As some of you know I am a member of the New York Flyers. I really like and enjoy running with them because there are so many talented runners in the club! as a new runner I am learning from them in every run!! I also like that there are many different types of runners in the club so I can be running with a sprinter one day and with an ultramarathoner in the next one.
The club has a blog and also a quarterly newsletter where sometimes they Spotlight some of the runners with a biography.....I have to admit that I was really surprised when the editor told me that they wanted to include me as the member spotlight for the June newsletter....I don't think I have a very interesting story not to mention that my runner career is really short and not really very outstanding :) anyway I was honored and I accepted.
Can you believe that some members that I didn't know have recognized me in the street and told me that they like it!! LOL...it is kinda fun but at the same time a little scared....people I don't know now know things about my life.
The newsletter it is only available for members so I can't share the link, which is sad as it is a really nice article with photos etc....but I thought it could be nice to share it with my blog readers too....after all it is already out there ...and what is in the Internet it is not private anymore!! but don't expect any juice info here...it is not that personal!!! LOL
Spotlight on Claudia
CPA / Runner / Ultra Marathoner
In case you were wondering where my accent is from ...
The Early Years
I was born and raised in a small town approximately 30 miles from Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. Although it’s a short distance, I didn’t spend much time in the city when growing up. My family has a huge house there, and I spent a lot of time outdoors. My grandfather used to have a big garden that at times seemed more like a farm than a garden. He had rabbits, ducks, chickens and a lot of vegetables. I still remember when my baby brother was born, my grandfather gave me one of his rabbits to sleep with as I didn’t want my mother to go to the hospital without me. I squeezed the poor rabbit the whole night! I was just 3 years old but remember that night very clearly. (Or maybe I have heard the story so many times that I think I remember it?)
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When my grandfather passed away I picked up his farming hobby and started my own garden. For many years I had not only beautiful flowers but also tomatoes, lettuce, carrots etc. I spent a lot of my free time working in the garden. I used to dream about having my own Japanese garden at home but I didn’t have money to buy all the materials I needed.
I was a very active child and spent a lot of time playing outside, climbing trees and fighting with my brother and cousins; I was the only girl in the family so I needed to learn how to defend myself.
I have a very small family: my grandma, my mother and my brother. We are a very typical “Italian” family. My grandparents were from Italy and we kept most of their lifestyle where family and food are the center of the universe! Life in Argentina is different from the lifestyle here. Families live together and when you go to college you don’t leave home. Actually most of the people leave home just when they get married! Can you imagine that? And even then you probably buy a house a few blocks away from your parents or in-laws. I always thought my life would go in that direction too.
My teenage years were very tough and I needed to grow up very fast, but I had a wonderful mother who took care of my brother and me and to whom I owe everything I am now. I learned at a very early age that if you want something you need to work for it, that nothing is granted in life.
My mom taught me the importance of education. She always took care of giving me the best education she could afford, even if that meant that she couldn’t go on vacation, buy a new dress, or even a good meal. She took me to English classes because she thought it was good to learn a second language, wow! as if she knew my future! Mothers know, right? But I was horrible at it! It was really difficult for me and I used to tell my mom that I didn’t need it because I would never live in a place where people speak English. Lesson learned — NEVER SAY NEVER.
However, I was a good student, a nerd actually. Seriously! I always wanted to get the best grades and be the best one at school. I was the one sitting in the first row all the time and knowing all the answers, but English was always my Achilles heel. If you haven’t spoken with me I must warn you, I have problems with the “J” sound — it comes out “sh”. I can’t pronounce GYM and when I say “John” people think I am saying “Sean”. Other than this, I think you should be able to understand me!
Anyway, the classes helped me to make some money. I started my own “business” teaching English to other kids in the neighborhood. I wasn’t that good, but for those kids, who had no idea about English, I was like Mark Twain. And their parents were happy to pay me for their lessons.
During high school I was part of the softball team at school. I was a pretty good pitcher but I was not crazy about sports, and I dedicated most of my time to study. In my family, school and study were a priority, and sports and arts were not important for anyone around me, as I grew up without considering these essentials.
College Bound
I studied accounting at the University of Buenos Aires where I got my degree as a Public Accountant. In Argentina, the most prestigious universities are public, and most students have to work full time as well as attend school. I wasn’t the exception and I knew I would have to work if I wanted to study because I needed to help my family.
I started working in an administrative position in a full time job just 15 days after finishing high school. I was 17 years old and I haven’t stopped working since then.
For the next six years I worked all day and then commuted for two hours to attend classes at night. The system is different in Argentina. Once you choose a career it generally takes a minimum of six years to complete if you are a good student. During those years I was very busy working all day, going to college at night and studying on weekends. Sports were not part of my life at that time. In fact I was totally a couch potato! When I think about those days and how active I am now I cannot believe the difference!
