Kristin Gordon Uses Lifes Obstacles As Motivation To Push Her Limits

Today’s guest is a woman that embraced running a little later in life.

Her passion for the sport inspired her to begin coaching and help others reach their goals as well.

I am looking forward to going a few easy miles with Kristin Gordon today.

All Or Nothing

Kristin Gordon was never a runner while growing up.

She first picked up the sport after the birth of her second child as a means to lose weight.

Running first began as a way to get in shape, but it didn’t take long for Kristin to begin enjoying it.

Kristin began training for a half-marathon, but it didn’t take long for her plans to change.

A friend convinced Kristin to run a full marathon instead of a half as her first official race.

Kristin’s first marathon was a positive experience overall and she finished in around 4 and a half hours.

A few days after completing the race, Kristin underwent surgery and it would be another 3 years before she would run again.

A Challenging Comeback

Kristin’s return to running after 3 years away from the sport, was not without challenges.

When she began running again she had undergone 3 c-sections and had 3 children.

The process was slow and at times frustrating, but Kristin was determined to stick with it.

Kristin had her fourth and final child in May of 2017 and has since set some big goals.

As a way to stay consistent and have a goal to focus on, Kristin challenged herself to qualify for the Boston marathon.

She knew that achieving this goal without some help would be hard, so she enlisted the help of a coach.

Starting in January of 2018 Kristin began working closely with a coach to train and in September of that year, she earned a coveted BQ.

Focus On What You Can Control

Kristin ran in her first Boston Marathon in April of 2019.

She had a goal for the race, but uncooperative weather forced her to adjust that goal.

Boston didn’t go exactly as Kristin had envisioned, but she learned a valuable lesson that day.

Kristin learned to adjust her race plan as needed and to control what she could control.

One of those things that she could control was her training.

Kristin has had both good and bad experiences with coaches.

It took working with a coach to realize the benefits of having an outside perspective.

For Kristin, a coach provided accountability, an extra push, and a belief in her abilities.

Down But Not Out

Kristin experienced her first major running injury this past year.

She was diagnosed with a stress fracture in her right foot which would make her unable to bear any weight on that foot.

Low Vitamin D levels, overtraining, and less than ideal nutrition in her past were all likely contributors to her injury.

The forced break from running was the push Kristin needed to branch out and try other activities.

Kristin has shifted from running to lifting weights as her stress-relieving outlet.

The experience of being injured has taught Kristin that running doesn’t have to be all or nothing.

Don’t Overcomplicate Things

As a coach and as an athlete Kristin applies the same principles.

It was only in the past year that Kristin has been regularly strength training and progressively building.

She does most of her strength routines in her home with minimal equipment.

Strength training for runners doesn’t have to be complicated according to Kristin.

Routines can be as simple as bodyweight exercises and the use of a band.

Kristin stresses to her athletes that it is critical they know what their weaknesses are.

Coaching others and helping them reach their goals has been the greatest part of coaching for Kristin.

---

Mentioned In This Episode:

• Peace Love and Run Coaching

Stay connected with Kristin Gordon by following her on Instagram.

---

Kristin Gordon is a mom of 4, runner, and coach. When life throws challenges her way she responds by pushing back harder. From a new runner to a Boston qualifier, her limits are endless. Click To Tweet

---

As Always, I’d Love to Know What Stood Out to You From this Episode! Let Me Know Your Takeaway in the Comments Below!

---

 Want to Support the Continued Growth & Production of the Show?

Check out the support page for ideas and suggestions of ways you can help me grow the show. And remember, not all support involves money. Some of the best ways you can show your support are 100% free.

Subscribe to the Show

Never miss another episode of the Diz Runs Radio by subscribing to the show, and for my fellow Apple fans out there, it’s never been easier now that the podcast app is native on the new operating system. iPhone/iPod/iPad users click here. Android users click here. SoundCloud users click here.

Please Give Me Some Feedback!

Take the 6 question listener survey to help me shape the future of this podcast.

Register for a Free Race Training Plan

Every month, I’m giving away a FREE training plan for the race of your choice. For details/information, and to sign up, just click here.

Join The Tribe!

There’s always room for more members of the tribe! Both the Facebook group and the email group provide opportunities that can’t be found anywhere else. The Facebook group is still small, but it is a great way to connect with fellow runners and foster community amongst like-minded individuals. The email group is THE way to stay up to date about future guests on the show, as well as getting some other freebies and offers that aren’t available to anyone else. If you’ve got questions about either/both, just let me know!