cool to me that we are a running family and the fact that she came to DC – my home – to run with me was awesome.
WR: What do you hope your readers will get from reading your blog?
E: Most of all, I want people to feel encouraged and inspired. I’m not the fastest runner but I keep trying. I document my failures and successes – not only in running but in other parts of my life. People find a real woman with real issues here. I strive to keep a positive outlook on life in general and I hope my readers also feel they have met a new friend when they read The Sweet Life.
WR: How do you reward yourself for accomplishing your training/running goals?
E: The reward is usually just knowing I did it! But I also will spend money on better training clothes or things I think will help me improve. I used to have almost no real running clothes and now I have SO many! I don’t feel bad about investing in the right clothes when I’m working my butt off.
WR: Best running advice you’ve received or given?
E: Train well and trust your training when you get to the starting line. Rest easy knowing you’ve done all you can do and give it your best.
Want to read more? Head over to The Sweet Life!
Ericka boosted her strength training with a dose of cross fit – what kind of cross training do you enjoy most?
GIVEAWAY ALERT!
We love our Women’s Running magazine Blogger On The Run so much that we want to inspire you to check her out! Simply leave a comment below telling us what you think about Ericka’s story and you’ll be entered to win a one-year subscription to Women’s Running magazine.
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