Hannah Uptigrove for St. Luke's: Why did you start running?
Garrett Dolbear: I started in 3rd grade because it was the first year I could run cross country and track. I have run since I was really little because my dad had gotten into running, so it really has always been in my life.

HU:   What made you want to participate in the Big Beach Marathon 2022?
GD:   I heard about the half because the XC girls had mentioned they wanted to do it. It kind of snowballed as an event because more and more people started talking about doing it and I guess I kind of got stuck in that snowball.

HU:   Before the ½ marathon, what was the longest distance you ran?
GD:   My farthest distance prior to the half was 10 miles.

HU:   Tell us what you did to train/prepare for the ½ marathon:
GD:   I really didn't do any training at all. I had done a 10-miler a week before to see what pace I wanted to run for the actual race, but other than that nothing really.

HU:   How long does it take to train/prepare for a 1/2 marathon?
GD:   It really depends on the condition you are in when you start your training and the difficulty of your training regimen. I say when starting from zero one would probably need about 12 to 16 weeks to fully prepare.

HU:   How did you stay motivated when you were training?
GD:   When I need the motivation to train for any event I think about the goals I have set. I also really enjoy running so it is not too hard for me to find the motivation.

HU:   How do you motivate yourself to run on the days that you don’t want to, do you even have days like that?
GD:   I usually always want to run, but on occasion, I need to think about my opponents and I know they aren't just sitting up on the couch.

HU:   What would be a “newbie” runner tip you would give someone?
GD:   I would tell a "newbie" runner that it is going to be hard in the beginning and that you just have to push through. Running is such a great sport and it will bring you closer to other people and yourself.

HU:   Do you wish you would have done anything differently as far as training or running the ½ marathon, itself?
GD:   I hit the time I wanted to beat for this half (coach Russell's personal record), so I wouldn't have changed anything about what I did this time. Typically I would like to start training for an event several weeks before.

HU:   Do you prefer running with a pacer or doing your own thing?
GD:   I prefer running with a pacer, I am not good at holding my own pace. I either end up going too fast or too slow. It also gives me a chance to talk to someone that is most likely better than me.

HU:   What did you do post-marathon?
GD:   After the marathon my watch had not registered 13 miles yet so I ran a few circles in the parking lot. After that, the team went to the beach for a little while and I went to collect my award. We then all went out to eat, but everyone was super tired and wanted to go home. We ate quickly and all headed home.

HU:   Who is in your running support network?
GD:   My main running support network is my parents, but my team and Coach Russell help out a lot.

HU:   Tell us about your worst running experience.
GD:   I almost got attacked by a dog one time.

HU:   What do you NOT like about running?
GD:   I like pretty much everything about running. One of the things I don't like is running by myself.

Hannah Uptigrove for St. Luke's: Why did you start running?
Taylor Jackson: I have always loved running, but never had the time to fully commit to running as a sport. I mainly picked up running exactly one year ago. I joined the track team to get in shape for soccer, but didn't fall in love with running until cross country season this past summer.

HU:   What made you want to participate in the Big Beach Marathon 2022?
TJ:     I decided to sign up for the half marathon in October, as a postseason activity, after we competed in the Cross Country State Championship in November. Zac Haataja (Class of 2021) made a tradition for senior runners to run a marathon so I figured I should train for a ½ marathon before I try to tackle a full marathon my senior year.

HU:   Was this your first ½ marathon?
TJ:     Yes. In fact, I had never raced any distance over a 5k (3.1 miles).

HU:   Before the ½ marathon, what was the longest distance you ran?
TJ:     Before training, the longest distance I had ever run was a 6-mile long run during practice at the University of South Alabama’s Bike Trails.

HU:   Tell us what you did to train/prepare for the ½ marathon:
TJ:     We were not used to running a concrete long run so the first thing we did was transition from soft trails to full-time concrete running. We would meet on weekends and during breaks to practice increasing our mileage threshold. We started training at a 10-minute average pace for long runs, but then I decided to push a little harder and started training with someone faster than me so that I could increase my average pace. My goal for the race was sub-two hours, which is a 9:09 average split for 13.1 miles. However, I ended training in the 8’s for the last few runs.

HU:   How long does it take to train/prepare for a 1/2 marathon?
TJ:     We trained from the end of November of 2021 until January 2022.

HU:   How did you stay motivated when you were training?
TJ:     I easily found the motivation to keep training as I realized that I actually enjoy longer mileage compared to short distances. My motivation remained because my running group would always meet up at new locations and run in all types of weather, which made training feel refreshing.

HU:   How do you motivate yourself to run on the days that you don’t want to, do you even have days like that?
TJ:     I think it is impossible to have motivation everyday, but I always knew pushing past a mile that felt hard would result in it being easier the next time. The more you push past the pain, the more successful you will be. All of the little successes add up!

HU:   What would be a “newbie” runner tip you would give someone?
TJ:     With me not being able to run a 5k this time last year, I can confidently say that the only way to start is just going for it and pushing through the pain. I recommend finding a group of runners that want you to succeed and will push and motivate you. The first obstacle is just showing up and pushing yourself and it will get easier from there.

HU:   Do you wish you would have done anything differently as far as training or running the ½ marathon, itself?
TJ:     I reached my goal, sub-two, so honestly I wouldn't change anything for my first ½ marathon. My training relieved a lot of stress and I always looked forward to my runs.

HU:   Do you prefer running with a pacer or doing your own thing?
TJ:     During the cross country season, I relied heavily on Anna Marie Bentley to help motivate me during races. For the ½ marathon, I ran with some friends (Andrew, Alex and Mo) that are faster than me to help me start with a good pace and then I finished the last 5 kilometers alone.

HU:   What did you do post-marathon?
TJ:     Post-Marathon was pretty grueling on my body because that was 5k more than I had ever ran (I only ran 10-miles for training). We took a lot of photos on the beach and went out to eat.

HU:   Who is in your running support network?
TJ:     I have the BEST supportive network. My cross country team is the most supportive and loving group of people I have ever met. Last year, Coach Russell, and my teammates, allowed me to walk onto the team brand new. I would not be running right now if it wasn't for the happiness I feel when being with that group of people. Once I pushed past all of the times that I wanted to stop, I found something that makes me happier than anything I have ever done in my life.

HU:   Tell us about your worst running experience.
TJ:     My favorite story to tell is one that actually ended up being my favorite week of the year, Brevard Distance Running Camp in North Carolina. Last summer, while attending Brevard Distance Running Camp, I had the biggest reality check of my life. Since I was a new runner, I cried every single day during the runs. It was the most challenging and intense thing I have ever done due to the altitude and hiking over 60-miles in 5-days. On the very first day, I was running up a mountain in Pisgah National Forest and face-planted sliding down the moss-covered stairs. I was covered in dirt and realized it was about to be a long week!

HU:   What do you NOT like about running?
TJ:     For me, running has gotten to the point where it is my favorite part of my daily routine. I don’t have anything bad to say about running other than it does wear and tear on your body. Injuries are very common for overworking and over usage to areas like the hips and knees. If it wasn't for the injuries, I would run all day!