Age: Both of us are 38
What do you do for a living?
Noemi is an HR Analyst and Craig is the Video Production Manager for Pima JTED
When and why did you start running?
We started running about 10 years ago just as an activity we could do together for exercise.
What is one of your favorite Tucson-area running locations?
A few of our favorites are Sabino Canyon. Saguaro National Park, and Sweetwater (the Pima County trails off Camino del Cerro, west of I-10)
What is one of your favorite workouts and why?
We really enjoy the start of the WOG season with some hill workouts that helps us get ready for the Saguaro 8-miler and the Tucson 10k
What is your least favorite workout and why?
Solo workouts when we can't make it to Workout Group
What groups, if any, do you run with?
We run with The Workout Group and ComeRun.
Tell us about a run, a race, or a training cycle that did not go well. Did you learn anything from that experience?
We both trained for a 50k late 2019 into 2020. There were a lot of ups and downs, including Craig getting injured two weeks before the race. But we persevered and got it done. We learned that training is the hardest part, from the time you have to put in to always running on tired legs, but race day and crossing the finish line makes it all worth it.
What is your favorite race distance? Do you have any advice on how to train for that type of race?
We both picked 10k as our favorite race distance. It allows you to use your speed, but it's not all out and not as hard on your breathing as a 5k. Doing workouts where you start fast, do some medium speed reps in the middle, and then finish fast will help you perform well in a 10k.
Any advice for how to use running to be happily married?
We both know the challenges and rewards of being in a training cycle. Being understanding and helping one another with the everyday chores lets the other focus on hitting goals with a little less stress. We are each other's biggest fans and we love to see each other set goals and crush them.
Is there something cool we should know about you?
Craig is a videographer and has had the pleasure to do some work for On Your Left Fitness at the Oro Valley Triathlon and for the AZT Oracle Rumble. You may even see Noemi carrying equipment or freaking out about how to turn on a camera once in a while.
What are two truths and a lie:
We both ran track in high school.
We ran a race with an NFL player.
We went to a Snoop Dogg concert right before running a half marathon.