Mette Ivie Harrison
Mette is 38 and has 5 children: Hope, 14; Sage, 13; Sam, 11; Faith, 9; Zach 6. Mette is a Writer whose hometown is New Jersey.
Here are a few facts about Mette on running:
Years running: I started running in 2003, after visiting a sports doctor for pain in my knee while biking. I had run for a few months in college, but quit because of the pain in my knee. But when the doctor said I should actually start running again to help my knee pain, I thought he was insane (he also gave me some stretches). I ran .1 miles on the treadmill the first day, .2 miles the next, figuring I'd stop when it started hurting. I hit 6 miles and decided to do a marathon, because I was afraid my running days were limited and it was on my life list things to do. I talked to a friend, Nathan Pollard, who asked what my longest long run was. When I told him, he did everything in his power to talk me out of the marathon in 4 days' time. He introduced me to gu and told me how to recognize if I had an injury. Another running friend, Jen Koldewyn, gave me a "plan": to walk 1 minute after every mile marker. I did this the whole time and finished the Ogden Marathon in 2004 in 4:45. I couldn't run for about 4 months after that, but I kept up biking and swimming and in August I finished the Jordanelle Olympic distance triathlon in 2:44, and took first place in my age group. I had never taken first place in any event in my life. I was hooked!
Weekly mileage: I put in about 10-15 hours a week in total exercise, including daily yoga, some weight lifting, swimming and biking. My running depends on what I'm training for. Sometimes I only do 20 miles a week. Sometimes as much as 60 miles, in training for a 50 miler. In 2007, I did the OV50 and ran one Friday on the treadmill for 30 miles and another 20 the next day, also on the treadmill. The weather was nasty and I'm a chicken about running outside in the dark or cold!
Favorite race distance or race: Anything I can win! Actually, I like long distance races where I am never feeling my heart beat out of my chest. I know you're supposed to do that kind of stuff, and I do it dutifully once a week, but I like it easy.
PR's - (5K, 10K, ½, mara, Ultra) or proudest running accomplishment: My 5k PR is 21:00 and my marathon PR is 3:40 (2006 Top of Utah). I think I am proudest of the OV50 the last two years. I wanted so badly to beat my first year's time (10:11), and my husband came out to run the last two miles with me. I was glad he did, because I was able to finish strong and beat my time by two or three minutes.
Favorite training run: I like hills. I can't believe I am saying that, but I do. I like running up the Snowbasin trail. I am afraid of animals and cars and ice, though, so I do run a lot on my treadmill.
Why run - (motivation, inspiration): My brain sometimes won't turn off, so I run for the peace. If I'm going hard enough, I can't think about anything else. Sometimes, if I can't sleep, I'll get up at 1:00 or 2:00 and run 10-15 miles on the treadmill to make sure I'm tired.
Goals: I'd like to get my 5K PR under 20:00 and next year I'm trying to talk my husband into doing the OV50 with me.
Favorite music to run to: I am really boring. I don't run with music very often. I do, however, watch Buffy and Angel reruns while on the treadmill.
Favorite running gear - (shoes, apparel, etc.): I have this red outfit I always wear in the winter. Black long-sleeve shirt and black tights with a red shirt and red shorts on top. I figure this helps me stay visible. But I guess some people think it is funny-looking.
Best advice you've been given as a runner: Do yoga every day. I think this has really helped me to keep injuries away, and since no running happens when you are injured, that's the most important thing.
Best motivational quote: There is no failure; only temporary non-success
Your role model:
Favorite food: I am never hungry for hours after a long race. Or before a race, either, because of the nerves. But I always make myself eat bananas anyway, because they are one thing that I can always keep down.
Hobbies or interests other than running: I do triathlon, and I met my husband on the high school swim team. Right now, my three daughters are on the CCAT swim team with Shad. I also take piano, which I never did as a kid. I'm not very good. My musically talented daughter wishes that I would stop trying to play duets with her, and she asks me to sing softer when she has to sit next to me in church.
Anything else the world might want to know about you: I am a writer and I have a website at www.metteivieharrison.com with a section on triathlon and running and a daily blog. My published books include: THE MONSTER IN ME (about a teenage girl who is taken away from her drug addicted mother and learns to love running the hills in Heber Valley), MIRA, MIRROR (the Snow White story from the point of view of the mirror, who is the enchanted sister of the evil queen), and THE PRINCESS AND THE HOUND (about a prince who can talk to animals, except for the hound that is the companion of the princess to whom he is betrothed). I have a new book, THE PRINCESS AND THE BEAR (an original fairy tale with romance) coming out in April. It should be at all the Barnes and Nobles stores in the area.
