#FitFAbFuel Swap - the Conclusion

Remember when Brittany at Naturally Fit Sisters and I told you about the Fit Fab Fuel Swap?  Well, the partners have all been matched up and gifts have been exchanged!

Kristen from Run Away With Kristen K is my partner!  She lives in Alaska and is pretty awesome.  You should look at her blog for beautiful runs and her positive attitude.  But first things first, she sent me an awesome care package!

How fun right?!  A Bondi band, an Alaska ornament, Sport Beans and some cozy socks.  I will admit it, I owe her fuel and that is on it's way but I did send her a super cute set of ornaments to commemorate her first Half at Disney.

I couldn't find a picture of them but you can see them here.  I had a chance to interview her and get her answers to my burning questions.

ME: What is your favorite way to stay warm in Alaska?

KK:  It's not that cold here yet (usually in the 20s or 30s) but I love to layer up and go out for a run!  It's not fun on the walk from your car to the trailhead, but after 2 minutes of running I guarantee you'll be feeling comfortable and warmed up.  Running in the snow is beautiful and makes winter seem less harsh.  I'm always sweating by the end and after a chilly drive home a hot shower and some hot chocolate help bring me back to normal!  I'm also hosting my first virtual race on the winter solstice - if I don't have a good reason to go outside I tend to get lazy, and I'm not letting that happen this year!

ME:  Why Alaska?

KK:  Because it's the most beautiful place on earth!  And also, everything in this blog post.  My husband and I came here on our honeymoon last year and knew that Anchorage was the perfect place to live.  It's a big city surrounded by mountains and water.  I can drive 5 minutes from my apartment and find beautiful trails where I can run past moose and eagles, or drive 5 minutes the other way and find a shopping mall.  It's the best!  And it's been surprisingly not cold or snowy here.  It has only snowed twice so far and we only have about 2 inches on the ground.  And I think our lowest temperature yet was 18, but we had more days in the 40s than in the teens!  I think a lot of people have misconceptions about Alaska but it's more "normal" up here than TV makes it look!  Except for the sunlight, we really do have a lot less than anyone else!

ME:  How did you meet your significant other?

KK:  We were sophomores at the University of Pittsburgh and lived on the same floor.  We met the first weekend back at school and have been together ever since (over 8 years!).  I love how supportive he is of my running and blogging.  He's been at the finish line of every race I've ever run!

ME:  What is your very favorite race of all time?

KK:  This is so hard because I've run so many good ones!  But if I have to base it off of overall experience, I'd have to say my first Hershey 10k in 2013 in Hershey, PA.  It was my first 10k and longest race at the time, and the first race I ever ran that had people cheering along the course.  I felt like I was a real runner for the first time ever.  I also finished way faster than I thought I would!  My second Hershey 10k in 2014 is where I set my current 10k PR so it's a pretty good race!  Plus you get to run in Hershey Park and the post-race chocolate food options are so yummy in the town of Hershey!

ME:  If you could meet any runner, alive, dead, who would you pick?

KK:  I don't think I'd like to meet someone famous or super fast - I don't think we'd have much to talk about!  I would love to meet Joy Johnson - when I read about her last year her story really stuck with me.  I love running but I can't imagine doing it that much and loving it as much as she did at her age!  She died in her running shoes, just like she always said she would.  I'd love to talk to her about running, how she got into it at an old age, and what it was like running in the NYC marathon every year!

ME:  What is one item you will never run without?

KK:  My phone!  In Philly I ran with it so I would get help if shady people tried anything with me, and in Alaska I run with it just in case any moose or bears show up!  I've had to call my husband to pick me up a few times over the years (mostly for feeling really sick or hurt mid-run) so I wouldn't want to be caught without it!

ME:  When did you start running?

KK:  In the summer of 2012.  My husband and I went for daily walks in a state park outside Philly after work, and I realized that I was kind of interested in running like the people that we saw on the trail every day.  I tried to see if I could run 1 mile, then 1.1 miles, and so on.  I ran my first 5k that September and officially got bit by the running bug!  My first 10k was in 2013 (see above) and my first half marathon was the Disney Princess Half this February.  No marathons yet, but we'll see what 2015 has in store!  I wrote a post here about why I started running and why I keep on running!

ME:  What animal would you compare your running style to?

KK:  I seriously might have to say a turtle - like a middle of the pack kind!  I'm slow and steady and will never win a race or even place in my age group, but I finish somewhere in the middle and have fun doing it.  I have way more fun running longer distances than trying to run faster times!

How cool is she?!  I am so glad we got to know each other thru the Swap!  Now I have a friend in Alaska!  She makes me want to visit Anchorage at least!

Now go check out every one else's posts about their #FitFabFuelSwap!



I am so in love with the Blogger community!  And all of you.  Runners are awesome.  Humans are awesome.  I am one lucky girl and 2014 has been a truly fulfilling year in all sorts of ways!

As always, I wish you Happy Holidays and Happy Feet,

SD Mom