Christa Iammarino works 40-45 hours/week on her feet as a nurse, usually broken up into 10-12 hours shifts. This can make it difficult for Iammarino to fit in her quality training, but she does it. Iammarino hasn’t been sick in three years and attributes it to taking care of her body, sleeping over 8 hours a night, and eating healthy. Iammarino qualified for the 2012 olympic trials after running only three marathon races. Read more to see how she does it!
Runners Feed: Take us through a typical day of your life
Christa Iammarino: I usually work 40 hours a week/4 days a week. I have to be at work by 6:30 am and usually get home by 5:00pm. It is difficult to get up at 3:30 am to run before work, so most often I work out after work. My training consists of running 6 days a week/80 miles a week. I will usually do a long run a week, maxing out at 22 miles, and do 2 key workouts a week consisting of interval work and longer tempo or pace work with my coach Tom Clifford. I have been working out with my coach for 2 years. My first marathon was only 1.5 years ago where I ran a 2:53…and in only my 3rd marathon ever I ran a 2:38! I definitely take advantage of my days off work!! This is when I try to do my longer and harder runs, since I have more time. This is also when I fit in my weekly massages, chiropractor or physical therapy appointments. Fitting family life into this training regiment is extremely difficult! I do not have children, and fortunately I have a very supportive husband who calls himself the SHERPA! He has dinner ready for me when I get home from practice at 7:30 pm, which doesn’t give me much time before it’s time to go to bed by 8-9pm!! It is definitely a balance between getting in my runs and ample sleep! Since I have to be at work so early in the morning, I usually go to bed rather early….between 8-9pm. Most nights I try to get at least 8 hours of sleep. I feel this is where I function and feel the best!! I also eat a healthy well balanced diet consisting of lean proteins such as chicken and fish, vegetables, and healthy carbohydrates. I love my carbohydrates…I don’t think that I could live without them!! I think that is why I like to marathon train….I get to eat just about as many carbohydrates as I want! I also incorporate a daily multivitamin with iron and vitamin C. Eating healthy, exercising, and getting adequate sleep are the keys to keeping me healthy! I have not even been sick with a head cold in 3 years…and I work in a hospital around sick people every day! It is definitely a challenging balancing family, work, sleep, and marathon training….but it can be done if you are willing to make the comittment, and have the support and understanding from others around you! It is definitely a sacrifice….but a sacrifice that is worth it in the end!!
CI: I am a certified registered nurse anesthetist with a master’s degree in nursing. I typically works40-45 hours a week, consisting of mostly 10-12 hour work days. This can make marathon training extremely difficult and challenging at times! I have to be at work by 6:30 am and am usually not home until at least 5pm. So needless to say, I try to do the bulk of my long runs or long workouts on weekends or my days off. Sometimes I wish I had the luxury of not having to work while training or a more flexible job….but somehow I manage to make it work!
CI: I will think of the hard work and commitments that I made to get to race day! The hard part is the training and preparation to get to the starting line! Race day is finally the reward for all the work you put into it!!! Marathon training is both physically and mentally taxing…so I think that is the preparation that is going to get you through the race when it gets tough!
Rapid Fire
RF: What will you eat the night before the race?
CI: Pizza is my favorite carb loading meal!!
RF: Race day shoes?
CI: Mizuno Elixirs
View our list of 2012 Olympic Trials Qualifiers Here
