Currently running in:
 Adrenaline™ GTS 8
Vapor™-Dry2 Capri
Equilibrium LS
Read Shelley Neal's Blog |
Where do you live?: West Seattle, WA
Day job: Administrator and Teacher at "A Child Becomes" Pre-Primary School, West Seattle, WA
When did you become a Brooks I.D. Member?: 2003 or 2004
Date of birth: October 17, 1962
High School: Seattle Prep (Seattle, WA )
College: B.A. in Education and B.A. in Humanities, Seattle University; Master's in Teaching at National University, San Diego, CA
Personal Record(s): 3,000 Adidas meet, OR - 10:05; 5K - 17:15 Race for the Cure. Seattle; 8K- 29:09 Beat the Bridge, Seattle; 10K - 36:15 Sun Run B.C.; 12K - 46:03 Bloomsday, Spokane, WA.
11 times National XC CNW qualifier and participant
(I am a Masters now and have slowed down a bit!)
Events Currently Training For: Vancouver Sun Run, Bloomsday, and Beat the Bridge
Miles run/week: 50
Favorite Brooks shoes and apparel?: Adrenaline™ GTS, VaporDry2 Capri , Equilibrium tops in many colors.
Why do you run?: Physical satisfaction, a mental release, and especially to keep up the positive role model I have been to the youth in my area. Every run I go on I am waving to one or more of the hundreds of kids I have taught in my school over the past 20 years and the hundreds I have coached over the years. "West Seattle!" and "There goes Teacher Shelley!" has been shouted for quite some years! Friends sometimes get irritated running with me when I stop to give a high five or a short talk to a kid I have taught or coached. I get the rolled eye look and I have learned to say, "sorry but I knew him when. . .".
Who inspires you?: My husband; Regina Joyce, my best friend; Halle Gebrelllaise (spelling) because his Dad said he would never make it as a runner; Joan Benoit because she runs when it hurts and is still fast a Masters; Tom Cotner because he builds my sometimes low self image and gives me confidence to train hard and consequently get results.
The best thing about being an I.D. Member (besides the discount): I get to have a real reason to promote the product. I feel like I have accountability now for wearing the product--not just getting a good deal. I always wear a Brooks jacket, cap and T to all my practices, plus I have four big Brooks bags for all the gear that the kids can't wait to pull out of my trunk when I arrive sometimes late for practices! Because I am head coach, the kids look up to me and I truly feel like I am a mentor for the sport. I give everyone—the slow and the fast—a reason to feel good. If they can't run, I show them the turbo jav. The overweight kids the shot put. I don't verbally try to get people to go out to and buy Brooks product, I just wear it from top down and because I think I am likeable and inspire, then Brooks product becomes the cool thing for the kids. I believe this is why I get so much interest in the shoes at the beginning of the season. I get them prizes from the Brooks Outlet such as socks or water bottle if they make all the practices. I feel very lucky to be a representative for the clothing and shoes that I think are the best around.
When did you start running?: 1993
What challenges do you face as a runner?: Injury, time management
What do you like to do when you're not running?: Snow and water ski with my older boys, cycle with my husband.
Favorite type of event: Road races
Favorite race: Sun Run in B.C.
Favorite run: Alki to Fauntleroy ferry and back; Whistler, B.C. trails.
Favorite pre- and post-race foods: Same thing every time--bagel with jam, coffee, and Gatorade.
Anything else you’d like to add: Through my own personal experiences I've learned yes, you can run through pregnancy until nine months; and yes, you can get back in shape after and still run fast; and yes, when or if you happen to have a tragedy such as a death of a child, running helps ease the pain. I have had five kids and without running in my life, I would not be the person I am today.
My husband and I have mentioned however that what if one of us. . .? Well, then, we bring up the wheelchair racing as you can never take what you can do now for granted.
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