No matter how much she’s zipping around River   City covering local activities for her webcasts on Midlo 5 and inRich.com’s Mash Up, Brigitte Petrine is never out of breath.  The fact is she’s quite an accomplished runner – with plenty of marathon and half marathon experience.  And right now half marathons are what everyone is talking about.  Fortunately she was kind enough to share her thoughts on her running in Richmond.

Sports Backers:  You finished last year’s SunTrust Richmond Marathon, and are training again for this year’s with the Sports Backers Marathon Training Team, how is that going?

Brigitte:  It’s going well.  I’m a big fan of the Sports Backers MTT.  They do a really great job of easing into the mileage and preparing everyone for the higher mileage.  The atmosphere on group run days is really inspiring.  This year the team has 1,063 participants,  which includes runners of all ages and paces.   It’s refreshing and motivating. 

Sports Backers:  What is your current training mileage?

Brigitte:  We’re doing around 30 miles a week.  The tough weeks don’t come until we do a couple of 50 mile weeks. 

Sports Backers:  How do you manage training in Richmond’s summer heat? 

Brigitte:  There’s no getting around it – Richmond is humid.   Sometimes it’s so sticky you can literally feel the water in the air.  On hot summer days I try to run as early as possible and focus on getting enough water before, after and during the run.  Obviously,  running in extremely hot weather isn’t ideal.

Sports Backers:  Do you find preparing for a half marathon distance of “only” 13.1 miles a challenge or a relief?

Brigitte:  It’s still a challenge, but during marathon training it’s only a part of the entire goal.  A large part of running is mental.  After only one marathon under my belt it’s much easier to think –  “only” 13 miles.  Just like so many things in life, it’s all in the mentality and it helps to stay positive.  I read the article about Stan Morgan, longtime coach of the Midlothian High School Cross Country and Track teams in SBQ a while back and something he said stuck.  “If you believe you can, you will,“ Morgan said.   Sometimes it really is that simple.

Sports Backers:  Do two half marathons really make up a whole marathon?  Do half marathons have a different feel?  If so, in what ways?  How many half marathons have you completed?

Brigitte:  They’re two different races - it’s like comparing a 5K and a 10K.  You prepare differently physically and mentally for the two.  I have a lot of respect for veteran marathoners.  This year will only be my second marathon, and from just one year of experience I remember the marathon as more of a journey – a longer experience where balancing pace, nutrient’s, and fluid is the game.  Personally the half-marathon is less of a journey and more of a race - you play the same balancing game, but it’s an easier goal to attain – both mentally and physically.   So far I’ve run the Shamrock, OBX, Thunder   Road (Charlotte), and Patrick Henry half marathons.     

Sports Backers:  Why do you think half marathons are so popular?

Brigitte:  Even though I can understand getting the marathon “bug” the half marathon distance is still my favorite.  The mileage is more attainable and quite simply put it doesn’t put as much strain on my body.  It’s also just easier to get in the mood for 13.1 miles.   :o)  

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