Athlete Profile - Jeremy Heath
Athlete: Jeremy Heath
Lives City/State: Phoenix, Arizona
Go to Orange Mud Gear: Vest Pack 2
Primary Sport: Running
Tell us a bit about yourself. What’s your passion, your joy in life, anything special you’d like to share.
I love challenging myself both physically and mentally. There are endless challenges when it comes to running and that’s why I was drawn to it. But it’s the people I’ve met, friends I’ve made, and experiences I’ve had along the way that made me fall in love with running.
What sports do you participate in?
Running (Road and Trail), Obstacle Course Racing, Cycling and Hiking.
What is your favorite race food?
I use baby food pouches for fuel. Odd, I know, but don’t knock it until you’ve tried it!
What is your go to hydration mix?
Nuun Performance.
Do you have a major quirk you’d like to share?
Running, Obstacle Course Racing, Cycling, writing for fitness websites, and more—I may not be an expert at one thing, but I do a little bit of everything. I love new adventures and learning new skills. I guess you could call me a jack of fitness trades.
If you were relate to an animal, what would it be?
Probably a wolf. I love running at night under the moonlight.
If a newbie to your sport asked for one piece of advice, what would it be? Every run can’t be a PR. You’re going to have bad runs. Just accept them and learn to relish the great runs!
Do you have any racing pet peeves? (Gel packets, mud, thorns, smelly runners, etc).
Share the road/trail! Whether your alone or running with friends, be mindful of your surroundings. If someone wants to pass, move to single file so they can go around.
What do you do for fun?
I teach cycling class, grab beers with friends, and watch way too much Netflix.
What is your post race ritual?
Burger and Fries. Sure there’s stretching and all that involved, but I always gotta have my burger and fries to celebrate and re-fuel.
How long have you been running?
About 13 years now.
Why do you enjoy the sport?
The community is amazing and the most encouraging people you’ll ever meet. Everyone smiles, waves, and supports one another. Your competitors are your cheerleaders and your friends. And no matter if you finish first, or finish last, you’re still amazing for accomplishing your goal!
What's your favorite trail race?
Aravaipa Running puts on some amazing trail races.
What's your favorite local trail?
National Trail at South Mountain
What's your go to piece of Orange Mud gear and why?
Vest Pack 2. I love being able to have water in one bottle, and electrolytes in the other. Easy to re-fill at aid stations (during long races) and bottles are easy to clean. For OCR events, I rely on the endurance pack—super comfy, lightweight and stays close to my body. I can get over obstacles and under barbed wire without even knowing it’s there!
Profession and educational background?
I have a background in TV and Marketing. I currently work for RightThisMinute, a nationally syndicated television show featuring viral videos.
What is your biggest accomplishment in your sport?
I may not be the fastest, but I’m constantly challenging my endurance with back to back events, longer and longer distances, and challenging courses. My biggest accomplishment is finally breaking into ultra events, and of course getting addicted!
Do you have a set training schedule and if so, what's it like? If not, how do you decide what to do?
My training schedule changes based on what events I’m training for next. This year, I’m working more strength training in to better compete at OCR events. It’s been a trial and error throughout the years, but I’ve finally learned what training works best for me.
What's your dream race?
I would love to one day work my way up to Western States. But I’m a long way off from there!
Favorite book for athletes?
“Relentless Forward Progress: A Guide to Running Ultramarathons” by Bryon Powell
Do you listen to audiobooks or music during exercise?
Music. Tunes get me pumped and help push me when I need it most.
What advice would you give to a new runner coming into the sport?
Baby steps. You’re not going to be marathon ready overnight. Set small goals for yourself. Increase your mileage slowly, no matter how small you have to start. You WILL get there. Just have patience.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
From my friends, both online and in my local running community. I feed off of everyone energy, advice, and seeing others achieve amazing goals helps inspire me to set new ones for myself.
Have you struggled with any injuries? How do you manage them?
More than I can count. But I have learned to listen to my body, always incorporating rest and recovery. I visit a Physical Therapist often, and foam roll regularly.
What was the best advice you were ever given?
Just keep moving. There have been many a times that I’ve thought “I’m exhausted. I can’t keep going.” But I was told it’s all about “relentless forward progress” and I’ve busted through many walls by just pushing through and not quitting when I wanted to most!
What is your favorite local running or biking store?
Love Runner’s Den and Sole Sports.
Social Links
Blog: https://confessionsofanamateurathlete.blogspot.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runner_blogger_az/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/runblogaz