This is the seventy-sixth 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
“Hello there! My name is LaRee Etter, and I’m a runner!
I’m also a dog mom, a physical therapist, a bit of a writer, and an adventure-seeker. I grew up a tomboy with 3 brothers in an athletic family. We played all ball sports non-stop. Fun-filled-fact: I was the only girl on the
Meadowlands Little League team, and on my most glorious day I pitched a no-hitter and hit a
home run! I continued playing team sports through college, which included national
championships in volleyball and basketball at the College of St. Scholastica way back in the late
80’s. Yup, I’m old.
I began running in college to stay in shape for volleyball season and found that I really enjoyed running in a few of the local races like the Park Point 5-miler and Pike Lake 10K. Placing in my age group piqued my curiosity and fueled my competitive spirit as well. After leaving college, I began running and racing regularly, and running has been a part of my life ever since.
I ran my first marathon, Grandma’s Marathon, in 1993. That was tough. So tough, I didn’t run my second one until 1999. But I’ve run 31 additional marathons since, as well as countless shorter races and thousands of exploratory miles around the US and in other parts of the world.”
Interview
Why is running important to you?
Running is my time to get out into the world, explore and enjoy my surroundings. I don’t run with my phone or headphones, as I want to see, hear, and feel everything around me. Running is my time to spend with my thoughts, occasionally to work through emotions, and to challenge myself physically. I cherish the opportunity to just be in my body and move without distraction. I also love the challenge of training for marathons, dedicating the time and effort required to race at my best, and to push my limits to be the best I can be even as age gradually slows the definition of “best.”
What are the top two or three things that you do to prevent injury? Have you been susceptible to certain injuries in the past?
I do a lot more to prevent injury now, as a middle-aged runner, than I ever did in the past. I regularly use a foam roller, my Hypervolt, and attend regular sessions with my favorite physical therapist. I also strength train 1-2 times per week, though I could always benefit from more of that! I own an ElliptiGo, which is the best cross-training tool ever created for runners, and I use it frequently to substitute for running days whenever I feel a niggle of an injury or if I haven’t fully recovered from a previous day’s hard workout. I also ride it for fun whenever I can because it is a BLAST to ride!
Over the last several years, I unfortunately had a couple of major non-running injuries, which required one back and a few hip surgeries, that sidelined me from running and made me more susceptible to Achilles tendinopathy. As a result, I’m careful with shoe selection and don’t hesitate to change my training or initiate formal treatment if my Achilles begins to get sore.
What keeps you motivated when you don’t feel like heading out the door for a workout?
I find having a goal race on the calendar is my best motivation for getting out the door for a workout. That being said, I’m much less rigid with my training plan than I was earlier in life. If I’m not feeling it, I may ride my ElliptiGo rather than run, change from a speed workout to a run of similar total distance, shorten the planned distance, run on a trail in the woods rather than the road, or just take a nap and skip the day. I usually get out the door, but like I said, I’m less concerned these days if my run doesn’t exactly match the training plan.
Who is in your workout support group (training partners, people to bounce ideas off of, etc.)?
Although I grew up in Northern Minnesota, I just moved back to Duluth 2 years ago after living in Boston for 5 years and Rochester for 26 years. I was a part of the very active Rochester running community when I lived there, but I’ve yet to connect with many in this area. I’m looking forward to meeting some local runners, perhaps this summer at a few of the local races.
Traditionally, I have done most of my training alone or occasionally with 1-2 other people. My close friends own Tortoise and Hare Footwear in Duluth, so they are very supportive. While they aren’t runners themselves, they graciously put up with me talking about my training and racing ad nauseum!
When/what is your next race?
I ran my fourth Boston Marathon in April. That was marathon number 31. My eighth Grandma’s Marathon was on June 17th, so that was marathon number 32. I always enjoy running Grandma’s, so I can’t imagine that will be last time I toe the line in Two Harbors.
