We’re featuring some of the members of our training team leading up to the Eugene half marathon and marathon on April 28. Drew Anderson is training for the marathon for the third year in a row! His advice for others who are training: “You are going to have a roller coaster of runs: Some will feel awesome and others will feel awful. Celebrate the great runs and don’t fret about a bad run.”
What is your goal for race day?
My goal is to run under three hours and qualify for Boston. I’m hoping third time’s the charm!
Why did you join Team Run Hub?
I’ve been a part of the spring training group for a couple years now and I’ve always enjoyed the specified plans for everyone. It’s a lot easier going out and knowing what to run instead of winging it as you go. That, and the coaches have experience and guide you to perform at your best for each race.
Tell me a little bit about your running background. How did you fall in love with running?
I lost a bet in high school and ran cross country and track and field, but I would say I’ve been actively running for six years now. I made a promise with a friend that I’d beat him in a race before he passed away, so I keep running to try and reach that goal. Over the years, I fell in love with that feeling of driving myself to push my limits beyond what they are and the friendships made with others that love running.
What has been your favorite part of the training team so far? What has been the most challenging part?
Favorite part has been trying to remember everyone’s name in the training group. It’s been fun matching everyone’s faces with their names and I’m sooooo close to getting everyone’s name right! The most challenging part has been running by myself for the long runs. It’s a lot of time without anyone to talk to, but crossing paths with other training group members has helped pass the time besides thinking about what would happen if squirrels started a revolution…..soooo there’s that.
What is your running mantra when things get tough?
My running mantra: “Forward.” When a run gets rough and challenging, it’s a simple word to focus and push on to finish it out strong!
How do you spend your rest/recovery days?
I spend my recovery days mostly hanging out with friends. Whether it’s watching The Bachelor for our fantasy pool, or just grabbing a beer somewhere, it’s fun getting to catch up on each other’s lives.
What’s your favorite cross training activity?
When the weather isn’t too frightful, I do enjoy biking around town! Once spring time hits, I’ll bust out my bike to cruise.
What is your favorite fuel during a run?
Any kind of chocolate gels I am a huge sucker for. Just sweet enough for me and I enjoy the flavor that I can finish one in a short amount of time.
If you could offer one piece of advice to others who are training for a race, what would it be?
During training, you are going to have a roller coaster of runs: Some will feel awesome and others will feel awful. Celebrate the great runs and don’t fret about a bad run. Enjoy the experience and move forward!
We wish you the best of luck on the marathon, Drew!
