Aeron Arlin Genet

Aeron Arlin Genet is a track goddess. Bold, fast, she struts her stuff on a stage where there’s no place to hide. And why would she want to?

With a model’s face and a miler’s body, she takes on the young girls and older records in the glamour event of the 1500.

Photos courtesy of Chris Leschinsky

She’s a Running Diva and has the clothes to prove it. Even flaunts it. With husband Marc, their own clothing line, Running Divas, mixes a serious appreciation for women’s running, with a playful, in your face attitude and confidence.

She’s the bridge to the very old and the new; she blogs, even twitters she says because Lance Armstrong does. Her “About the Author” profile is all in Latin, a dead language she brings back to life with a twist.

She’s hard to catch, on or off the track, but WomenRunningTogether caught up with Aeron for a chat about her racing plans, her business, the women she runs with, and on becoming a master.

The RunDown
Aeron Arlin Genet, Age 41 (42 on June 28).
Lives in Los Osos, California.
Works at San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District.
With husband Marc Genet owns, creates and manages Running Divas.
Running competitively since junior high (12-years-old).
Personal Records:
Masters- 1500: 4:21.26 / 800:2:10.9
Open- 1500: 4:15.73 / 800: 2:08.91

On Running
WRT: Why run?

Aeron Arlin Genet: I really just love being a runner. It provides the mental refreshment that’s essential to get through life. As well it builds a strong, healthy body. Being able to show younger ladies the benefit that it’s provided to me over the years is a true motivator.

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WRT: How’d you get started?

Aeron: In the 70’s, after my parents got divorced, my mum and step dad, the whole family, step kids, we’d do fun runs. My coach in junior high also was inspiring. She’d ride her bike along with us as we ran.

WRT: What sort’a coaching do you get now?

Aeron: My husband Marc is my coach. He doesn’t like to say he is as it’s a team effort.

WRT: Your secret’s safe with us.

Aeron Arlin Genet: We work well together. I’ve learned stuff over the years. Marc was a champion junior runner (2-miler) and ran in college. So we talk together, plan the season, the goals, etc. Marc's great at reining me in, stops me from doing too much. You know when you run a good time and want to do more to get faster.

The first time I qualified for the Olympic Trials, it was in March (early season) and a huge PR. I thought I'm going to break 4.10 so I kept pushing and broke my foot. I need some feedback.

We constantly talk running; it's our lifestyle and so darn interesting.  I've been doing track a long time but every year is different. It feels new and changes with each year.

On the Horizon
WRT: What are you shooting for this track season?

Aeron: I’d like to get as close as possible to breaking 4:20 in the 1500, but we’ll see. But ultimately, I want to get in as many races as possible and finish strong and healthy.

Masters Running
WRT: You can obviously take on the college girls but what's your view on masters?

Aeron Arlin Genet: I’m very excited to race in the master’s competition. I just made plans to run the USATF Women’s Masters Invitational 1500 at the end of June – this’ll be my first official masters race ever!

WRT: Congratulations. That’s starting at the top. What an honor to be part of the 2009 USATF Open Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Aeron: And it’s gonna be so exiting to run in front of the crowd at Hayward Field.

WRT: Who else is running?

Aeron Arlin Genet: I’m hoping Alisa (Harvey) will come out to Eugene. I haven't met her but looking forward to seeing her and racing her. Was reading her interview in Running Times and thought I'm going after that mile record.

But so far no one’s signed up; I need to speak to Mark Cleary. Don’t want to be racing on my own. I suppose I'll just concentrate on running a fast time if there's no competition. Spoke to Christine (Olen, 2008 National 1500m Champion) about running it. We’ll see.

WRT: Then in July you’re going to the Masters National Track meet in Wisconsin. Are you running anything besides the 1500?

Aeron: The 800m as well. This year I want to focus on it. I love the 800. I just wish I was as fast as Alisa in the 800m. The 1500 is long for me. I'm more a 400/800 type. When I started running the 1500/mile I couldn't believe I'd be doing an event with a lap counter. It's tough to stay focused and stay engaged with 4 laps. I'm just starting to get it.

WRT: Welcome to Masters track! And aren’t you invited to next year’s prestigious Hartshorne Masters Mile?

