Featured Runner: Melissa from Life by Melissa

Wow, do you guys love free stuff or WHAT?  146 153 entries for the giveaway and we don't even announce the winner for two more days till tomorrow!  (this post is a little late...oops)  Thank you though, so much, for the awesome feedback you've all given.  It's definitely a great encouragement to know we didn't make a huge mistake!  Can't wait to pick a winner on Thursday!

Anyway, today is an exciting day for we have our very first featured runner on confessions on conquering 26.2!  For the first official move of featured runners, we have Melissa from Life by Melissa.  This lady's got a super cute blog, some super cute kids, and is super cute herself!  You'll love her, her answers, and her blog.  Enjoy!

Meet Melissa.

1.  What inspired you to start running in the first place? My friend Jennifer who did Weight Watchers while I was doing Weight Watchers had started doing the Couch to 5K program and encouraged me to start. I started running in August of last year and now in this year's August heat I'm thinking that I was an idiot.

2.  What is your most memorable running moment? My most memorable moment by far was finishing my first 5K.

3.  What piece of running gear will you never run without? my Brooks Adrenaline shoes! And although I can't say "never", I HATE running without my ipod!

4.  Any upcoming races? Race for the Cure 5K on September 18, Tyler Half (my first!) on October 10, and another half on November 8th.

5.  What is your *dream* race or distance? I think it might be 13.1!

6.  Have you ever run for charity? If so, what charity? No, but I am seriously thinking about doing the Rock N Roll Half in New Orleans in 2011 for the American Cancer Society.

7.  What advice would you give for someone who is thinking about taking up running? DO IT!! Don't be scared! You can go from less than 0.1 miles at a time to a 5K in 8 weeks. It is totally possible! Also, when you decide to start, find a race about 10 weeks out (5K) and go ahead and sign up and then tell people you are going to run it. Then, when you feel like quitting, you will think twice about it.

8.  What's one thing you don't like about running? The unscheduled potty breaks.

9.  What is your favorite form of cross-training, if any? walking with co-workers and just catching up with their lives

10.  Tell me about your very first race. My first race was a 5K in my hometown when I finished the Couch to 5K program last October. I had walked the same distance the year before and we were the last one to finish. In my defense, I had my two kids with me (stroller and bike). My goal was an average pace of 10:00 or less and I was just under that. The most memorable thing was the first mile which I finished in 8:30...WAY too fast! :)

11.  How do you get yourself out the door on the days that you hate running? guilt myself into it. lol. Actually, that's where having a date with a running buddy helps. You feel like you can't back out.

12.  What running shoes do you swear by? Brooks Adrenaline

13.  Have you had any running injuries that sidelined you for a period of time? If so, what did you do to recover? Just a few knee issues that lasted around a week.

14.  What are five of your favorite songs from your running playlist? ***Disclaimer*** I'm a dork! Womanizer by Britney, Runaway Train by Soul Asylum, Watching Airplanes by Gary Allan (I can still hear my little boy singing this a few years ago!), Billie Jean by Michael Jackson, and Another One Bites the Dust by Queen.

15.  If there was one running accomplishment that you wish you could achieve with no possibility of failing, what would it be? A marathon of course! However, with a full time job, an elected office, charity work, two kids, and a husband that I occasionally cook for, that time needed isn't really possible right now.

Thanks, Melissa!  You made for a great feature, and it was an honor to have you as the first featured runner of the new blog!

Alright, who's next?

You (well, most of you) know the drill.  Nominate some fellow running bloggers {as long as they've never been featured} who you think would make for a great featured runner, and you and all those you nominate will be eligible.  We'll announce the next runner on Friday.  Or maybe Thursday.  Cuz' after all, Thursday is when we announce the giveaway winner.  Are you excited?!  I know I am.