Nov. Runner of Month: Chastity Hertel

Congrats to the November Ultimate Fit Runner of the Month Chastity Hertel!  She is 42 years old and moved to Evansville in 1996.  See below for more on Chastity...

**What motivates you to run/walk?
I love to run because it allows you to challenge yourself and to do a lot of thinking while you are out there beating the pavement. In addition, I enjoy the friendships I have made since starting to run.
 
**How many races have you participated in?
26 this year and this is my first year of running since years ago in my school days
 
**What age did you start running/walking for fun & competitively?
I ran back years ago in school, but hadn’t ran for years until last year around late October early November at the age of 42.
 
**Favorite place to run/walk?
I don’t have a favorite place to run, however I do love to run in a lot of out of town races, because it allows me to meet people I would not have normally crossed paths with had I not entered these events. In addition, I love to see new places and running in various states allows me to do just that.
 
**Favorite local race?
The New Harmony Trail Run Half Marathon
 
**Favorite race outside of the Tri-State?
The Detroit Free Press Half Marathon that goes from downtown Detroit across the Ambassador Bridge into Canada
 
**Farthest you have traveled to do a race?
Canada
 
**Favorite race distance?
My favorite distance to run is the half marathon.
 
**Favorite race memory?
My favorite race memory is not of myself, but of my niece Adrienne Price calling me to tell me she completed her first half marathon at the Evansville Half Marathon this year when I was on my way to run the Detroit Free Press Half Marathon. I am so proud of her for setting a goal and accomplishing it.
 
**Craziest thing you saw at or during a race?
I would have to say the craziest thing I have ever saw at a race, was at the Queen Bee Half Marathon. Along the course they have a lot of entertainment and various foods and drinks are offered along the way, of which one of the areas offered hot tea and another offered shots of whiskey. Need I say, I did not partake in either.
 
**Favorite pre & post-race meal/drink?
I don’t really eat a lot the morning of a race,  I typically just have a banana and a GU Energy gel, the same flavor every time, salted watermelon.
 
**What is your favorite brand of running shoe?
Brooks, previously I preferred the Brooks Launch 4, but since the release of the new Brooks Levitate I would say it”s the best shoe I have ever used and I love it.
 
**How many miles do you run/walk a week?
I average around 50 miles per week
 
**What are your future goals for running/walking? 
I have not yet completed a full marathon, my goal is to do so in the spring.

**Favorite time of day to run?
I don’t have a preference on the time of day I like to run. Sometimes I run mid morning, but more often or not I run in the afternoons. I don’t mind the heat of the day to run because I feel you must be prepared for whatever conditions arise for the run on race day, so its good training to practice even in the heat of the day.
 
**Favorite weather to run in?
I don’t have a preference on the temperature of the days I run. As stated above, I feel you must be prepared for whatever conditions arise for the run on race day, so it’s good training to run in all different temperatures of weather.
 
**Music or no music?
I prefer to run with music