Recently, we caught up with rabbitPRO Natasha LaBeaud Anzures to see what she had planned for 2018. We know you're curious too, so here's what Natasha had to say:
I started running when I was 6 years old, eager to run the most laps in the school jog-a-thon. I trained at recess by running laps at school, and found placing one foot in front of the other as my natural ‘happy place.’
Early racing career
Throughout the years, the mileage and the amount of races have increased, and I have been able to travel to some unbelievable places for running including China, Japan, Colombia, Ghana, and many more. Typically, my racing pattern includes a spring track season, summer of road races, and a focus on a marathon in the fall. While this year is following the same trajectory, the plan is to incorporate more shorter races earlier in the spring track season, including many 800’s and 1500’s.
Why the shift? I am a firm believer that strength in the shorter distances leads to substantial gains in the longer distances. The faster I can move these legs early in the season, the more carryover I will see later on. So, this means strapping on mid-distance spikes for races and becoming more comfortable with some faster paces from the gun. This has also meant that I have to be more open to new drills, warm-up parameters (including faster strides geared for specific workouts), and post-run additional hurdle and med ball drills. For someone who is used to routine, AKA stubborn, these changes can be hard to incorporate. However, I have noticed that the more open I am and the more I focus on my key catchphrase, “Positivity is key,” the better results that I see in practice.
Onwards and upwards!
I know that the exploration in the mid-distances will allow me to reach for my ultimate distance goals, and I am excited to have the opportunity to see how fast I can go. So onwards we go! Exciting things can happen when you explore a new facet of your capabilities, and I am charging forward on this ride with a great rabbit team supporting me!
