Meet Our Members: Amy Stabins

"Meet Our Members" is where we get to know a little more about our fellow Striders -- who they are, why they run, and why they're part of the Central Maine Striders.

In this edition of "Meet Our Members", Amy Stabins agreed to answer our questions over email.  Amy is 51 years old, joined the Striders about 3 years ago because she'd like to connect with other runners, prefers trail running over road running, and would love it if we'd have more group runs targeting slower runners [Editor's note:  We're working on it].

Amy running at the Pineland Farms Trail Running Festival

Here's more of what Amy had to say:

​Why‌ ‌and‌ ‌when‌ ‌did‌ ‌you‌ ‌start‌ ‌running?‌ ‌ ‌I‌ ‌started‌ ‌running‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌summer‌ ‌of‌ ‌2010.‌  ‌I‌ ‌had‌ ‌been‌ ‌a‌ ‌road‌ ‌cyclist,‌ ‌but‌ ‌was‌ ‌starting‌ ‌to‌ ‌feel‌ ‌unsafe‌ ‌on‌ ‌our‌ ‌crumbling‌ ‌rural‌ ‌roads.‌  ‌I‌ ‌also‌ ‌love‌ ‌hiking,‌ ‌but‌ ‌its‌ ‌hard‌ ‌to‌ ‌find‌ ‌the‌ ‌time‌ ‌to‌ ‌travel‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌great‌ ‌hiking‌ ‌on‌ ‌a‌ ‌regular‌ ‌basis.‌  ‌I‌ ‌knew‌ ‌several‌ ‌people‌ ‌who‌ ‌had‌ ‌taken‌ ‌up‌ ‌trail‌ ‌running‌ ‌and‌ ‌really‌ ‌loved‌ ‌it.‌  ‌I‌ ‌had‌ ‌always‌ ‌hated‌ ‌running,‌ ‌but‌ ‌decided‌ ‌to‌ ‌give‌ ‌it‌ ‌a‌ ‌try.‌  ‌It‌ ‌could‌ ‌fill‌ ‌my‌ ‌need‌ ‌for‌ ‌exercise‌ ‌(instead‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌bike)‌ ‌and‌ ‌my‌ ‌love‌ ‌of‌ ‌being‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌woods,‌ ‌exploring‌ ‌local‌ ‌trails.‌ ‌

​Why‌ ‌do‌ ‌you‌ ‌run‌ (now)?‌ ‌ ‌I‌ ‌fell‌ ‌in‌ ‌love‌ ‌with‌ ‌it!‌  ‌I‌ ‌love‌ ‌running‌ ‌through‌ ‌the‌ ‌woods. Also,‌ ‌having‌ ‌one‌ ‌parent‌ ‌with‌ ‌demetia,‌ ‌and‌ ‌another‌ ‌who‌ ‌had‌ ‌type‌ ‌2‌ ‌diabetes‌ ‌and‌ ‌heart‌ ‌issues,‌ ‌I‌ ‌am‌ ‌particularly‌ ‌motivated‌ ‌to‌ ‌make‌ ‌healthy‌ ‌choices‌ ‌when‌ ‌it‌ ‌comes‌ ‌to‌ ‌diet‌ ‌and‌ ‌exercise.‌ ‌

What‌ ‌do‌ ‌you‌ ‌think‌ ‌about‌ ‌when‌ ‌you‌ ‌run?‌ ‌ ‌I‌ ‌listen‌ ‌to‌ ‌podcasts‌ ‌or‌ ‌audiobooks.‌ ‌

What are ‌your‌ ‌favorite‌ ‌running‌ ‌routes?‌  ‌ ‌
In the summer -‌ ‌Start‌ ‌at‌ ‌the‌ ‌Colby‌ ‌tennis‌ ‌courts‌ ‌and‌ ‌run‌ ‌through‌ ‌the‌ ‌arboretum,‌ ‌then‌ ‌through‌ ‌the‌ ‌woods‌ ‌up‌ ‌the‌ ‌hill,‌ ‌around‌ ‌the‌ ‌top‌ ‌and‌ ‌back.‌  ‌About‌ ‌7‌ ‌miles.‌ ‌ ‌

