Hello, fellow runners,

Kruthika here (I'm open to a new nickname here, something cool, though). I moved to Philly from the West Coast about a year ago. I was a hiker and backpacker and enjoying life on the West Coast, but I decided to go back to school to torture myself. I wasn’t very active for a year in Philly until I got my footing in school. I got into CrossFit last fall and just started running (quite literally “just”) to enjoy the outdoors more. I also turned 31, and finding friends in grad school has been challenging. My CrossFit community has been awesome, but I want to keep myself motivated to run to crush all the Philly races next year. I just finished my first 5k last week and want to keep the momentum going.

Tips, tricks, training, fixing my form, motivation, help- anything is welcome.

Oh, few things I forgot:

1) Grad school next to University City.
2) Fav place to run, next to Schukyll River and Philadelphia Zoo.
3) No funny running memory but a conversation with my “Runner friend”
ME: Dude, the other day, I wanted to run 4 miles, 2 miles in and back out. But I kept running, and I had to go around Fairmont Park and get myself home. I did 5 miles that day.
RUNNER FRIEND: Oh, you were near Fairmont, you should have told me.
ME : (thinking she would say she will join me to run next time)
RUNNER FRIEND: …..I would have come and picked you up in my car!
ME: 😒
4) Signed up for Philly Run Fest 5k. (I want to get comfortable to get up and accomplish a 5k every other week.)

5) Not a strava premium member on a student budget but here - https://strava.app.link/HgbRC5L6AJb. More impressive stats on AllTrails :)

6) Instagram - @bloodymutant