Open Mic Friday: Meet the Beth, runner and professor

Today's guest has some of our favorite qualities--enthusiastic about running and family—although it is a bit unusual she loves her career she has built around crime!

A marathoner and triathlete, and a prolific blogger, but you still might be surprised what she considers her greatest running accomplishment.  She also discusses her non-running interests, and the running challenges and adventures she has her sights set on later this year.

We're sure you'll enjoy getting to know Beth, the Crim Prof.

Congratulations on completing your first triathlon.  Tell us how it went for you.

I had a blast!  The triathlon included a 500 meter swim in an indoor pool, a 21 mile bike ride, and a 5 mile run.  The day began with me oversleeping – this never happens – but I made it to the course on time.  The key to a successful race day is to pack the night before. 

The swim was slow but uneventful.  I felt like Chrisse Wellington on the bike – smiling away like a crazy person.  The run was the toughest part.  It was 80+ during the race, and the temperature topped out at 96 for the day.  It was hard to calm down and to find my running legs.  I just kept moving forward, and I did OK given it was my first triathlon. 

I am very excited for my next tri in July.  It will be my first open water race!  I have swam, biked, and run the race course already, so I am hoping I will be ready. 

And how do you think it went considering it was only 8 weeks after running a marathon.

I was pleasantly surprised at my performance at the triathlon.  As you mentioned, I had run the Go! St. Louis marathon 8 weeks before the triathlon, so I was worried in the beginning that I wouldn’t be ready.  I had run the Go! St. Louis half marathon the year before and the course is quite tough, and I was beat up after the race.  Luckily, I had a great marathon this year and recovered quickly.  In fact, I think that doing a lot of cross-training following the marathon actually helped me recover quickly.  It is hard for me mentally to go from 40-50+ miles before a marathon to the recovery workouts following a race; tri training filled that void and kept me from getting hurt or burned out. 

My best advice for tri training is to hire someone to help with swim technique.  My goal for the year was to learn how to swim.  I have always liked water and could swim a few laps, but I knew my technique was poor.  I now have a weekly lesson with Coach Carrie  and my swimming has improved markedly.  I also need more time on the bike, but I know that all of my running helped my endurance and leg strength on the bike.  With marathon training behind me, I had a strong base to build off on the bike.

You have a very interesting profession.  Can you tell us how you got into it and what you enjoy about it.

I have a great job!  I am an Associate Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice.  I have the pleasure of teaching undergraduate, MA, and PhD students.  In addition, I do a lot of research on prisons.  Yep, in the office, I call myself the prison lady.  Most of my research involves inmates who have been recently released from prison.  I do a lot of statistical analysis to predict success on parole, and I work with agencies to develop effective programming so that men and women are less likely to fail when they return to the community. 

I have loved criminology for a long time.  Like a lot of people my age, I was really intrigued by Clarice Starling in the movie The Silence of the Lambs.  I went to the University of Wisconsin and studied Sociology and Behavioral Science and then moved on to Michigan State for grad school.  After being involved with research in Michigan, I was hooked.  I really love the creativity and flexibility of my job.  I also enjoy teaching and mentoring students. 

Royals or Cardinals?

BIRDS!!  I actually hated baseball until I moved to St. Louis, but baseball games are now one of my favorite summer activities.  I should say that I am also a huge football fan, and I do chat about the Packers quite often on my blog.  Watching college basketball is also a favorite spring pastime. 

With a blog name that refers to your boys, you’d better tell us about those young men.

I began my blog as a way to post pictures and document the growth of my two little guys.  They are just the best, and they keep me on my toes.  I also have another big boy in the house – my husband.  Luckily, all of our pets are girls, or I might go crazy. 

The boys like that I run.  It allows them so ‘nag free’ time on Saturdays and Sundays to watch TV and loaf around the house.  They have started to run a bit, and they like participating in fun runs.  Most recently, they came to cheer me on at mile 16 of the St. Louis Marathon.  I will never forget the moment when I saw them.  I came around the corner, gave them a huge hug, and went off yelling “I feel awesome”.  Nothing like the kids for a great mid-race boost. 

What are you most looking forward to about running for the rest of 2009?

I am very excited to run the Chicago Marathon this fall.  I start training on Monday, and I have a training plan that is tailored just for me.  My first marathon took place on an Air Force base, so there were very few spectators.  It rained cats and dogs at the St. Louis marathon, so little crowd support there.  I am really looking forward to the craziness of Chicago.  I am working to run a PR, but most of all, I want this to be a fun marathon.  I want to take in the sights of running in such a large event.  I have watched the Spirit of the Marathon more times than I would like to admit, so I am eager to be there in person.  I am also psyched that Deena Kastor will be running the race this year.  After the marathon, I am looking forward to some rest.  I have been marathon training for the entire year! 

What would your family and friends tell us about your passion for running?

My family would tell you I am crazy.  My friends who know me well understand that I am type A; running takes the edge off for me.  In all seriousness, my friends and family have been really supportive, but no one can understand the desire to run 20 miles in freezing rain in March.  The good news is that I have made a ton of new friends along the way who are just as crazy. 

What have you not done with your running that you’re still looking forward to?

I think my biggest goal for my running in longevity.  I always chat with people who used to run but gave it up later in life.  I am always inspired by the men and women who are 60 and 70+ who are still kicking it (and usually running right past me).  I would really love to run a marathon with the boys someday. 

I think that anyone who has run a marathon dreams of qualifying for Boston.  I still have some work to do, but I think that this may be a goal in a few years—after I move up a few age brackets.  I also want to run a marathon after I swim 2.4 miles and bike 112.  I am actually volunteering at Ironman Louisville this summer! 

Greatest running accomplishment?

This sounds simple, but I am still proud that I went for it and signed up for my first half marathon.  I had no idea what I was doing, ran in cotton socks (the horror!), and I did it all by myself.  Running my first half really gave me confidence to try new things.   

Non-running and non-blogging interests?

Sleep.  After hanging with the kids, working, and getting my training done, I really don’t have time for anything else.  I do like to travel, and I hope that signing up for races will give me an excuse to go to new and fun places. 

Most embarrassing running moment?

So many ☺ I do play air guitar, the air drums, and sing on the days when I run with my ipod.  I am a klutz, so I trip and fall on a regular basis.  I have fallen off my bike more times than I would like to admit. 

Best running advice you’ve ever been given?

Respect the distance.  You can run a 5k after staying up all night and eating poorly.  Not so much with the marathon.  This is why I love the marathon.  It is different every time, and you can’t fake it.  It is investment and hard work really can pay off in the long run.  

Best running advice you’d like to share?

Make the best out of training.  The marathon, or any race, is just one day and so many things can happen.  I had more fun in my training group then I did on the race course.  Join a group, grab a friend, and take pictures along the way.  At the same time, train in all conditions.  Don’t bow out of a training run because of a little rain or heat.  You never know what race day will bring. 

For example, I was scheduled to run my first marathon at the Lewis and Clark Marathon in St. Charles, MO.  I put in all my miles, and I was excited and ready.  Unfortunately, I had forgotten to alert Mother Nature.  I woke that morning to find strong winds and pouring rain, and the race was canceled after 10 miles due to flooding and fallen trees.  The eye of Hurricane Ike had crossed over the race course as I was trying to complete my first marathon.  Luckily, I had made a lot of friends during training, and we made the road trip to Dayton, Ohio the following week and completed the Air Force Marathon.