Southampton - Next month, Barbara Gubbins turns 50. It's a milestone that most people might dread, but Gubbins, owner of four Gubbins Running Ahead stores in Southampton and East Hampton, is embracing it. She's been re-energized, taking on a vigorous training regimen in preparation for the prestigious Finger Lakes Runners Club Winter Series Indoor All-Comers Track Meet at Cornell in January.

"For me, [turning 50] is actually a positive," she said. "When you're at the end of your age category, you're always at a disadvantage. If someone's just turned 45 and you're 49, it's tough. I'm pretty pumped about it. I'm in better shape than I've been in for a while."

A three-sport athlete - field hockey, basketball and softball - at Ward Melville, she graduated and played field hockey at James Madison University. A sizzling Turkey Trot time between seasons gained the attention of the school's track coach. Before long, she was strictly running track, qualified for the national championships, was ranked in the United States and, after transferring to Stony Brook, was named an All-American in cross country and track. She's since won her fair share of races, both locally and nationally. Gubbins opened up the first Gubbins Running Ahead store in Southampton in May 1988, and over the past 20-plus years, three more have opened and become the East End's source for footwear, apparel and more. On November 11, Gubbins won the Nike Just Do It Award as a female business owner who shows leadership in the industry at a summit held in Austin, Texas.

Hamptons.com caught up with Gubbins on the cusp of her landmark birthday and discussed a wide variety of topics.

What did you do before you started up Gubbins Running Ahead and how did you get into the business?

Barbara Gubbins: I graduated from college with a degree in nursing, and I worked as a nurse for five years before getting into the business. I always wanted to. I was still competing then and I loved the whole idea of having a running store. Back then, there was a nursing shortage and I was working at the [Veteran Affairs Medical Center] in Northport, I had young children at home, and I was working the midnight shift with mandatory overtime. I also was running and competing. The opportunity came up because my husband was teaching in Dix Hills and got a job in Southampton. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to open up out east. At that time, I never envisioned that we'd have four stores. We started off so tiny. My son was a year old and I'd bring him to work two days a week. Now he's graduated from college and working for us, so I guess it comes full circle.

What's the best road race in the area?

BG: The Hamptons Marathon and Shelter Island 10K. I'd have to put those two together – the Hamptons Marathon just because we don't have any marathons or half marathons out here, so that's unique, and the Shelter Island 10K because it has such a long history. My husband won the first race in 1980, and I always seem to run well there. It's great competition, it's beautiful and it's challenging. It's a great venue.

How much stretching do you recommend before a training run?

BG: I personally prefer to run for 20 minutes and then stop and stretch a little bit when my muscles are warmed up. I'm not very flexible, so before a run, it's kind of counterproductive. If I'm running a 5K, I'll run two miles before the 5K, then stretch.

How long should you be wearing a shoe before you run a half marathon or marathon?

BG: Industry standards recommend 500 miles for a shoe. For a marathon or half-marathon, if there's a particular shoe I want to race in that day, I recommend a new pair six weeks prior to the event. A lot of people switch shoes at 300 miles. Some people push the envelope and go to 700. I think you're really pushing it over 500. People come in and only switch shoes once a year. You're really doing yourself a disservice. The mid-soles start to break down. The way to test it is to take the shoe and squeeze the sole. If you get brand new shoes and compress the sole bottom, you can't really do it. If you test shoes after 500 miles, you really can. You don't want to go into a marathon at the end of a shoe cycle. You'd be better of giving it to charity or using them for mowing the lawn.

How many days do you take off during training?

BG: I usually like to take one day a week off. It's nice for your mind and body to have one day to rest. Some people like to cross-train.

Do you listen to music when you run?

BG: I don't. I have been in races that have music, and it does get you going. My daughter runs a lot of marathons and half marathons, and she only runs with the iPod. If she doesn't have her iPod, she won't run. I can see how you'd get in the zone with that.

What noteworthy accessory do you benefit from greatly before, during or after your run?

BG: I started taking goo (i.e. Power Gel, Clif Shot) about three years ago, and in the races I did, I found that to be really helpful. I can't eat breakfast before I run, and if I haven't had dinner the night before, it's great to get some extra energy without really having breakfast.

What's your stance on Gatorade versus water?

BG: When I'm running, I always drink water, although after I run, sometimes I'm really depleted and I find that water just kind of washes out the potassium and electrolytes. It's really important to get electrolyte replacement. If I'm totally zonked, I drink Gatorade. We always have it at our house.

Most scenic mile you've ever run?

BG: I'd say the Cayman Islands. I ran for a club that I still run for called Warren Street in the city, and every year they'd go down to the Cayman Islands and run this 10K. We'd stay in this hotel – and this was before the Caymans were really discovered – and we were right on the beach. It was absolutely gorgeous.

What about out east?

BG: My favorite place is the Red Creek Park trails. I know that whole trail system in there and Hubbard's Creek. Right now, with all the leaves down, it's beautiful.

Are there any plans to further expand Gubbins Running Ahead?

BG: A lot of our customers talk about whether we should open in New York City or not. That's a whole other ball of wax going into the city. I'm pretty confident with our ability to serve our customers based on the East End. If we did anything, we'd diversify with some additional products. We've moved more into some sporting goods models – baseball products, ping pong tables, basketball units. I wouldn't rule out expanding on locations in the future. We might possibly look at the North Fork as well.