Carina Willette

Carina Willette
Resides in: Allentown
Years running: 2-3 years
Bio: I’m 26 years-old, married to my wonderful husband Brian. I started running when my friend asked me to train for the Broad Street Run. Since then I have run two half marathons and two full marathons, and a few smaller races. I have met some amazing people through my running group, Team in Training, a charity running group that raises funds for Leukemia and Lymphoma. I enjoy running in Lehigh Parkway and spending time with family and friends.

What do you enjoy most about running?
I love the challenge running has to offer. In the past, I was never a good long distance runner and had a tough time running over 2 miles, but with hard work and a lot of training, I entered my first 10 mile run and finished! Since then I’ve been addicted to running. I love being able to train HARD and accomplish my goals. Running offers such a sense of fulfillment.

What gets you excited about running?
My Saturday morning long runs! I never thought I would enjoy those 20 mile training runs, but I love being able to catch up with friends and make new ones. Every Saturday morning, I run with a group called Team in Training made up of inspiring individuals that raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I have made some amazing friends there and enjoy my longs runs with them.

What are your favorite training foods?
For my long runs, I use Powerbar gels 1x caffeine. I take one before my long run and usually take one every 45 minutes. They work very well for me and keep me strong throughout my long runs. I took 6 gels during my last marathon, and never felt sluggish or even tired.

What is your biggest running accomplishment and why?
My biggest accomplishment happened on 10/10/10 when I ran the Steamtown Marathon. I set a difficult goal: to qualify for the Boston Marathon. I would have to cut 41 minutes off my marathon time from the year before. I trained extremely hard! With each step I took, I felt faster and stronger.

At mile 17, my husband and family were there cheering. My husband had a sign that said: “Carina You’re DYNAMITE!” and blasted Taio Cruz’s Dynamite song! At mile 22 I heard my name being called from a distance … a few seconds later all of my Team in Training friends were beeping the horn, and screaming as loud as they could as they drove by me “GOOOO CARINA!” I also had my Team in Training coaches run with me on certain parts of the course to make sure I was feeling good. (Talk about some amazing support!)

I was feeling more than good and crossed the finish line in 3:38:58 to qualify. I will never forget this accomplishment, especially because my husband, family and friends from Team in Training were there to support me.

Running Heroes?
I never had a true running hero until I met Fran Gough.  He organized an awesome event in Alburtis, PA called the 10k 5 bar beer run.  After speaking with him for a few minutes, he was one of those people you knew were going to make a difference in your life.  I told him I wanted to cut 41 minutes off my marathon time to qualify for Boston.  And he was so willing to help me.  He taught me running workouts that I never would have attempted, and ultimately taught me how to run smart. Without him, I wouldn’t be where I am today.  Thanks Fran, you are an awesome friend and great coach!  Also my heros are those who I run in honor of: the patients who are affected by cancer. They are heroes who motivate me to make a difference and train hard.

What are some things you’ve learned about yourself from running?
I’ve learned that I am a lot stronger than I thought I was. When I put my mind to reach a goal, I do whatever it takes to accomplish it. Whether it be running in the snow, getting up at 5am before work, or running 20 miles on vacation … I am a lot more determined than I realized!