My career brought me to the Big Apple!
During my last year at college I began my career as an auditor. I joined an international firm as a beginner auditor assistant and started a great career.
For the next nine years I gained experience. Year after year I was promoted until I became a Senior Manager. I was lucky enough to find my career and what I like to do when I was very young. I love my work and I am not shy to say that I am really good at it.
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Six years ago my boss told me that they wanted to send me to New York City for two years to represent Latin American in the Global Methodology department of the firm. It was a good opportunity for my career, but I was really confused about it at the same time. I never thought about leaving my country and my family. I didn’t even have a passport because I had never travelled outside Argentina before.
It was a tough decision since I was very close to my family and I felt responsible for them. However, my mom, even though she really didn’t want me to leave, gave me her blessings and told me that I needed to take the opportunity. Everyone was trying to convince me, but I was feeling very guilty about leaving my family. I remember a female partner in the office who called me and said “You can’t say no! Do you watch Sex and the City? Your life can be like that! You must go to New York!”
I came to New York to meet the people I was going to work with and they took me in a boat ride around Manhattan. It was night and there was a band playing “New York, New York”, on the boat. That was the first time I saw the city. It was like in the movies for me, I never dreamt of something like that, and I was pinching myself to make sure I was really awake. I felt on the top of the world!
Some months later I moved to New York, I had a job but no family or friends. I didn’t know anyone in this country, but I felt in love with the City immediately and I knew I had arrived home!
Getting Active
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I joined a hiking group and I started to go hiking almost every weekend, but sometimes the hike was just too slow for me. I had too much energy to just keep walking and I started to run in the trails. My friends were telling me that I should join a trail running group, but at that time I had no idea that such things exits. These were my first steps to trail running!
The next few years were amazing for my career and my personal life. I got to learn a lot working for the most important partners in the firm as well as travelling around the world for free!
I had a great position that allowed me to travel for meetings to many countries in Europe. Work was not very demanding though. It was something easy for me and that gave me a lot of free time to enjoy my trips and also New York. Also, during this time I took the CPA exams to become a CPA in the US. It was a reward for many years of hard work.
After three years of “Living La Vida Loca” they wanted me back in Argentina, but I was not ready to leave yet. Mom gave me her blessing again (I told you we are a very Italian family!) and I decided to quit my job and stay here.
New job, new life and a new love — running
It wasn’t the best time to take this decision as it was the beginning of the 2008 economic crisis and most people were laid off. I was really lucky and it just took me one resume, one day and one interview to get a job in a similar company in the same position. My mom was right, studies do help and a good resume can open many doors even if you don’t have any contacts.
Finally, after many years of hard work, I took 3 months off before I started working in my new job. It was at this time I started to run.
My first time running was with a co-worker who almost forced me to go with her. I always thought that running was so BORING! She took me to the reservoir and we ran two loops non-stop — my first 3 miles ever! I had no idea about running or running gear; I didn’t have running shoes so I ran with golf shoes! Yes! I ran for the first time with golf shoes, cotton jersey and cotton spandex in a very warm July day!
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The next day I went back by myself and I did 2 loops again. The following week my friend took me to Urban Athletics and I bought my first pair of running shoes.
For the next 3 months I kept running the reservoir loop adding a little more every few weeks, my goal was to be able to run a complete loop in the park without stopping. How easy does that sound now, but at that time it was a huge project for me.
The day before the 2008 NYC marathon I was able to run my first Central Park loop. While doing it I crossed the finish line and saw the preparations for the marathon but I had no idea what that was all about. I was totally clueless about running.
The next morning, I saw in the news that they were running just 2 blocks from my apartment and I went to First Avenue to check it out. I didn't even know how long a marathon was at that time. I was on First Avenue and could feel the energy of the crowd cheering the runners on. I decided right then that I was going to run the following year and the crowd will cheer me on too! I went back home and Googled the NYC Marathon. It was too late to do the 9+1 so I decided to join Team for Kids, and five months before the marathon I started training with them. First, I needed to build a base, so in January 2009 I ran my first half marathon having only done a 10 mile run on the treadmill! I didn’t drink water because I didn’t want to stop and I didn’t eat a gel because I didn’t know about them!
I learned all these things with Team for Kids and it was there where I also learned about the Flyers. Glen Wiener and Brian Hsia were my coaches. After the marathon I decided to join the Flyers because I wanted to keep running.
So, a year later, there I was, running the 2009 ING NYC Marathon and thousands of people I didn't even know were screaming my name for 26.2 miles. That day I knew I would never stop running. I love running because I feel peace when I am out there. I can connect with my body and the environment. I don’t think about anything else other than the road, and since I don’t use an iPod (not even in my lonely long runs) I can perceive things that otherwise I would have never noticed.