Aeron Arlin Genet: Yes, that should be fun indoors. And we need more like that! More women, more races. This has been one of my main goals with the Running Divas. To convince women that you can continue racing track well beyond college or open competition.

WRT: The 2010 USA Masters Nationals and 2011 World Masters are coming to Sacramento. What’ve you thought about these events?

Aeron: I haven’t heard much about them yet, but very interested in finding out more. I’m committed to racing and if the track goddesses are with me, and I’m healthy, I’ll be there!

Racing
WRT: How are you before a race?

Aeron Arlin Genet: Incredibly, crazy nervous! Track is just way too honest, but I love the rush. I have to continually remind myself that this is what I’m training for. It’s no different than all those laps I work through during practice. Regardless, if my mind is crazy nervous, my body knows what to do. It’s just a matter of getting out there and doing it! Sounds easy, right?

Running Divas
WRT: How did you get into the business?

Aeron: We’ve been in the apparel industry for a long time. Marc has worked in the skate and surf industry for over two decades.

In 2004, after I qualified for the Olympic Trials in the 1500, I proceeded to break my foot (ugh!). Marc and I decided to put this pent-up running energy into the launch of Running Divas.

Our first debut expo was at the Olympic Trials in a funky tent behind some brewery, in a dirt parking lot.

All our friends really connected with the concept and we’ve taken it to the marathon expo road since then.

WRT: Your gear has cool colors and clever slogans. Who are these running divas?

Aeron Arlin Genet: At marathon expos, we meet many women who are very inspired by the challenge of the race. They’re going through all the work of going the distance of a marathon. Many, like myself, have a group of women who they workout with and build strong relationships through all the miles.

Sometimes, people ask why there’s an “s” on the end of diva. But it’s definitely more than one diva; it’s a tribe, a community that we share this running experience with.

WRT: How's the response been?

Aeron: Very good. We’ve formed great relationships with women across the world who identify with our slogans and positive affirmations that we like to focus on with running divas. It’s definitely more than a t-shirt we’re promoting. It’s a lifestyle.

WRT: Future plans?

Aeron Arlin Genet: We want to continue to expand the running divas tribe. Build off our website and offer more unique clothing. Work in more multi-media, videos, interviews, and races. Offer coaching tips with cross training highlights. We’re even kicking around the idea of a movie. Yeah, “Running divas, the movie”!

WRT: Coming soon to your neighborhood theater.

Aeron Arlin Genet: That’d be great. Another idea that we’ve talked about for years now, is a running camp. We live near “Montana de Oro”, a state park, and we’d love to offer a retreat for couples where we have yummy organic foods, massage, yoga and inspirational speakers.

We’ve incredible contacts in the area that really would make it happen, but coordinating it may be out of reach for quite some time.

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It Takes a Village
WRT: Who supports your running and how?

Aeron Arlin Genet: It’s tough trying to fit it all in. Working, the business, traveling, training, racing... This makes me crazy at times. But if it wasn’t for Marc, I wouldn’t be able to make it all come together. He does so much for me.

Fixes breakfast, does the laundry, holds the watch at the track, drives me to races, deals with my nervousness and the list goes on. I’m very fortunate that he’s in support and likes what we’re doing!

Women Running Together
WRT: Tell us about the women you run with?

Aeron Arlin Genet: For my easy days (Tuesdays and Thursdays) I meet up with two girl friends, Jennifer Rubio and Jill Gaitenby-Boaz, also masters runners, at 5:30 am for a 7 mile easy run.

Then on Wednesday we head over to Cuesta College for a track workout. Here, I workout by myself, but there are about five other women who work out at the same time and we offer great support for each other as we speed around the oval.

On Wednesdays, I often have the pleasure of being around Linda Somers-Smith, a great masters runner and former Olympian and Kara June, a young steeple-chaser who’s gunnin’ for the 2012 Olympic Team.

It’s this intensity at the track that’s completely motivating to me. On a good week, Kara and I will group up a few times for “play track” sessions. This is like a shake out with tons of drills and strides.

Sunday runs are typically out at Montana de Oro with a few ladies mentioned above. It’s great to have the support of my girl friends, to run and discuss the challenges of racing at this age.


Check out how Aeron’s racing with her regular tweets. And if you want to learn even more about her, check out her profile, if you ever knew or can remember any Latin.

Read the comments on Aeron's story.

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