In the winter -‌ ‌The‌ ‌snowmobile‌ ‌trails‌ ‌through‌ ‌Winslow‌ ‌in‌ ‌a‌ ‌winter‌ ‌with‌ ‌a‌ ‌lot‌ ‌of‌ ‌snow,‌ ‌so‌ ‌its‌ ‌not‌ ‌too‌ ‌icy.‌  Running‌ ‌snomo‌ ‌trails‌ ‌lets‌ ‌you‌ ‌see‌ ‌countryside‌ ‌that‌ ‌is‌ ‌otherwise‌ ‌inaccessible,‌ ‌and‌ ‌its‌ ‌so‌ ‌pretty‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌winter.‌ ‌ ‌

What’s‌ ‌your‌ ‌favorite‌ ‌running‌ ‌gear?‌ ‌ ‌My‌ ‌Nathan‌ ‌hydration‌ ‌pack.‌  ‌As‌ ‌a‌ ‌long-time‌ ‌hiker‌ ‌the‌ ‌backpack‌ ‌doesn’t‌ ‌bother‌ ‌me,‌ ‌and‌ ‌its‌ ‌great‌ ‌for‌ ‌carrying‌ ‌a‌ ‌few‌ ‌extra‌ ‌things‌ ‌for‌ ‌long‌ ‌trail‌ ‌runs‌ ‌(gels,‌ ‌gloves,‌ ‌cleats….‌ ‌Pepper‌ ‌spray).‌

Tracey Cote and Amy running on some winter trails.

What’s‌ ‌your‌ ‌favorite‌ ‌race?‌‌  ‌I‌ ‌like‌ ‌the‌ ‌Pineland‌ ‌25k.‌  ‌Also‌ ‌can’t‌ ‌beat‌ ‌the‌ ‌cost‌ ‌and‌ ‌proximity‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌Quarry‌ ‌road‌ ‌8k.‌ ‌

What’s‌ ‌your‌ ‌most‌ ‌memorable‌ ‌race?‌‌  ‌My‌ ‌very‌ ‌first‌ ‌race‌ ‌was‌ ‌in‌ ‌Belgrade‌ ‌Lakes‌ ‌the‌ ‌day‌ ‌after‌ ‌Hurricane‌ ‌Irene.‌ ‌The‌ ‌storm‌ ‌resulted‌ ‌in‌ ‌a‌ ‌low‌ ‌race‌ ‌turnout,‌ ‌and‌ ‌I‌ ‌placed‌ ‌first‌ ‌in‌ ‌my‌ ‌age‌ ‌group.‌  ‌The‌ ‌second‌ ‌woman‌ ‌in‌ ‌my‌ ‌age‌ ‌group‌ ‌would‌ ‌have‌ ‌taken‌ ‌it,‌ ‌but‌ ‌she‌ ‌was‌ ‌running‌ ‌with‌ ‌a‌ ‌dog‌ ‌that‌ ‌wanted‌ ‌to‌ ‌stop‌ ‌and‌ ‌sniff‌ ‌everything.‌  ‌I‌ ‌won‌ ‌a‌ ‌mug‌ ‌and‌ ‌a‌ ‌map‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌Belgrade‌ ‌Lakes‌ ‌trails.‌  ‌A‌ ‌great‌ ‌ego‌ ‌boost‌ ‌for‌ ‌my‌ ‌first‌ ‌time‌ ‌out!‌ ‌