Running long — Ultras
Soon after running my first marathon, my friend Celia Kajula started to speak about this crazy idea of running an ultra. I thought she was crazy because we just ran our first marathon and almost couldn’t even walk for a week afterwards. She kept speaking about it, and at that time I also became friends with Deanna Culbreath, an amazing ultra marathoner. So I started to Google about ultras and getting more and more information. Soon the idea sounded interesting.
Just some months after running my first marathon and before even signing up for my second marathon, I was already signed up for my first ultra, a 50 miler, which I did last October in 10:05 hours. I will never forget the moment when I crossed the finish line; it was the most amazing feeling of accomplishment I have ever felt. That day I knew that I am going to run ultras for as long as my body will allow me.
I was motivated by the idea of expanding my physical and mental limits. I need motivation all the time, I need a goal. The idea of completing a 50-mile ultra seemed a new frontier for me. I believe that with proper training and dedication anyone can run far. Having the determination and persistence needed to train for an ultra is the most important part of the training. I wanted to explore how much determination I had to push myself when my body says “STOP!”
A week before starting the training for my first ultra I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my hip, and even though three doctors recommended that I not run longer than 5 miles at the time, I decided to keep running. I did everything I could to recover from the pain: exercises, joint supplements, ice baths. I almost did the whole training in the Bridle Path to avoid the concrete. Have you ever run 27 miles in the path with no iPod? Trust me — it is boring! I have run several “solo” marathons in the Bridle Path.
I have a very demanding job and during winter I work around 70 hours per week, including Saturdays. Training with this busy schedule it is not easy and most of the time I need to do my long runs before going to the office. It is not easy to squeeze a 26 miles long run and get to work on time when you are a slow runner!
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I have been training with some Flyers that fortunately for me are early birds, so we get together on Saturdays at 7:30 AM to do loops in the park. Just to mention some: David Gains, Ed Altman, Elle Green, Steve Hewett and others.
Sometimes I go earlier and do 1 or 2 loops alone and then I join them for the rest of my long run. I am happy to be in such a great running club and have the privilege to run with people with so much experience who are so supportive. Being a relative new runner, I am like a sponge absorbing all the information I can from all the amazing people in our club.
A couple of weeks ago I ran the 50K North Face Endurance Challenge Bear Mountain as a training run because in a few days I will be running the North Face Endurance Challenge Washington DC 50 miler. I am looking forward to it. [Editor: Claudia fiinished the DC 50 miler on June 4th in 80° temps!] My dream is one day to be able to run 100 miles.
Giving Back
Running has given me so much that I wanted to give it back. Last year I joined the NYRR Young Professional Committee. The group raises funds and awareness for NYRR’s community-based youth running programs which promote physical health, emotional well-being and personal achievement in schools and community centers in New York City, across the United States and around the world. I am very involved with this group and we organize many events during the year. I hope the Flyers keep participating in these events as it is a great way to spread our love for running!
Other random things about me:
- Until I was 20 years old I seriously considered being a nun.
- I love cooking. I almost never order food and I can’t leave my apartment without having breakfast first, never! My grandma always told me that you have to have something in your stomach before leaving home and even now I still follow her orders!
- I am very determined. When I was in my early 20’s I decided to move a pile of rocks the height of a house with my own hands. I got blisters, calluses and my hands were bleeding, but I moved the rocks. It took me 3 complete weekends.
- I have a running blog that is on my firm's intranet. At the last Christmas party some people wanted to have a picture with me. So funny! The day before my first ultra, the marketing department sent an email to the whole firm saying "Run Claudia, Run!" I got around 200 emails wishing me good luck. They are very supportive with my running. I guess there are not that many “ultra auditors” .
- I met my best friend at college 18 years ago — this is the longest relationship I have ever had! In all these years we have never fought.
- I have more good male friends than girlfriends, but my few girlfriends are gold!
- I am very handy and I can repair almost everything at home. I also know how to change all the fluids and the oil in a car.
- I ran a race dressed up as a fairy and my picture was the main photo in the NYC marathon website for a week!
- I don’t hunt but I know how to shoot a gun.
- I don’t know how to swim so I will never do a TRI, but I just bought a road bike and I hope to do a duathlon soon.
- I love horror movies and I don’t scream watching them.
- I don’t like avocados! Why does everything in New York have avocados?
3- Run far from home so you are not tempted to cut miles every time you loop around your apartment!! I try to split my run in 2 and run away from home until half the distance……there are not way to come back other than running!!! …and don’t take your metro card with you!!
