Oct
19
For this predawn profile (the first in a while – apologies about that), we head a bit off the beaten path to chat with someone who finds a good balance between trail running and road running, and has had great success at both. Jamie Anderson writes the Maine Runner blog, and has gone beyond just blogging to actually writing a book, which I have bought on my Kindle and am looking forward to reading shortly. So I hope you enjoy learning a bit more about Jamie (also known as J-Rock) and, if you do, please connect with him on dailymile and Twitter.
Predawn Runner: What initially got you started with running?
Jamie Anderson: I’ve ran off and on for all of my life, but I really started getting serious with it in 2005 when I decided to really race a local 5K race and I did way better than I had expected. I’ve been hooked ever since.
PR: How did you eventually make the leap to marathons, and then ultramarathons?
JA: Like with most runners, it was pretty much a natural progression. I was running a lot of 5Ks in 2005 but I had also been doing a lot of really long and tough hikes in the White Mountains. I found that helped a lot as I started ramping up the mileage with my running, so I set my sights on training for the Mt. Desert Island Marathon here in Maine. That went well, but I was really fascinated with ultras and made the leap to those soon afterwards.
PR: You really have quite an impressive repertoire of race results on your blog. With all the races you have done, what is your proudest accomplishment?
JA: Definitely the first time I ran the Vermont 100 back in 2007. I had knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus three months before the race, so I had pretty much written off even doing it. But I was recovering pretty quickly and thought “Ah, what the hell. Might as well try it since I already paid the race fee.” I wasn’t even sure I was going to finish the race because I had lost a lot of training and wondered if the knee might act up. I figured the best case scenario would have me barely breaking 24 hours, but I finished in 22:09:55 and came in 37th place. I was really stoked about that one. That first 100 miler is always something incredible, but with all of the reasonable doubts I had in place and then exceeding my expectations by a huge degree made it even more awesome.
PR: You refer in some of your posts to the “Trail Monster Running” organization. What is that about?
JA: We’re all about promoting trail running in the southern Maine area and beyond. Ian Parlin is our fearless leader and he does the bulk of the organizational stuff, which includes trail races in the area and group runs at least twice a week. It’s great because we have runners of all abilities in our club and how fast or slow you are doesn’t matter in the slightest. You just have to love running trails and have a good sense of humor.
PR: I know that, like most of the readers, you are busy. What do you do when you are not running?
JA: I really love reading and writing. I’m a huge Stephen King fan and he’s definitely one of my idols. I’m also a high school media/journalism teacher and that’s a pretty demanding job, but a very fun and rewarding one as well.
PR: I understand you are also involved in coaching cross-country – how did that start, and what do you get out of doing that?
JA: I’m the assistant coach at the high school, which is a great gig. I just came up to the head coach seven years ago and asked if I could help out and be involved and he and the team welcomed me with open arms. It’s a lot of fun helping out and just being around young adults who are as enthusiastic about running as you are. They’re great motivation for me and I at least like to think I’m the same for them.
PR: You recently wrote a book, Maine to Boston. Where did you get the idea to write this book, and what is it about?
JA: I have to credit my fiancé, Kate, for the idea. I had just read Ryan Hall’s Running with Joy and I mentioned that I really liked the book in large part because of the journal format, which showed his mileage and pace each day, how he felt and other details. I commented that it many ways it reminded me of my blog. She mentioned that others might like an average Joe’s perspective on marathon training and encouraged me to put the book together. The more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea. I figured I would have a pretty unique twist on the training since I live in Maine and did all but one of my workouts outside in the winter that year. It’s pretty challenging running through snowstorms and on snowmobile trails in the winter, so I also figured it would be pretty cool to share the tricks I’ve learned along the way that make it possible and pretty comfortable to do so.
PR: Are you planning any further books?
JA: Yep, I’ve already started the next one. It’s science fiction, but centered around running. At first I thought it would be a short story, but I’m thinking now it might turn out to be novel length. I’m having a lot of fun with it so far, but it’s still early and I don’t expect to have the first draft finished until late winter at the earliest.
PR: alright, back to the crux of the discussion – what is your next big running goal?
In this past year I’ve set new PRs in three consecutive marathons, so I’d love to continue to challenge myself and see how much further I can take it. I just ran a 3:12:09 at the Mt. Desert Island Marathon which I’m really proud of. Next marathon is Boston and I’d love to crack 3:10 there. I’m also planning on doing a lot more snowshoe racing over the winter, which should fit in nicely into the training regiment for Boston.
PR: Best of luck Jamie, and looking forward to both your book and following along on your new quest towards Boston.