Do‌ ‌you‌ ‌have‌ ‌any‌ ‌PR’s‌ ‌that‌ ‌you’re‌ ‌proud‌ ‌of‌ ‌and‌ ‌would‌ ‌like‌ ‌to‌ ‌share?‌‌  ‌Not‌ ‌really‌ ‌a‌ ‌PR,‌ ‌but‌ ‌I’ve‌ ‌run‌ ‌the‌ ‌Bradbury‌ ‌Mountain‌ ‌Bruiser‌ ‌(12‌ ‌miles)‌ ‌twice‌ ‌and‌ ‌managed‌ ‌to‌ ‌cut‌ ‌9‌ ‌minutes‌ ‌off‌ ‌the‌ ‌second‌ ‌time.‌  ‌Not‌ ‌sure‌ ‌how‌ ‌I‌ ‌managed‌ ‌that!‌ ‌ ‌

What‌ ‌are‌ ‌your‌ ‌running‌ ‌goals right now?‌‌  ‌I’m‌ ‌training‌ ‌for‌ ‌my‌ ‌first‌ ‌marathon,‌ ‌Sugarloaf‌ ‌2020.‌  ‌I’m‌ ‌totally‌ ‌intimidated‌ ‌and‌ ‌anxious.‌  ‌Not‌ ‌sure‌ ‌how‌ ‌I‌ ‌will‌ ‌manage‌ ‌to‌ ‌find‌ ‌the‌ ‌time‌ ‌for‌ ‌the‌ ‌long‌ ‌training‌ ‌runs,‌ ‌and‌ ‌I’m‌ ‌not‌ ‌thrilled‌ ‌about‌ ‌training‌ ‌on‌ ‌roads‌ ‌to‌ ‌get‌ ‌used‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌pounding‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌pavement!‌ ‌

​What’s‌ ‌the‌ ‌best‌ ‌advice‌ ‌you‌ ‌were‌ ‌ever‌ ‌given‌ ‌about‌ ‌running?‌ ‌‌Try‌ ‌running‌ ‌trails‌ ‌

And, what‌ ‌advice‌ ‌would‌ ‌you‌ ‌give‌ ‌to‌ ‌other‌ ‌runners?‌ ‌ ‌
- When‌ ‌you‌ ‌are‌ ‌starting‌ ‌out,‌ ‌run‌ ‌as‌ ‌far‌ ‌as‌ ‌you‌ ‌can,‌ ‌then‌ ‌walk‌ ‌as‌ ‌far‌ ‌as‌ ‌you‌ ‌have‌ ‌to,‌ ‌then‌ ‌run‌ ‌again.‌  ‌Don’t‌ ‌get‌ ‌discouraged‌ ‌if‌ ‌you‌ ‌can’t‌ ‌run‌ ‌far‌ ‌at‌ ‌first.‌ ‌ ‌

- Read‌ ‌the‌ ‌running‌ ‌magazines‌ ‌with‌ ‌a‌ ‌bit‌ ‌of‌ ‌healthy‌ ‌skepticism. ‌They‌ ‌are‌ ‌full‌ ‌of‌ ‌stories‌ ‌about‌ ‌people‌ ‌who‌ ‌start‌ ‌running‌ ‌late‌ ‌in‌ ‌life‌ ‌and‌ ‌discover‌ ‌that‌ ‌they‌ ‌are‌ ‌super‌ ‌fast‌ ‌and‌ ‌win‌ ‌all‌ ‌kinds‌ ‌of‌ ‌races.‌ ‌ ‌

- Try‌ ‌running‌ ‌trails. They are ‌so‌ ‌much‌ ‌more‌ ‌peaceful‌ ‌than‌ ‌road‌ ‌running!‌ ‌

