Athlete Bio - Chavet Breslin

Chavet Breslin

Athlete: Chavet Breslin

Lives City/State: Denver, CO

Go to Orange Mud Gear: Endurance Pack

Primary Sport: Ultra Running

Tell us a bit about yourself. What’s your passion, your joy in life, anything special you’d like to share.

Family and friends mean everything to me, without the people in my life it would not have much meaning. Running is a central part of my life and I cannot imagine life without it. For me running is like air, I cannot live without it. Outside of that I like to help other people and animals. I volunteer for a dog rescue and I work as a part time special education teacher at an elementary school. I am lucky that I love my job and view it as a privilege to work with the kids that I do. I also head up a run club for the kids at my school.

What sports do you participate in?

Running is my main sport. I run races of all distances, but my primary distances are 100 miles and 24-hour races. I cross train with Body Pump and occasionally Yoga and I am currently getting into Pop Pilates.  

What is your favorite race food?

Mashed potatoes! 

What is your go to hydration mix?

During an ultra…Tailwind 

Do you have a major quirk you’d like to share?

Hmmmm, I can’t think of one. 

If you were relate to an animal, what would it be?

A mountain lion. Mountain lions spend lots of time in the mountains, travel around, and run and move a lot. However, they are way more graceful than I am on the trails!

If a newbie to your sport asked for one piece of advice, what would it be?

It always seems impossible until it’s done, so you just have to PUSH (persist until success happens)!

Do you have any racing pet peeves? (Gel packets, mud, thorns, smelly runners, etc).

Runners with no trail etiquette

What do you do for fun? Besides running?

Spend time with family, friends and my dog Hank. I also love to travel (which gives me the opportunity to run in new places!).

What is your post-race ritual?

Eat all the food, celebrate with friends, and find fun local activities (if it’s a travel race)!

How long have you been running?

Since I was 11. I wanted to run track at my school, but it was not allowed until 7th grade so my mother got me a gym membership with an indoor track and I began training on my own for a year so that I would be ready the following year to be on the team.

Why do you enjoy the sport? 

I love running in general, but when I run 100 mile or 24 hour races I love the challenge. I love pushing myself to the limit and then beyond what I thought I was capable of doing. As crazy as it may sound, I love the pain that comes with it.

What's your favorite trail race?

I have always had a special place in my heart for Leadville, so I love their race series. I have run in all of their races, and even though I love them all if I had to choose one it would most likely be the 100.

What's your favorite local trail?

Any trails in Leadville, I go there frequently in the summer and train.

What's your go to piece of Orange Mud gear and why?

The Endurance Pack! It is perfect for training and racing. It holds everything I need, fits perfectly and is so comfortable I can’t even tell it’s there. I used to have to switch to a hand held water bottle about 70 miles into a 100 mile race because my back and shoulders would start to hurt, but with the Endurance Pack I can wear it the whole 100 miles with no problem.

Profession and educational background?

I am a part time special education teacher, I only work 20 hours a week so that I have more time to train and still have a life. I have a bachelor’s degree in psychology and two master’s degrees in education.

What is your biggest accomplishment in your sport? 

It’s definitely hard to choose one because I am proud of several things I have done as a runner, but one of them would be getting invited to and completing the Badwater 135 race. I was a huge goal of mine and something that I worked towards for a long time.

Do you have a set training schedule and if so, what's it like? If not, how do you decide what to do? 

I have a generally set training schedule, it changes somewhat in the summer since I am out of work, but currently I take Mondays as an off day; do a progression or tempo run Tuesdays; Body Pump and run on Wednesdays; Run long or do hill work on Thursdays; Body Pump, Pop Pilates, and speedwork on Fridays; Run long or do hill work on Saturday; and Body Pump and run on Sunday. There are weeks that I change days around and vary things up, but this is a standard week outside of summer. In the summer I do a lot more trail running, more yoga, and sometimes just add in workouts for fun!

What's your dream race? 

Spartathlon! (It was Badwater 135, but since I finished it this is next on the list)

Favorite book for athletes?

I could never pick just one! I love any book that is an inspirational story about a runner.

Do you listen to audiobooks or music during exercise? 

Yes, occasionally audio books and frequently music. Sometimes on trail runs I prefer the sounds of nature. If I run with friends I always prefer the company and conversation over headphones.

What advice would you give to a new runner coming into the sport? 

“Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right”.  Above all else you have to believe in yourself and your abilities.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

Within myself. I want to be the best that I can be and I know that in order to do that I have to work hard and push myself. No one can do it for me.

Have you struggled with any injuries? How do you manage them? 

I have been very lucky to stay injury free. I work very hard at injury prevention through means such as chiropractic work, massages, using the sauna, rolling out with foam rollers and lacrosse balls, ect.

What was the best advice you were ever given? 

To believe in myself no matter what

What is your favorite local running or biking store?

Runners Roost 

Links

https://www.instagram.com/ultrarunnerchic/