Runner, Eva Casper

Eva, is a member of the RAF Running Club and I've had the opportunity to run with her a couple of times. She is easy to run with although I'm not sure I could keep up with her these days. She is wicked fast! She did her first marathon in under 4 hours!!! I think she is the record holder in our group, not sure, but she's the first under 4 hours I know about and I was blown away by the news! I just thought it was so awesome and felt so happy for her. 

So without further ado, let's meet EVA! 

She doesn't even look tired...

First tell us a little about yourself:

Age: 35

Married: yes, since 2006

Parent: of almost 5 year old Sammy and 2 year old Gwynn

Student: nope

Do you work outside the home: working as Deputy Manager at Aldi in the economy 25-40 hours the week

How do you find time for running along with your everyday life: hard to fit in. if I'm at home I have at least one kid to entertain and if they both are in school and daycare I'm mostly at work. it's getting easier in summer though when it's possible to head out in the evenings

How and when did you first get into running: I used to do sports my whole life (soccer, gymnastics, horse riding) but I never really went out for runs. I started my 'running career' when my second child was almost 1, after Christmas 2011. 

How has running impacted your life: I'm down from a jeans size 13 to a 6! it makes me happier and calms me down. if everythings seems to become too much I head out for a run

Does anyone else in your family run: my husband likes shorter mud races

Do you run alone or with friends: during the week alone and the long runs at the weekends with the running group if I'm not working

What was your fitness like before running: poor....very poor....

I run because: I can!

Your favorite running gear: I love all my running gear and I love shopping for running gear more than for regular clothes

What has been your biggest accomplishment as a runner: the full marathon in Edinburgh last month

What advice would you give to new runners: find some people to run with but also learn to run by yourself. Sign up for a race, pin your training schedule at the fridge and start training for it now! I find it much easier to keep motivated if I have a race to train for

Races:

Tell us about your first race: 10k in Cambridge in spring 2012

What distances have you ran: 5k,10k,half and full marathon

What are your favorite distances & types of runs: half marathon. I'd love to do obstacle races but I'm too afraid of water and I have the weakest arms in the world

What do you look for in a race before signing up: date, location, who else is doing it

What are your current personal records: half marathon 1:49:47, full marathon 3:53:09

What was your most memorable race: for some reason my first half on RAF Mildenhall in September 2012. I thought I'd die and I had a terrible time. Luckily I already signed up for another half otherwise I might have quit after that run

Motivation & Inspiration:

What motivates/inspires you to lace up your shoes and step out the door time & time again:
at the moment I'm in the shape of my life! And I want to keep that. Plus I want to keep my clothes size I have right now and I hate diets so I have to keep moving! I lost around 25 pounds since I started running without one day of dieting. Even though I'm not having junk food 5 times the week I LOVE my pizza and even more I love to eat it without regrets.

Have you experienced a runner’s high: no

What about those miles that make you feel like quitting, how do you push through: there're days I know after 2 miles it's not going to be fun and then I just head home. I don't like to torture myself

Do you have a running coach or mentor: no

When did you realize you loved running: during the training for the marathon 

Diet:

Have you lost or gained weight due to running: lost around 25 pounds within one year

Do you have any specific diet strategies as a runner: I'm the last person I'd ask! I eat what I want and since I like my veggies and salads it's not too bad what I eat. I bought a book about diet during marathon training and the week before the marathon I thought 'hold on, I should have read that' needless to say I still didn't

Music:

Do you run with it or without it & why: depends on my mood. Shorter runs mostly with music, longer runs without

Top 3 fav songs on your running playlist right now: Give Me a Reason by Pink, Wake up Call by Maroon 5 and If I Ever leave This World Alive by Flogging Molly

Injuries:

Experienced them & did they make you want to quit: my right side is my weak side. Foot, knee, leg, hip...but only sores and aches so far no serious injuries

How did you recover: more focus on stretching, foam roller, rest

Have you lost any toenails: once after the run to be beat

Dreams & Goals:

What is your running goal this year: was my first full marathon last month

What is your running dream: New York Marathon

If you could run your weekend run with anyone in the world who would it be: once in a while I wouldn't mind having a run with Channing Tatum or something like that but I love my running group! No need for changes!