What‌ ‌do‌ ‌you‌ ‌wish‌ ‌the‌ ‌club‌ ‌did‌ ‌more‌ ‌of?‌ ‌ ‌
Maybe‌ ‌more‌ ‌group‌ ‌runs‌ ‌targeting‌ ‌slower‌ ‌runners?‌ ‌I’d‌ ‌love‌ ‌to‌ ‌do‌ ‌more‌ ‌group‌ ‌runs,‌ ‌but‌ ‌I’m‌ ‌intimidated‌ ‌by‌ ‌faster‌ ‌runners.‌  ‌A‌ ‌long‌ ‌slow‌ ‌run‌ ‌for‌ ‌me‌ ‌is‌ ‌not‌ ‌9-10‌ ‌minutes‌ ‌per‌ ‌mile…‌ ‌it's‌ ‌more‌ ‌like‌ ‌12-13‌ ‌minutes‌ ‌per‌ ‌mile.‌ ‌

​Tell‌ ‌us‌ ‌a‌ ‌story,‌ ‌preferably‌ ‌about‌ ‌running.‌ ‌ ‌
I‌ ‌was‌ ‌about‌ ‌ten‌ ‌miles‌ ‌into‌ ‌the‌ ‌Pineland‌ ‌25k‌ ‌race‌ ‌when‌ ‌I‌ ‌guy‌ ‌who‌ ‌was‌ ‌passing‌ ‌me‌ ‌said‌ ‌“Oh!‌ ‌Race‌ ‌shirt‌ ‌on‌ ‌race‌ ‌day!”.‌  ‌He‌ ‌and‌ ‌his‌ ‌friends‌ ‌were‌ ‌doing‌ ‌a‌ ‌scavenger‌ ‌hunt‌ ‌during‌ ‌the‌ ‌race.‌  ‌I‌ ‌had‌ ‌volunteered‌ ‌for‌ ‌the‌ ‌races‌ ‌on‌ ‌the‌ ‌previous‌ ‌day,‌ ‌so‌ ‌I’d‌ ‌picked‌ ‌up‌ ‌my‌ ‌race‌ ‌shirt‌ ‌early‌ ‌and‌ ‌was‌ ‌able‌ ‌to‌ ‌wear‌ ‌it‌ ‌for‌ ‌that‌ ‌day’s‌ ‌race.‌  ‌The‌ ‌next‌ ‌year‌ ‌I‌ ‌made‌ ‌my‌ ‌own‌ ‌scavenger‌ ‌hunt‌ ‌list,‌ ‌with‌ ‌things‌ ‌like‌ ‌‘tie‌ ‌dye‌ ‌socks’,‌ ‌‘bleeding‌ ‌wound’,‌ ‌‘running‌ ‌in‌ ‌a‌ ‌dress’,‌ ‌‘barefoot‌ ‌runner’,‌ ‌etc.‌  ‌It‌ ‌made‌ ‌a‌ ‌long‌ ‌race‌ ‌day‌ ‌a‌ ‌little‌ ‌more‌ ‌interesting.‌ ‌

Amy in her costumes at the Hardy Girls Halloween Freaky 5k races.

And, what‌ ‌do‌ ‌you‌ ‌do‌ ‌when‌ ‌you’re‌ ‌not‌ ‌running?‌ ‌ ‌My‌ ‌husband‌ ‌and‌ ‌I‌ ‌are‌ ‌raising‌ ‌two‌ ‌teenagers‌ ‌(boy‌ ‌and‌ ‌girl).‌  ‌I‌ ‌also‌ ‌spend‌ ‌time‌ ‌with‌ ‌my‌ ‌mom,‌ ‌who‌ ‌has‌ ‌Alzheimers‌ ‌and‌ ‌lives‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌Memory‌ ‌Care‌ ‌unit‌ ‌at‌ ‌Woodlands‌ ‌in‌ ‌Waterville.‌  ‌I’m‌ ‌also‌ ‌an‌ ‌avid‌ ‌amateur ‌quilter.‌ ‌

Thanks for letting us get to know you a little better, Amy.  We're glad to have you as a Central Maine Strider!

Would you like to be featured in a future "Meet Our Members" article?  Contact us at [email protected].

Amy at the start and then the finish of the recent Lamoine Half Marathon.