In late July, inspired by my Rochester running friend, Jennifer St. Amand, who was the last official finisher of this year’s Western States 100, (She finished with 21 seconds to spare!) I planned to run the Grand Island Trail Marathon in the U.P. Unfortunately, I came down with a virus just before race day. I decided to run the half instead, but I can’t wait to go back next year to conquer the marathon. The race is on an island in Lake Superior, and it is beautiful!
Do you prefer roads or trails and why?
Because I’ve primarily been focused on training and racing, I prefer roads. I do enjoy getting off the road and into the woods, and I’ve run a few trail races in the past. Now that I live in Duluth, where trails are prevalent, I’m really looking to delve into trail running a bit more. I’m looking forward to learning the nuances of trail running and would like to venture into some of the local trail races, especially after my experience at Grand Island.
What do you think about while you run?
Like I said earlier, I don’t run with headphones, so I let my mind wander. I spend a lot of my time noticing what’s going on around me. There’s a lot going on in the world, and I like to take it all in. From eagles soaring overhead, to the sound of ice breaking like panes of glass along the Lake Superior shore, to the aerial lift bridge welcoming a ship into the harbor—it’s distinctive horn echoing off the Duluth hillside, audible to me even though I’m miles away; it’s all part of my experience, and usually these observations make me smile.
At other times I’m more focused and thinking about running, especially if I’m doing a speed workout. I’m thinking about my form, my pace, my breathing. And sometimes I’ll find myself solving a problem or planning my next big adventure. It really depends on the goal for my run and/or what’s going on in my life at that time.
What is your most memorable race or running achievement?
This is a really tough question. Qualifying for Boston the first time was, of course, a big deal, but then I didn’t run the race for another 9 years, so re-qualifying was almost a bigger deal, as was being at Boston for the first time, which for me was 2011. It’s just such a special race.
Perhaps the most recent memorable achievement was setting my marathon PR at Grandma’s Marathon in 2013. I didn’t start out feeling all that great, but I kept putting one foot in front of the other, felt better and better, and by the time I finished I was 15th of 208 in my age group and set my marathon PR at age 45. It was pretty shocking and quite a lovely surprise!
Name one racing experience you would like to forget (please describe).
A group of about 10-15 Rochester runners car-pooled to the 2011 Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon in May, 2011. We spent the night prior to the marathon, ate dinner together, and then ran the race the following morning. Several runners in the group had the goal of qualifying for Boston, including the runner driving the mini-van in which I was riding. His name was Paul. Paul was married and the father of 3 young children.
I had a good race, but when I crossed the finish line there was a heaviness in the air. Approximately 30 minutes earlier, Paul had crossed the finish line, under the qualifying standard he had worked so hard to achieve, and then he collapsed. CPR was immediately begun, but despite continuing attempts to revive him over the next 45 minutes, Paul died. I’ll never forget all of us sitting in the emergency room, still in our running gear, huddled together in stunned silence, as a nun approached to give us the news.
Paul’s wife had to be driven from Rochester to St. Cloud to be with her deceased husband. We had to gather his belongings from the hotel room and drive his vehicle with all of us in it back to Rochester… it was all so surreal. He was only 32 years old, if I remember correctly. It was a huge loss and so tragic for the entire Rochester running community. I’ll never forget it. And I’ve never been able to return to that race since then.
What is something non-endurance activity related you would like to share with readers?
Well, this is about as NON-endurance as it gets, I love to fish! I can and will fish for hours and hours at a time. Again, no music, no distractions—just me, my dog, and a fishing pole. That’s a good day.
I’d also like to share that I accomplished my number one bucket list trip in 2018 when I trekked to Mt. Everest Base Camp in Nepal. It was amazing! I mention it because I am preparing to tackle the second trip on my bucket list, Antarctica. And if there are any other adventurers out there who’d like to join me, I’d be happy to share the experience.
Closing
Many thanks to LaRee for stopping by Duluth Runner to share some of her knowledge/experiences with everyone. I hope you enjoyed this edition of the Interview Series – stick around for more to come!