‘The Bachelorette’ Alum Andi Dorfman’s Tips for Running The United NYC Half Marathon: Interview

Andi Dorfman may not have ended her tenure on The Bachelor’s 18th season and The Bachelorette 10th season with a trip down the aisle, but ever since then, she’s had her eyes on the prize in every realm. Her books It’s Not Okay in 2017 and Single State of Mind in 2018 were both The New York Times best-sellers — and she’s been adding running medals to her collection, including finishing the TCS New York City Marathon last year in 3 hours 56 minutes and 17 seconds. 

While checking off that a 26.2-mile race is already an accomplishment, the former lawyer has continued integrating running into her New York City life, as she preps to run the United NYC Half Marathon on Sunday, March 15, 2020. 

“I have always been into fitness but never into running, in fact, I used to despise it,” she told Page Six last year. “I’d look at people that ran and think they were crazy.”

But the more she traveled, the more she turned to running as a flexible form of exercise. “I was able to explore the different cities I was in by running, so it just became my main form of exercise,” she continued.

As a fellow runner training for the United NYC Half, I still “hate” running, often finding ridiculous excuses to delay my training runs… so I turned to Dorfman for her advice, from one reluctant runner to another. 

During the winter months, how do you find the motivation to get outside to run?

Andi Dorfman: For me, if you have the right gear, it doesn’t matter if it’s cold out. I am not a fan of running on treadmills because I think it prohibits you from learning how to pace yourself on your own, so I will brave the winter and run outdoors — and I’ll be honest, the competitive part of me sees the cold weather as a sort of challenge.

In the cold, it can be hard to balance staying warm and wearing too much. How do you usually dress?

Dorfman: It’s hard to dress for winter runs because as you run, your body temperature increases, but my go to winter run wardrobe from head to toe looks something like this: a beanie, a neck buff that can be pulled up over your face if needed, a thermal and a down jacket that I can take off and tie around my waist, fleece-lined leggings from Fabletics that are super warm and heat holder socks. If it’s really cold and I am running on concrete or asphalt, I’ll insert some insulated soles into my shoes — they are game changers.

How do you keep your energy up during long training runs, which can often take an hour or two to run?

Dorfman: Long runs are definitely tedious, but I find that timing is important on them. I like to do my long runs either early in the morning as the sun rises or in the late afternoon when the sun sets because it gives me something to see instead of thinking about how long I’m running. 

What’s the best way to stay on top of your training plan?

Dorfman: I put running into my schedule just as I put anything else whether it’s a meeting or an event or a dinner. I think carving out time to run or exercise gives you brain power and makes you more efficient in other aspects of your life, so it’s worth taking the time. 

What’s your favorite place to run in New York City?

Dorfman:  I love running on the Westside Highway because it provides a great view of downtown New York City, but it’s concrete and it’s pretty hard on the body, so  I train more on the bridle path in Central Park which is gravel-like and much softer. 

How do you handle the nerves that can come along with race day?

Dorfman: There is an adrenaline rush both before and after any race. I tell people no matter what, stick to your pace, especially in the beginning of the race. You are going to be feeling good and want to run fast but you will regret it in the end. There’s an element of self discipline involved when it comes to managing emotions like adrenaline and nerves. 

What do you bring with yourself to a race?

Dorfman: I don’t run races in headphones because I like hearing the sounds of the city and of other runners, but I wear a running pack that has a water bottle (there are also water stations throughout the race) and I eat the Gatorade chews while running. There are a lot of different chews out there that provide you with carbs and sugar that your body needs throughout a race to maintain fuel. 

What advice would you pass along to fellow runners of the United NYC Half?

Dorfman: We all run for different reasons, so I think the motivation for everyone is different. But I think having a specific reason before you start the race is important because it will be the thing you think about when you start to hit the wall and want to give up. So whatever it is, have a reason and rely on that reason to push you to the finish line.