Member Spotlight: Leanne Glasser

PPTC Member Leanne Glasser / Photo: Noah Devereaux

April’s second member spotlight is on Leanne Glasser. Born in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, Leanne joined PPTC in July 2018, and has lived in Brooklyn for almost 2 years. Leanne was crowned the club’s newest team captain at awards night in February, a natural replacement for the incomparable Missy Burgin (who, ironically, was the first PPTC member she met!)

When she’s not running, Leanne spends most of her free time with her husband, Dillon – also a PPTC member – and their two dogs, Ruby and Winston. She also loves to travel (fun fact: She lived in South Korea for three years!), is an active member of several PPTC committees and training groups, and loves participating in and cheering at races.

What do you do besides run?

I spend most of my free time with my husband, Dillon, and our two dogs, Winston and Ruby. Ruby and Winston often run with me as well, but they also enjoy long walks in Prospect Park exploring trails and meeting new friends. Both dogs are originally from South Korea, and in every place we’ve lived, their favourite thing to do is explore the neighbourhood with their mom and dad. Our little fur family means the world to me. You can often find us walking in the park on weekends, coffees in hand, dogs trotting happily alongside us. 

I also love to travel! It started when I was in University: My friend and I decided we would volunteer to teach English in Tanzania. We decided to hike Kilimanjaro (because, you know…why not hike the tallest mountain in Africa while you’re volunteering there?) Since then, I’ve booked some sort of travel every year. To my family’s surprise, I really pushed the limits when I graduated with my teaching degree and decided to move to South Korea, instead of getting a substitute teaching job in my hometown like everyone else in my class. From there, the travel bug really took off. I lived in South Korea for three years and traveled to China, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Japan, back to Canada, to California, and finally settled in Brooklyn. 

Now Dillon and I *settle* for living in Brooklyn, but try to find time every year to travel to a new country. This way, we don’t feel the need to move quite so often! 😊(Side note: I say that I “hate” moving, yet we seem to switch locations – apartments, cities, or countries – at least every 2 years. *shrug*) 

WHY PPTC?

How did you find PPTC, and why did you choose this club?  

When Dillon and I first moved to Brooklyn, we knew we wanted to be part of the local running community. We had a great community when we lived in Monterey, and it felt like a priority to find a club that was the right fit for us. We looked on Facebook and Google to see if there were any clubs that met near us in the park. I came across several that advertised running in Prospect Park, PPTC being one of them. However, it took me a couple of months to work up the courage to approach someone in the park to ask about getting involved. I ran NYRR’s Brooklyn R-U-N 5k and saw a few people wearing PPTC singlets after the race. Dillon nudged me to go up and talk to one person in particular, Missy Burgin, who ended up being one of the best first contacts I could have encountered! She was friendly and welcoming, and told me exactly how to get involved with the club. I think I went home that evening and signed up on the website. 

The first run I ever participated in was an Ice Cream run, hosted by the Social Committee on a steaming hot summer morning. There was a great crowd, and it seemed like we accumulated more and more runners at each location. Everyone was so friendly, and stopping for all that ice cream on a hot day was perfection. Dillon and I went home at the end of the run full of ice cream, as well as excitement about our decision to join a club that combines eating and running. 

What do you like most about PPTC?  

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join the club no matter what distances or speeds they race (or don’t race). The club offers something for everyone, which makes a huge difference in your running experience and training. I am a huge supporter of the training groups for everyone: Marathon Training Group (MTG), Ultra Marathon Training Group (UMTG) and Club Points Training Group (CPTG). I formerly ran with a running team in University, and really enjoyed having a coach guide me through workouts and help me set big goals. PPTC’s training groups have given me the opportunity to jump into workouts with people who have similar goals, and I can talk things over with coaches when I have questions. The fact that these coaches volunteer their time to help so many of us – not only to improve our running but organize group training – is incredible!

Another thing that I truly love about this club (am I allowed to choose two things?!) is the community itself: PPTC does not leave anyone behind. Through all of the uncertainty during the COVID 19 pandemic, PPTC has been a constant in my life, and in the lives of others. I’m part of other social groups, but none offer what PPTC offers. Despite being at home, I’m able to participate in strength training, yoga classes, online injury prevention clinics, meetings, planning, social events, and more! What other club offers this kind of support to so many people? There are folks volunteering to deliver food and supplies to those who aren’t able to leave their homes. I am constantly overwhelmed with the outpouring of goodness from the people of this club. I can’t imagine it not being a part of my life and feel so grateful everyday. 

