This is the thirty-second edition of The Duluth Runner Interview Series, where I get in touch with (mainly) local runners and athletes to share a bit of their story while inspiring others to pursue an active lifestyle.

Intro

Today’s guest seems to enjoy just about any outdoor activity you can imagine. Whether she’s paddling/camping with friends in the BWCA, hiking/backpacking throughout the country, running before work most mornings (then walking to work), biking around town with her family, or paddle boarding local waterways, she’s always on the move.

She is a native of Superior, WI, attended the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse, is currently the School Psychologist at Esko Schools, and even found time to create one of the coolest new blogs on the internet…today’s guest is Alissa Anderson!

Interview

Why is running important to you?

Running is the most efficient way to maintain my cardiovascular health….and my sanity while raising three young children.

What are the top two or three things that you do to prevent injury? Have you been susceptible to certain injuries in the past?

Having kids is probably my best injury prevention strategy – over-training is not a concern for me. Seriously, though, I have struggled in the past with a hamstring attachment injury that started when I was in college while playing intramural basketball, and got really bad when I was training for Grandma’s Marathon in 2004.

I think I may have finally kicked it when I did some PT a few years ago. I’d always thought of my leg muscles as being really developed, but it turned out that my quads are over-developed and my hamstrings were under-developed and over-stretched from many years of running and yoga. A few months of PT and committing to a summer of well-rounded strength training really helped.

What keeps you motivated when you don’t feel like heading out the door for a workout?

I love running in the morning and have found that two things get me out the door: meeting up with running buddies and knowing that the early morning run is going to be my only option if I want to workout on that particular day.

Who is in your running support group (training partners, people to bounce ideas off of, etc.)?

Nichole Schmidt and Brittany Lindmeyer have become my routine running buddies during the CoVid pandemic. I also run with my friend and fellow broomballer Amy Hallback. I have apple watch friends, Molly Ziells, Chelsea Grinvalsky, and Mary Weets who also keep me motivated. We recently started this new challenge where, when notifications of our workouts come through on our watches, we try to send the cheesiest possible auto-reply.

When/what is your next race?

I am not currently signed up for any races. Depending on how things go this fall, I may sign up for one or both of my favorite races, the WhistleStop Half Marathon and the Grand Traverse in Duluth.

Do you prefer roads or trails and why?

I run roads most often because I can wake up and fall out my door in the morning, but trail running is a fun adventure that I love treating myself to on occasion.

What do you think about while your run?

I am usually contemplating life on every level when I run, either with my running buddies or inside my own head. I recently heard that people are more open and less inhibited during vigorous exercise. I am all about getting vulnerable while running.

What is your most memorable race or running achievement?

I guess I don’t really have an achievement that I would consider memorable….When it comes to running, for me, it is all about the journey and not necessarily the destination. My favorite “race” memory is probably running the WhistleStop with my sister-in-law.

We have this fun tradition where we spend the night at my Grandma’s house in Superior, and then drive to Ashland in the morning and spend the day together. The run is just a piece of the puzzle that makes the day great.

Name one racing experience you would like to forget (please describe).

In 2012, I did the half-marathon leg of the Superior Man Triathlon. My friend Molly did the swim, and my friend Kelly did the bike. I started my leg of the race at around noon when it was over 100 degrees. It was brutal.

What is something non-running related you would like to share with readers?

A few years ago, while I was researching self-confidence in adolescents, I came across a quote that has become a mantra that I try to live by and also foster in the students I work with and my own children. “Define yourself broadly and evaluate yourself kindly.” Being a “runner” is just one small, yet important way I live in service of two of my core values: my health and my sense of adventure.

Closing

Many thanks to Alissa for agreeing to stop by The Duluth Runner and share some of her knowledge/experiences with everyone. I hope you enjoyed this edition of the Interview Series – stick around for more to come!