Namita Nayyar:
Share the diet that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit? Five foods you absolutely love. Do you love to cook?
Courtney Frerichs:
I like to focus on eating whole foods and having a balanced diet. I absolutely love to cook and have found it to be a passion of mine outside of training. This helps me to prioritize good nutrition and know what I am putting in my body.
I also try to eat intuitively which helps me to fuel with what my body needs and not deprive myself of anything (I love dessert and still enjoy it in moderation). Five foods I love are salmon, pasta, spinach, raspberries, and chocolate.
Namita Nayyar:
Having to train constantly in extreme climate conditions, how do you take care of your skin and hair?
Courtney Frerichs:
I spend a lot of the year training at altitude meaning I am getting a lot of extreme sun exposure. I make sure sunscreen is a priority in order to protect my skin from sun damage. I am also a big fan of Bumble and Bumble’s Hairdresser Invisible Oil shampoo and conditioner for my hair to help maintain moisture with the dry conditions and needing to wash it often after training.
Namita Nayyar:
You attribute your accomplishments to gymnastics, strength training, and her teammates. Who has been your greatest influence and motivator in your success in the field of your career?
Courtney Frerichs:
My college coach, James Butler, has been one of the greatest influences in my running career. He saw something in me and helped me to dream big. His belief in my abilities helped me to build confidence and push myself further than I dreamed possible. I would not be the athlete I am today if it wouldn’t have been for his guidance early in my running career.
Namita Nayyar:
Share with us your HIIT home workout that works great for a runner’s body? 5 stretches you like to kick start your day.
Courtney Frerichs:
We do various ladder exercises during our training. These help to work on quick feet while also getting in a good cardio workout. The circuit includes things like forward and backward two footed jumps, sideways jumps both directions, carioca, and run throughs. Stretches I like to kick start my day are the hip flexor stretch, pigeon, foam rolling, hamstring stretch with a rope, and butterfly.
Namita Nayyar:
Five tips to work upon for aspiring long-distance runners.
Courtney Frerichs:
- Consistency is key. Long distance running is something that you have to work on for a long time. Stay the course and appreciate all the victories along the way.
- Don’t judge a run by the first mile. This is something I always have to remind myself. Each day will be different in terms of how long your body takes to warm up. Long distance running is all about riding out the highs and lows and you will experience these on almost every run.
- Find joy in the process. We all want to see the results from training, but being able to fall in love with running each and every day and find joy in each step along the way to a goal will result in the most fulfillment from running.
- Set goals- Running is hard! But it is so fulfilling when you work hard and achieve the goals you have set for yourself.
- Surround yourself with people that bring out the best version of you- training with like-minding people is one of the best ways to make the most out of your training and hold yourself accountable. It’s also so much more enjoyable when you can share your successes with others.
Disclaimer
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
