I started running because…
I was an uncoordinated only child who didn’t understand how to play team sports.

What I love about it…
You can show up anywhere in the world with a pair of running shoes and a sports bra, step outside your door, start running and discover that place in a way you wouldn’t otherwise. (Access to Google Maps is recommended for this activity; otherwise, you might end up in the bowels of Buenos Aires like I did last year.)

Favorite time of day to run…
I feel best when I run first thing in the morning. If I go right away when I wake up, there is less chance of me coming up with an excuse to not go later.

And where I go…
I live near Columbus Circle so I get to run in Central Park, which I love. I try to run on the bridle path because the soft dirt surface is easier on my back and knees, but when I get bored of that route I run over to the West Side Highway and run along the Hudson River.

My pre-run routine…
I roll out of bed (after hitting snooze several times much to my sleeping husband’s irritation) and put on my running clothes, which I always get out the night before and leave at the foot of the bed.

My running playlist…
The NPR Books Podcast and Books on Tape — I love Books on Tape especially for long runs. It’s tricky to find books that work audibly, rather than actually reading them, so you have to choose carefully. I just finished Mary Norris’ Confessions of a Comma Queen, which was great because she reads it herself and her New Yorker anecdotes are much funnier in her incredulous Midwestern drawl.

My fitness goals…
I did a 15k with Nike in Toronto in June, which was great. I really liked that distance and had never done that before. I usually run the NYC marathon the first weekend in November, but this year I signed up for the Havana Marathon in mid-November, which I’m really excited about.

My fitness tips for travelers…
Bring a runner’s fanny pack — it’s chic, I promise. It’s always a good idea to run with your ID, phone, cash and a credit card, but it’s especially important when you’re running in a foreign city with a higher likelihood of getting lost.

Favorite healthy snacks/drinks…
Honey Stinger Energy Chews are my favorite thing to eat throughout a long run and, after a run, I drink watermelon juice. And the Mr. Greengenes smoothie is my favorite from Juice Generation; I have that for breakfast a lot after a workout.

After a late night out, there’s no better “reboot” than…
Going for a long, slow run and then eating a lot of bacon.

I define wellness as…
Not feeling old.