After the NYRR Gridiron 4-miler with Ruby and Winston. Photo: Dillon Glasser

What aspect of the club are you most active in?  

I would say I’m most active in the Social Committee and am starting to get more involved in other aspects of the club, including the Blog Team. I’m also a newly-appointed Team Captain, so I’m working on a few projects that I feel passionate about in the club. I have a strong interest and background in environmental education, so any activity that promotes sustainability practices and getting people outside in nature feels right to me. I also have years of classroom teaching experience, so any opportunity to provide a service that teaches someone new skills (or helps with goal setting, healthy lifestyle choices, positive and growth mindset, etc) is something I feel very passionate about.

My goal is to help you all feel supported and heard. If I can provide a service through the club that allows you to learn or try something new, or encourages you to go deeper into the natural world, my heart will just soar. 

WHY RUNNING?

How did you start running?

I actually didn’t start running until pretty recently. I was a dancer (focusing mostly on ballet - but definitely did a little bit of everything) for my entire life, and didn’t have time for anything else. When I stopped competing in dance, I moved to South Korea and found I had an abundance of energy and didn’t know what to do with it. I decided that the easiest thing to do was run, since all I needed were shoes and somewhere to go. I adopted Winston during that time, and he was a great little running buddy since he also had a crazy amount of energy. We would run laps at an outdoor area near my apartment every morning and every evening after work. This was before my knowledge of GPS tracking, so I have no idea how far we would run; we just enjoyed being outside together. 

In 2014, I signed up for my first 10 km race with a group of co-workers in Busan, South Korea. I had no idea how to “train,” or what I should do to prepare for a 10k. I would measure out 10 km and just try to run it, usually falling short and going home early. The morning of my first race, I ate the biggest breakfast of my life, thinking that would give me extra energy. It did not, and when I crossed the finish line after struggling hard for the entire race – dead last out of my group of friends – I knew I didn’t have any clue what I was doing. I’m a competitive person by nature and decided that my next 10 km race would be much better. 

So I started running more, but didn’t do workouts or anything too strenuous. I struggled on any kind of incline and really had a tough time with the mental toughness of running. With another year of no improvements, I decided the best way to improve was to jump in with both feet and ask the coach at my university to let me trail his athletes. I think many coaches of his caliber might have laughed at someone like me who was so new to running, but not Coach Kip. I told him I wanted to be a better, stronger, faster runner, and promised to work my butt off to prove myself. He liked my attitude, and let me join the team. To this day I hear his voice when I want to back off in a workout, or take my foot off gas in a race: “Right here, right now.” My favourite was whenever I would say “I’ll try….” He would interrupt and say “Do or do not. There is no try”.

What keeps you running / why do you run / why do you like running?  

I keep running because I just love it. I love setting a goal, working hard everyday, and building up to it. I’m a type-A personality, as most runners are. I love planning out my workouts for the week and scheduling them in my calendar. I keep pretty detailed logs of my workouts and how I felt, so going back after a long training cycle and re-reading it feels really satisfying. Also, I weirdly enjoy race day jitters: It reminds me of when I used to dance and would feel nervous backstage. I would feel jittery and like my heart was racing right up until the moment the music started, then my body would take over. I never had to worry about forgetting my routine. I would go on autopilot and next thing I knew, I would be finished, ready to do it all over again. 

Running a race is the same for me. The buildup of nerves is so exciting, but once the gun goes off and my legs start moving, my body remembers what it’s supposed to do and before I know it, it’s over and I’m signing up for another race. 

What do you think about or listen to when you run?

When I first started running, I absolutely needed music to get through my runs. Since running with Coach Kip, I learned to enjoy being outside, listening to my body. He was really big on checking in with your breath and doing body scans. Now I find music to be distracting. I feel like I can’t hear my breath or gauge my effort, so I don’t listen to anything but myself. It’s taken a lot of work to get my inner dialogue to focus on my effort during a workout, as well as my surroundings if it’s an easy run. I really enjoy when I have the opportunity to do trail running and I can feel more connected to the natural world. Prospect Park has been wonderful in that it can be a place where I can push hard during workouts, but also enjoy hearing birds chirping, or see the sunrise over the lake. 

What is your best running memory?

