Interview with Leah Thorvilson

Jeff and I had some free time at Easy Runner and we decided to ask Leah Thorvilson some questions.  Enjoy!

 

ER: Our Facebook Friend Alison Acott wants to know if Runner's World will be featuring you in their magazine and how do you make running look so easy?

LT: I am in the June issue which has already come out.  It's in the section "What It Takes".  I got in it for running the Disney World Marathon in a Tinkerbell costume.  I don't think anyone thinks they make it look easy.  I've never seen myself run very far...just finish line clips from marathons, but I don't think I look very good.  I try to run smooth but I certainly don't feel like the most graceful runner I've ever seen.  Shalane Flanagan has beautiful form...it's just very fluid and comfortable.  Arms aren't bunched up, her stride is very smooth, it's really pretty to watch. 


ER: Abigail Ethington wants to know how do you stay positive?  Do you have any running mottos or anything like that?

LT: I think I read one time where Kara Goucher would say Power Phrases while she ran and at times I try to do it.  Sometimes when you're having a crappy run it's hard to get your head back into the right place.  My power words are Light & Smooth.  Fast & Fierce.  And when I'm in pain and hurting I try to focus on something that still feels good.  Like if my breathing feels okay, but my legs are tired...I will try to focus on my breath and forget about my legs. Something to take your mind off the part that's not feeling good.  You can alter your blood chemistry by positive or negative emotions so just try to find something that still feels strong and good and focus on that.


ER: Abigail Ethington also asked: It isn't very common for elite athletes to wear costumes at races how do you think this has affected your career?

LT: The only race outside of Arkansas where I have worn a costume is at Disney. A lot of people at the Disney races will wear costumes, but it's not something you typically see among the athletes lined up for the elite start. It was amusing to me when I took off my warm ups and I was in these glittery shoes and a tinker bell skirt.  I thought there had to be somebody there thinking "Is she for real?"  The guy presenting the awards confirmed my thought. He said "At first I was like IS SHE SERIOUS? but then as I watched the race unfold I knew she absolutely was serious!"  Most runs I do in costume are local and I know so many people around here so I don't think it really shocks anyone anymore.  It may make me a little more accessible, easy to talk to... but I don't think I have an elitist attitude anyways.  I have never been told by anyone that they were afraid to approach me.


ER: If you could relive a race which race would it be?

LT: The Firecracker Fast 5k from 2010.  It was an unexpected outcome - short and sweet.  A girl at the starting line nudged me which I didn't understand because if you would have been at Oaklawn everyone would have put their money on her.  But she was looking me up and down and pushing me.  She was leading the race til the hill by the zoo and I saw a crack....Well, actually I didn't see anything.  I was just like if I am going to make any move this is the time up on the uphill and I expected for her to come tearing back after me on the downhill to the finish but she didn't.  I beat her.  It was epic.  I don't think anyone expected it - least of all me.

The first year I won Little Rock was pretty exciting too.  The last two years I haven't been as happy with my personal performance even though I've defended my title.  But the first year was special because it was the first time I won, and a personal best at that time, and a state record.  So it was like everything at once.  It was pretty awesome. Also of course being the hometown girl I had a lot of people cheering for me. Some I knew, and some I didn't, which was really cool....to know I had that hometown support even from total strangers.

And then my best marathon ever at Green Bay in 2009.  Everything just kind of lined up.  Another one of those races sort of like Firecracker where I still don't really understand where that race came from, where the speed came from.  I don't even remember checking my times until I saw my halfway split.  I was just thinking this feels really good and as I got later in the race it really started to hurt, and I started to question if I could keep it together. I told myself "I put myself in this position.  I just have to fight it out."   I've tried that same mental tactic since then but I think it may have been more of 'ignorance is bliss' type of thing. I wasn't going for specific mile splits that day, I was just running...  Now that i'm trying to hit those times if i'm off by a few seconds it's easy to go into a mental downward spiral, or to get caught up in it and panic...  I knew at Green Bay that if I continued to run steady I'm would hit a personal best.  As I got to the final miles...I think there was a clock near mile 25? or maybe it was at the "mile to go" point... I realized "I'm actually going to break 2:40."  But I didn't realize by how much until I saw the finish clock....when I saw 2:37 my first thought was that clock has to be off. I was shocked. I lost the race by 2 seconds, but I am pretty sure I was happier than the girl who won. I beat my previous best by 7 minutes that day.  I'd love to see that time again.  It would be nice.


ER: Do you have a certain food you like to eat the night before a marathon?

LT: I don't have a specific meal the night before a marathon.  It use to frustrate me in college because some of the runners where so hellbent on eating pasta.  It had to be noodles and red sauce, specifically. That is fine, but as far as getting some good carbs, there are far better options. For example, brown rice, baked potatoes, whole grain pasta... I just make sure I get some sort of complex carbohydrate that will stay with me. I don't get too hung up on having one particular food. That  makes traveling for races too stressful....what if you can't find the restaurant or the item at the store you always have? Unless you are going to travel with your own food, you have to have some flexiblilty so you don't stress out the night before. The other thing that I think is important is knowing what you CANT have the night before. For example, I love spicy food but I can't do it the night before a race.  I do have a ritual of chocolate cake the night before a marathon.


ER: Do you have trouble sleeping the night before a race?

LT: I usually sleep really well the night before a race but then I'll wake up and there's that split second where you're just like "Oooh wake up" and then there's the "OH CRAP" moment when you've realized it's race day, and the nerves kick in.


ER: Did you always know you were going to be a runner?

LT: I've always enjoyed running in high school but I always thought dance team is what I'd do after high school.  But when I came to UALR I had a great relationship with Coach Elias.  He was very supportive, knowledgeable, and he let me pick his brain day after day. Having that person to reassure me and develop my confidence as a runner was key.  After college I got a little OCD and I burned myself out and quit for a while.  My goal when I came back was to keep it fun.  Now that I am trying to reach new levels I realize it HAS to be a little bit more structured and it has to be some work too... but I think I have a healthier balance then I did back then.


Thanks for reading this weeks blog entry and stay tuned for our next update.