Member Spotlight – Allison Fowler
Meet Breakaway Training member and San Diego native, Allison Fowler! Allison moved back to San Diego 2 years ago after her career took her out to the Midwest. She is ecstatic to be back home in the La Jolla sunshine, loves the year-round lifestyle in San Diego and thrives on being active outdoors…
Over the past few years, I had dabbled in triathlons and ran several half and full marathons. But I was primarily working out on my own, and didn’t have the regime, training principles or external motivators to push my performance to the next level.
My wonderful friends, Eric and Avelina Kauffman, introduced me to Coach Felipe and Breakaway Training around the same time that I became interested in getting serious and training for the seemingly impossible Ironman race. After meeting with Coach Felipe and hearing about other friend’s success stories (like Kent Frazier), I knew Breakaway Training would be the perfect support system to make the Ironman goal happen.
I’m a big fan of the Camp Pendleton Mud Run. It’s a 10k team race that takes you on a dirty and wet adventure through a lake, mud pits, and wall climbs. Needless to say I never knew being covered in mud could be so much fun!
I had a great experience at the Chicago International Triathlon. The bike course ran up along Lake Shore Drive with fantastic views of the city and Lake Michigan. The San Francisco marathon was also a great race for me (despite the challenging inclines). Running over the Golden Gate bridge through morning fog was totally cool and surreal.
I’m a big Indie Rock music fan (think Arcade Fire, Local Natives, The Black Keys, Rogue Wave), and love catching live shows. I’m currently trying to convince Coach Felipe that going to the Coachella Music Festival in April instead of running the La Jolla Half Marathon will be good for my training…
Besides all things Kashi, my pre/post workout foods usually consist of almond butter and bananas, apples, whey protein shakes and wheat grass shots. During long rides or runs, I will usually chew some Clif Shot Blocks or Stretch Island Fruit Strips.
Any track workout! I love the speed and quick bursts, and get so much energy and motivation from the runners around me.
Black’s Beach hill run. Although I guess it’s a bit of a love/hate feeling, because as much as this workout hurts, mentally, I feel prepared to run/do anything after it. And I think that’s the point…
I’m started to bond more and more with my Garmin watch. Other than that though, I am relatively low-tech when it comes to training devices…
I’m not sure I’m a “real” triathlete yet… case in point, I still run with my Iphone and can’t really change my own bike flat. But in all seriousness, I made a big rookie mistake at the San Diego TriRock Sprint Triathlon. I was way too eager and overconfident off the swim start line, and ended up not being able to control my breathing. I eventually had to backstroke the course, which was so disappointing! I learned after that experience that my best swimming strategy is to take it easy off the start and fall into a comfortable pace before picking up speed.
Go sub 1:40 in a Half Marathon, and compete in and finish my first Ironman. I’d also like to post a Boston Marathon qualifying marathon time.
April: Oceanside 70.3
August: America’s Finest Half Marathon
November: AZ Ironman
Thanks to Allison for sharing with all of us! -Breakaway Training
