Q&A with Magdalena “Chewy” Lewy Boulet

Meet GU athlete Magda “Chewy” Lewy Boulet - US Olympic marathon hopeful, mother, wife and Cal Berkeley coach. She was also our R&D Director at GU, until she left to pursue her running more intensely. Seems Chewy made the right choice, as her dedication paid off with a spot on the 2008 US Olympic Team.
Read her blog for race reports, training and nutrition tips and stories of life in the fast lane!

GU ATHLETE: Magdalena “Chewy” Lewy Boulet
SPORT: Running – 2nd place 2008 US Women’s Olympic Marathon Trials
BIRTHPLACE: Jastrzebie, Poland, 1973
CURRENT RESIDENCE: Oakland, California
WEBSITE: www.chewysays.com

Proudest athletic accomplishment?
Making the 2008 US Olympic Marathon Team.

Superstitions for training or competition?
None. Unless you consider hard, consistent training a superstition.

Funny racing/training story?
Sometimes I show up to long runs with a hydration pack full of GU2O. My friends always give me a hard time about wearing so much gear
(they call it a “Nerd Pack”), but then they end up begging me for some before the end of our run!

What’s the strangest thing a spectator has ever said to you while you were racing?
In my first marathon in Cleveland, someone had a grill in front of their house along the course at mile 18, and he offered me some Bacon. That was pretty strange.

What characteristics do you most respect in your competitors?
Dedication, toughness and the love of running.

When you were a kid, what did you dream of becoming when you grew up?
An Olympic swimmer.

Song title that best fits your personality/spirit?
The Final Countdown by Europe: www.youtube.com—watch

How do you reward yourself when you reach a key goal?
A nice dinner with my husband over an excellent bottle of California’s DRY CREEK VALLEY ZINFANDEL.

If you were a flavor of GU, which would you be?
Roctane Blueberry-Pomegranate, because I am hard-core.

If you were a contestant on Survivor, what would be your one comfort item from home?
A picture of my son Owen doing dishes with his Daddy.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what flavor of GU would you want with you?
Just Plain…never gets old and you can mix it with anything you find to eat.

What’s the most creative way you’ve ever carried your GU?
During one of my marathons I carried a flask full of GU and it got really cold and rainy. The GU really thickened inside my flask, so I flipped the flask upside down and let it ooze onto my hand. Then I licked the GU off my hand when I needed it!

Personal causes you’re involved in?
The “Run for Good” program created by Saucony to encourage active and healthy lifestyles in children.

Three things people don’t know about you?
I have lived in 3 different countries so far. I like to run up Mt. Whitney for my birthday. Some day I would like to race the Western States 100.