Member Spotlight: Missy Burgin
Our second January spotlight is on Team Captain Missy Burgin. Missy grew up in Indiana, moved to New York City ten years ago, and joined the club after she moved to Brooklyn in 2013. Since then she has served on the Race Committee, the Board of Directors, and, most recently, as co-race director of the 2019 Turkey Trot.
In her professional life, Missy leads the Customer Experience Team at Hydrant, an electrolyte hydration mix company, where she gets to make people smile when they’re frustrated. When she isn’t running, Missy enjoys crafting, woodworking, pickling, and urban gardening. Missy also enjoys spending time with her family, friends, her dog Pelican, and her cat Pippa. Missy will be racing to the altar when she gets married this summer.
How did you find PPTC and why did you choose this club?
I found PPTC based on proximity to my then-new apartment in Prospect Heights. When I moved to Brooklyn, I knew nobody. Joining PPTC seemed like a great way to make friends and build a community. Beyond seeing friendly faces while running loops of the park, I find myself crossing paths with members all over the place, whether in my neighborhood, in Manhattan, or at races afar. The club provides a wonderful sense of community, from which I have built long-lasting friendships.
What is your most memorable running memory and favorite race?
My most memorable running memory was running the 2015 Boston Marathon. I ran with fellow PPTCer Michael Kerin and we executed a perfect race. I was just shy of a PR and had such a blast. I didn't need a bathroom stop (which was itself a PR!), and the M in my name fell off my singlet, so people kept cheering for "Issy.” Another highlight at that race was hearing Doug Olney saying "Hey Missy, how ya doing?” as I raced past.
It’s really tough to choose an overall favorite race. I have many super memorable races from throughout my entire running career:
Running a 4:59 mile was memorable. The stomach cramps that came afterwards were unforgettable.
At the Tyson Invite (a pretty prestigious indoor track meet in Arkansas) I sat in the stands next to Jeremy Wariner (400m Gold Medalist).
I outkicked Meghan whats-her-name at an outdoor track conference my sophomore year in college. (She coasted off of me the entire race and tried to pass me with 400 to go – it was a huge 5k PR for me too and my first time under 18 minutes.)
The Boston Marathon (mentioned above)
Pacing Adam Devine during his 100-miler on trails in the middle of nowhere, Vermont, at 12 a.m.
Running to meet Tim after I finished the midnight half so we could finish his race together and being so excited to see him that I ran right into a barrier cone and skinned my knee pretty badly.
What is your favorite race distance? Are you currently training for anything or working towards a running goal?
I love the 5k because it's uncomfortable for the majority of it, but then it's over and you can recover quickly and race it frequently. It's a great distance to test fitness and mental toughness. We’re having a “nobody beats the bride 5k” at our wedding, and I’d like to get some speed for the hilly Maine course so I don’t need to handicap the entire guest list. :)
I’m coming back from an ankle sprain and planning to race the NYC Half. Beyond that, I'd like to PR in the half and the full at least once more in my lifetime. Life and lack of motivation have derailed me recently, but I know it'll come back to me. I’m just not sure when! Breaking three hours at a marathon would be cool, but I'd need a lot of time to get there injury-free.
What do you think about or listen to when you run?
I think about running when I'm running alone -- keeping check on my form and my breathing and my heart rate, assessing how each split feels, and focusing on the end goal of the race. When I'm running with people, usually with Adam Devine, he teaches me about current events, movies, and culture.
What else you would like your teammates to know about you?
I like to run with people (preferably in small groups), so let's go for a run! Can I bring my dog?
PPTC Member Missy Burgin / Photo: PaFoua Hang
Favorite PPTC volunteer opportunity?
The Turkey Trot.
Favorite PPTC event?
I love getting to work hard and cheer at the same time with the Marathon Training Group, even though I didn’t get to join many workouts for the fall season. Running back and forth in the bottom of the park isn’t the same without PPTC-ers.
Preferred pre-race meal?
I like to eat a banana with either a peanut butter bagel or an RX bar (or something high in protein) about three hours before a race.
What is your pre-race ritual, if any, the night before a race and during the morning of?
I’m not too much of a stickler for a routine, but my favorite pre-race ritual is to put on my racing shoes and bounce around the house pumping myself up, sometimes yelling “I wanna go fast! I wanna go fast!” like Ricky Bobby from Talladega Nights.
Favorite recovery tool after a long run or hard race?
Sleep. Work is hard and there’s always something to do, but it’s very important to remember how lack of sleep affects your training and performance. Consider this my formal apology to my running buddies for all the cancelled morning runs because I “didn't sleep well.”
What advice you would give to new runners?
Runners are so unique. I can’t begin to provide advice for a big group. Maybe that’s my advice: remember that folks’ bodies respond differently, so trust your training. It’s okay if your legs feel crappy when your running buddies’ feel great! And it’s also okay if you feel like crap when tapering!
What advice you would give to your younger running self?
You should race a marathon while you’re young and fast!
Interview by PaFoua Hang and Linda Chan
Edited by Anna Gold
Produced by Alison Kotch