Running the Big Sur Marathon in 2017. I was all kinds of emotional for the race. I didn’t have any big goals other than to run it faster than I had the year before. Running up Hurricane Point is by far my favourite part of any race I’ve ever done. They have a pianist at the top and you can hear him play while you ascend this mile long mountainside. When I reached the top, he was playing “Let it Go” – yes, from Frozen – which I just love, and I teared up the whole way down just thinking about it. This was also a special race for me because Big Sur was where Dillon and I got married (in 2016), so running Highway 1 through the giant Redwoods, seeing the ocean while ascending Hurricane Point, and feeling those rolling hills through Carmel Valley brought me back to our wedding day. Big Sur is a magical place. 

Leanne and Dillon after the Back-to-School Coney Island Fireworks Run. Photo: Lillian Park

What is your favorite recovery tool or running gear?

I love a good foam rolling before and after a hard effort or long run. You will often find me with ice packs strapped to my legs, especially when the mileage starts to get higher during marathon training. Recently, Dillon and I purchased Air Stream recovery boots, which have been so cool to try out. I love being able to watch TV or read a book while wearing them.

Are you currently training for anything or working towards a running goal? If yes, would you mind telling us about your current training cycle?

2020 training has been off to a rocky start: Originally this was due to a few injuries early in the year that set me back a bit. Now, because of the pandemic, I’ve switched my mindset and my goals to be more suited to the uncertainty of the times. I set goals to get faster at shorter distances, as well as to PR in the half marathon. Now, my goals are to form a very healthy and strong base with lots of easy miles, rolling, yoga, and strength work. Eventually I would like to get back into speed work and start setting goals for a fall marathon.  Things are very up in the air, so I’m setting loose goals and making room for changes as they need to happen. I think this is a great time to focus on self care, and to make space for the unknown. 

ON RACING

What is your favorite race distance?

Half Marathon for sure! While I love the marathon, I feel like my body recovers faster from the half. I also just love the distance. Unlike the 5k, you don’t have to push yourself right off the start. I feel like I can ease into the distance and get comfortable for a little while before I have to suffer. 

What is your pre-race ritual, if any, the night before a race and the morning of?

I have a series of Instagram dance videos that I LOVE. Like, I obsessively watch them in the same order every time. I don’t know why, but they just pump me up. I love the music and the dancing always puts me in a good mood. I guess I’ll always be a dancer at heart. 

What is your favorite race EVER?

My favourite race was the Army 10-Miler last year. I had a few hiccups in my training leading up to the race and wasn’t sure if I was going to even be able to finish. I totally surprised myself! I felt great for the first half and just continued to push my effort harder and harder to the end. I ended up with a huge PR that I wasn’t expecting. I also just love that race in general. It’s a chance for Dillon and I to reunite with our friends from California every year, and the Army does some really cool demonstrations. It’s so much fun!

What is your current and/or all-time running goal?

I think I just want to see how fast and how far I can push myself. I read and watch these inspiring women of all ages from all backgrounds (some runners, some not) do amazing things and break barriers. I know that it’s possible for me, so my biggest goal is to keep setting bigger goals and see just what my body is capable of. 

What is your favorite food to eat after a long run or hard race (assuming everything has stabilized internally)?

If it’s a Sunday morning long run, I very much look forward to some hearty pancakes, eggs, and several cups of coffee. I love breakfast foods and they just taste so much better after a long run. After a hard workout (or a race), I generally crave the cheesiest pizza you can imagine, followed by a long nap. I’m all about carbs and recovery. 

OTHER ADVICE

Any advice you would give to other runners / new runners / your younger running self?

I think the biggest piece is being kind to yourself. I’ve learned that my inner dialogue when running can really help or hurt me in a long run, workout, or race. I still struggle to keep my dialogue positive when things are tough and to make myself stay accountable. It’s hard to know when to push and when to back off.  You’re working towards your goals every day – whether it’s a good day or bad day – so it’s helpful to remember that at the end of the day, it’s all money in the bank. 

Anything else you would like your teammates to know about you?

All of my running measurements are done in kilometers. Like, everything. My watch is set to kilometers, my goals are in kilometers, and so are all of my Strava settings. I’ve learned to convert between miles and kilometers pretty quickly, so I feel like I’ve become bilingual, in a sense. The metric system just makes sense to me - I love it - and I can’t give it up. Sorry, eh? 😊

Text by: Leanne Glasser
Edited and produced by: Alison Kotch