I'm a Runner: Elisabeth Hasselbeck

This cohost of The View loves running for all the ways it benefits her life.

November 29, 2010
Media: I'm a Runner: Elisabeth Hasselbeck

And when you're out for your normal workout, what's your speed?
If I'm running quarter miles, I like to run them in a 1:30 or under. If I'm doing a six-mile run, I like to keep a 7:30 to eight-minute pace. Ideally I'd like to run a 6:30 for a 10-K.

When you ran the Boston Marathon in 1999, did you have to meet a qualifying time?
I ran it as a bandit and I was the last person to cross the starting line. I was really doing it to pace Tim's uncle along with his sister-in-law. I actually ran ahead to get water for someone. I was a running Sherpa is what I was. Tim's dad had brought us running gear from Reebok to wear, so we looked superofficial. People were yelling out go Kenya, go Kenya! It was a Kenyan team tiny running shorts and top I was wearing. People must have thought, How did she ever get in the Kenyan team? She's way behind! A juggler, I think, finished before me.

How long did it take you to finish?
Oh, at least seven days. No, I think we finished well over four hours. If I were running it running it, I would probably like to finish it in under four.

So have you run any other marathons?
I've jumped in Boston a few times that way and run half with people. I've run half in San Diego with someone to pace the last portion. I love jumping in halfway and helping people finish. If you tell me you're running a marathon, I'll find you and I'll get in there and help you finish. I love it.

That's not permitted, is it?
It's totally illegal. I've been able to do it in San Diego once and Boston four times, but never in New York.

You wouldn't attempt it in New York?
Yeah, it's way too strict. If I did it, I'd want to run it the right way.

Are you thinking about doing it?
I think about it all the time. It's just a matter of the training is what gets me. It's harder to carve that time out to specifically train for a marathon, with work and three kids, and a husband. Something would have to be sacrificed. That to me seems like a selfish wish. Maybe Tim and I will do it together one day.

What made you seek out Pat Manocchia initially?
I was doing some sort of photo shoot and they said we want you to work with a trainer. And I didn't just want to work with a trainer who was all about fine-tuning the outside without really addressing what was going on with my body structurally. I had done some research and I found out he runs a gym in NYC that does truly consider the entire person. And he immediately broke me down. I walked out of there not happy. He trained me and he said, "Okay, now you can do four quarters on the treadmill, and after that you can cool down on the elliptical." And I said, "No, I really want to run like five miles after this." And he said, "No. You're on my program. You're going to do it this way." I really had to mentally commit to that way. He would just watch me run. He had me run the Pose Method, where your body is slightly tilted forward, your foot never extends in front of you. It's just sort of pick up, pick up, pick up from behind, it's a lot of hamstring. It's actually really good for the butt. But I don't have any sort of tightness in my quads, I don't have any IT issues, I'm faster than I was. In Pose Method, you just flow forward. It's actually an effort for me to stop.

Was it hard to get used to running that way, to train your body that way?
Initially, it was, because you have to sacrifice a little bit of speed at first, a little bit of comfort. You have to actually think about what you're doing. And once you train your body to run this way, it goes.

The View can be a contentious place, and I'm sure it can be stressful work. Is running a release for you?
I think regardless of what I do, whether I'm at home with the kids or working on a design, or at The View, it wouldn't really matter, it's where I find a release.

Running must have been helpful for you as a competitor on Survivor.
Sure, I remember when I was training for Survivor [she was on the show in 2001] I would go on runs with a bunch of things in my hands or wearing a backpack. And then you get there and you're pretty hungry and it doesn't help anymore. It's a good starting point for sort of pushing through that wall.

You ran with the Olympic torch in 2004. What was that experience like and do you have any mementos?
I have the torch.

Where is it?
I think it's in storage somewhere. In New York City there's not a lot of room to have things like torches hanging around. But I'll never forget that day. That was a run I almost didn't even feel my legs, I was just so excited to be a part of it. My family was there, and it was nice to be able to see them.

Is the torch very heavy?
That torch was a little bit heavy. You realize it's heavy before and after, but during you're just so worried about not letting the flame go out. You are so worried about running too fast or too slow because you don't want the flame to go out. And then you want to soak that moment up. You also want to have that torch as long as possible.

And you've got a gazillion people watching you, too.
Yeah, no pressure. You definitely don't want to be the one that torch goes out on.