Amanda Yu Used to Be a Bit Nervous About Some Aspects of Trail Running

Amanda Yu started running in high school for social and superficial reasons.

Amanda Yu Running the Roads

It wasn’t until after college when Amanda joined the work force that she really got into running.

She says she needed a hobby that was good for her, and running seemed to fit the bill.

Her boyfriend agreed, and signed her up for her first half marathon in D.C.

(And for the record, her then boyfriend is her now husband, so she clearly wasn’t too upset that he signed her up for the race!)

Getting Into Trail Running

Amanda started running on trails not long after she started running as a “hobby”.

Not long after that, she was running her first 10 mile trail run as a night race in a Georgia State Park.

Amanda tackled her first ultra, a 50k, in 2014.

Before that race, Amanda remembers being concerned with race day trail etiquette, especially as it concerns bodily functions.

Thanks to a trail and ultra runners group on Facebook, she learned that it’s not a big deal to pass a little gas out on the trail.

Amanda has found the trail running community to be very supportive and pretty low key.

Definitely sounds like my kind of people!

Paying It Forward

Amanda likes supporting people who are new to the sport.

Many times people new to running don’t want to run with others because they feel as if they are slowing them down.

Amanda tries to dispel this myth by stressing that not all runs are at a fast pace.

She tells new runners that she wants to run with them because she needs time on her feet and  her run on that day is not about the pace.

Amanda says, “Don’t apologize for being you.”

Running with others, no matter the pace, is definitely a joy for her.

A Woman’s Best Friend

Amanda Yu Running with Her Pup

Like me, Amanda loves running with her dogs.

I asked Amanda for some tips and tricks for running with a dog, and she had lots to say.

First, she recommends researching your dog’s breed to get an idea of whether or not your pup will be a good runner.

Then learn about your particular dog by starting out with small runs, and make sure your dog is always on a leash.

Also pay attention to how your dog behaves when he/she gets tired, how it reacts to other animals or people during a run, and just basically learn your dog’s habits.

Going Big

Amanda will be attempting her first 100 mile race in Umstead, North Carolina on April 1st of this year.

Obviously, she is a little nervous about all the unknowns she may face. And it is the first race she has ever been afraid that she may not finish.

But Amanda is curious to see what will happen!

The Greatest Teacher

To end the show, I asked Amanda what she feels that running has taught her about herself.

Amanda said, “Running has taught me not to look at things at face value.”

A great lesson for all of us!

Amanda Yu Runs Into the Sunset

Covering a lot of different #running topics today with fellow running junkie @itsjustyu! #runchat Click To Tweet

Connect with Amanda on social media by saying hi to her on Twitter and/or Instagram.

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