Interview with Jill at RunEatSnap + Introducing the Twin Cities Fitness Guide
-What could be better than new blogger and blogger project introductions on a Friday?!-
Happy Friday everyone and welcome to the end of the work week! Today I am super excited to share with you that I am collaborating with Jill at RunEatSnap to review the many fitness classes offered throughout the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St.Paul) area! We will be posting 1 review each and every Friday and couldn’t be happier to kick things off today!
The Twin Cities Fitness Guide {TCFG}
The Twin Cities Fitness Guide {TCFG} is a collaborative effort by health and fitness bloggers Define Fettle & RunEatSnap. This guide offers reviews on the many emerging fitness studios & gyms throughout the Twin Cities area. We created this guide as a resource for you to turn to when looking for a studio that fits your goals, lifestyle, and needs, or maybe you’re just looking for a new class to try out. Plus, fitness is our JAM and after finding all of these awesome places, we couldn’t help but share them with you! We have participated in classes at each & every studio reviewed in order to give you first hand advice on what to expect when attending classes yourself.
So without further ado, I’d like to introduce to you Miss Jill Merkle of RunEatSnap.
Tell us about your background?
I am 29 years old and currently living in Minneapolis, MN where I am a Registered Dietitian (RD) specializing in sports nutrition. I am originally from Indiana where I got my bachelor’s degree in psychology from Indiana University before pursuing my second bachelor’s degree in dietetics at the University of Southern Indiana. I completed my dietetic internship and master’s degree in sports nutrition at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, UT. I am an avid runner and I have run over 40 races including 8 half marathons and one full marathon. I have a goal to run a race in every state. I also love photography and hope to pursue it more seriously in the future.
What is your blog about?
My blog RunEatSnap is mostly about my three favorite things - running, food, and photography. I write about other random things such as books I read and my pet peeves in life.
What inspired you to start a blog?
Being a dietitian, I get frustrated with all the poor nutrition information that is in the media and news. I started my blog in order to provide quality nutrition information and to inspire others to live a healthy lifestyle. I didn’t want to write solely about nutrition though so I also use my blog to write about my other endeavors, running and photography. I like the variety and I have met so many people through the crazy world of blogging. I had no idea blogging was so huge until I started mine in August 2015. I absolutely love it!
What motivates you to stay healthy?
In undergrad, I did not have the healthiest lifestyle. I stayed up late, went out often, ate Pizza Express way too much, etc. It wasn’t until I started running and exercising regularly (post-college, in 2009) that I began to pay attention to my food choices. I quickly lost the weight I had gained in college and saw such an impact on my athletic performance. That is what sparked my interest in returning to school to become a RD. My area of interest was always sports nutrition and I have had the pleasure of working with athletes of all ages - youth, high school, collegiate, professional and adult “weekend warriors”. I want to help others realize that making small changes can, over time, lead to big results. Nutrition plays such an important role in athletic performance and recovery but also in overall health.
What is your favorite type of exercise?
Running is my favorite type of exercise but I enjoy switching things up by trying new fitness classes. Currently, I incorporate strength training, cross training, and yoga into my regular running routine. When I am not training for a race, I feel like I have more flexibility and time to try new types of exercise.
Why is fitness important to you?
Running is my therapy. I love the way running makes me feel. If I am having a bad day or don’t feel like exercising, once I get running I immediately feel so much better. Even if I have a bad run where I have little energy or things just didn’t feel right, I still feel better for getting out there and trying. Running allows me to explore new areas when I’m traveling, and I love the running community and the sense of friendship when I pass another runner on the trail. Before I discovered my love for running, I was not consistent with my fitness routine. Now, even when I am not training for a race or when I am injured and unable to run, I still find ways to workout at least 4 times a week. It helps me balance everything else that is going on in my life and makes me feel like I have control over something. I just finished reading Mile Markers: The 26.2 Most Important Reasons Why Women Run by Kristin Armstrong and she really nails it on the head. Running plays such a big role in my overall life and health.
Fun Facts:
Favorite Food: (It’s so hard to pick just one!) Even though I’m a dietitian, I would have to say my favorite food is chocolate. I have a serious sweet tooth.
Favorite Musician: Justin Timberlake (and Nsync back in the day)
Favorite Place You’ve Visited: Australia (I studied abroad there in college). My favorite state I’ve visited so far in the US is North Carolina.
Favorite Movie: Dirty Dancing
Favorite Meal to Cook: Easy one pan dishes such as my Sweet Potato Skillet recipe.
