Team Run Hub: Amanda Husted

Leading up to the Eugene Marathon and Half Marathon, we are featuring some of our Team Run Hub athletes who have been training with the group since the end of January. If you’re interested in joining a future Team Run Hub training group, click here. Our next training program starts in August for the EWEB Run to Stay Warm. Registration will open in July.

 

Amanda Husted, lawyer and runner coming back from injury

 

Why did you start running? And how long have you been doing it? 

I was a soccer player and started running cross country in middle school for fitness. By high school track and cross country where my focus. This fall will be mark my 20th anniversary as a runner.

 

Amanda team run hub Why did you join Team Run Hub?

From the middle school through my time in law school I ran for a team year round in cross country and track. I ran competitively at the D3 level in college and then ran for the University of Oregon club team during law school. I am most definitely a team orientated runner. While I enjoy running solo on occasion, I much prefer to run with a group with a target race or goal. This past fall, I was coming off my first debilitating injury ever (a hip injury causing severe sciatic pain) and knew that if I didn’t join a training group I would never get back in shape.

 


Which race are you training for? And what’s your goal for race day?

I am running the Eugene Half Marathon this year. Last year I was having a great ramp up to the Eugene full where I was hoping to run a 3:30 marathon. After my injury, I’ve sworn off marathon training for a bit. I do not have a specific time goal for the half this year. I was out from running for a solid six months so I am trying really hard not to focus on time goals just yet.

 

I’m using this training group to achieve a process goal of increasing weekly mileage, speed and strength work. My long term goal over the next year is to run a sub 20:00 5K and sub 42:00 10K. The weekly mileage leading up to the half is a perfect base for me to spring board to track workouts in the summer. My goal for race day is to finish injury free and run a steady, strong race.

 

What motivates you to run?

What motivates me to run has changed over the years. For most of my life I’ve participated in competitive sports. When I started running, I enjoyed that I could be a part of a team and still go after individual goals. That part hasn’t changed, but I had to find other reasons to keep the structure of running in my life. Since becoming a “big girl” lawyer, running is the thing that keeps me sane and healthy. It’s a huge stress reliever and I can’t imagine doing anything else for fitness/exercise.

 

Amanda Husted running
2015 Oregon Coast 30K

Which do you think is harder for you, speed workouts or the long run? And why? 

Definitely the long runs. I was primarily a middle distance runner through law school. I focused on the 1500 and 3K steeplechase. I never raced longer than 7 ½ laps on a track (and still haven’t!). So runs longer than ten miles were very rare until I ran my first full marathon. The half is a good distance for me because I can still get a lot out of the interval training and not stress about super long runs.

 

What stands out for you as your favorite aspect of the training program so far? 
I really appreciate that Brett and Dustin give us a new training plan each week and track our progress. It is also an incentive to not skip runs. I have definitely had a day or two where I didn’t want to run but also didn’t want that day to be blank on my plan!

 

Favorite post long run fuel?

Laughing Planet burrito bowls or pancakes.

 

How do you spend your rest/recovery days? 

I’m a lifelong (but not fast) swimmer. I try to swim at least once a week and sometimes more in the summer time. Other than that, I do a lot of movie watching and playing with my pup Pablo on recovery days.


Do you have a most memorable run or workout? If so, tell us about it. 

I’m a speed junkie so I absolutely love 400 repeats or any interval workout that finishes up with fast 200s or 300s. I also really miss training for the steeplechase and doing interval workouts with hurdles thrown in. At this point, I imagine anyone reading this wonders why in the world I’m even running a half marathon! But I do love the mental challenge of longer runs, which are out of comfort zone.

 

 

Good luck at the half, Amanda! Sometimes not having a time goal for a race is exactly what we need.