Welcome to PhD Strides! I am the 25 year old PhD Student behind the running, triathloning, training and other nonsense that ends up on the blog.
I moved to the Bay Area in 2010 to start a PhD program in Economics. With a love for racing already brewing in my blood, the move to the land of plentiful races just made my love for it worse stronger. I mean who wouldn’t want to run, cycle or race all day and night with views like this?
Anyway, I was born & raised a Midwestern girl, which is where I spent the first 24 years of my life. And, though I might be a California girl now, my roots and a large part of my heart will always belong to the Midwest, usually on the ski hill or on the water.
The random facts:
- I play the oboe. I am the ‘poster child’ of a band geek. I embrace it
- I tore my ACL playing soccer in 2002 when I was 15. I’ve since had two knee surgeries to repair it (last one 2005).
- I am a lifetime Girl Scout. And proud of of it. But no, I don’t sell Girl Scout cookies. Sorry to disappoint.
- I started downhill & water skiing when I was 3. I had my first downhill ski accident when I was 4. I raced cross-country skiing in high school. And no, I haven’t lost my minds, just my sense of touch.
- I speak fluent Spanish, after 4 glasses of wine.
- I live a dairy free, mostly gluten free life. Its mostly gluten free, because I’m a grad student, and a staple of the diet is beer. Its at least 1 meal/day.
- I live to travel and I travel to live. I seriously spend all disposable income on trips.
- I hated running until 2006. You couldn’t have paid me to do it. Now you can’t pay me to stop.
- I ran my first race in the fall of 2007 when I did my first race ever in Buenos Aires, Argentina for the Nike 10k. I’ve never looked back.
- I became a Marathoner in 2010 when I completed the Nike Women’s Marathon. I have since run the Half Moon Bay International Marathon and have scheduled my third for December 2012 at CIM
So enjoy my musings about training, racing, race recaps, earning a PhD, California and anything else that happens to come to mind. I don’t promise anything to be PC or PG, so read at your own risk, what I do promise is that everything I write on here is my own honest opinion, and if I love or rave about a product, I really do love it (and am probably obsessed).
And thanks for stopping by! (If you’re still reading, I’m impressed. Wanna be friends?)
E-mail me: phdstrides [at] gmail [dot] com - I’d love to hear from you!
***I am not licensed in anything, so please consult a doctor, licensed trainer or nutritionist before making any drastic changes to your diet or physical activity, cuz I don’t want to get sued.***
How awesome that your first race was in Buenos Aires! That’s so exciting. Definitely find me at the festival
totally agree with Janetha. thats an awesome first race experience. Too cool!
Wow! I wish I ran my first race in Argentina, instead I ran it in a local park.
Your blog is wonderful, you’re a great writer!
I am so excited that you live in the Bay! I’m from Oakland
Neighbors! Are you doing San Francisco Half?
the NWM half in October?! you betcha, neighbor!
Hey! I’m also a Ph.D. student that blogs about running and healthy living! Happy i stumbled across your lovely blog!
Oh…and I also tore my knee (MCL though) playing soccer in 2002! I’m also allergic to cow’s milk but love goat cheese! haha we are seriously like twins!
Haha! We are, seriously like twins — just separated by an entire country! I love it!
I’ve been following you on Twitter for a long time but have never made it to your blog (I’m honest!). I can’t wait to read more about your experiences as a PhD student — that’s something I’ve always been interested in!
Happy to see someone from my neck of the woods! Minneapolis is only about an hour and a half from where I live! I just recently found your blog from Healthy Living Blogs!
Love that you have a clearly-defined dream post-grad… I wish I had this, but to each their own, I suppose!
Good luck in everything! Hope to “run” into you at a race one day!
Love that pic of Sausalito! It is one of my favorite places!!!
Hey I realized I don’t even know where in the bay area you live! Blogger meet up?
I will email you!
Hi,
I’m almost finished with my PhD and I ramble on an on about running….. It’s by far and away the best stress release I have found (other than beer and wine – and chocolate). Yay, so good to meet you!
Cheers