I never listen to music while
running. I want to be able to identify the sound of the car that runs
me over from behind.
Occupation
Trucking company manager
Favorite running food
I don't run with music or food.
Any hobbies?
What, running marathons isn't
enough?
Who do you train with?
On the weekends I run with some
trail-running, ultra-running friends. It's sometimes a humbling
experience, especially if they show up on Sunday morning having run 3 or 4
hours on Saturday, and still run at my pace.
Favorite book, what are you reading now?
Just finished Playing for Pizza
by John Grisham
A quotation you like…
"Friends may come and
friends may go, and friends may peter out you know. But you're my
friend through thick or thin, peter out or peter in".
Personal goals
Outlive my money
Why do you run?
To avoid getting beaten up.
Describe your best
marathon memory.
I've run some marathons where
everything went well- the weather cooperated, I was well prepared, I
ran the right pace to minimize my time or nearly so, and reached my
goal. But the ones I remember most are when I've struggled with
the elements, or with myself, and still did well, even though I may not have
reached my goal time. After the race, i feel just as good about my
having overcome adversity and pain as I would have had everything gone
perfectly.
Why do you pace?
My probation officer promised
me time off for community service.
Tell us your best
pacing experience.
St Louis, about 2004, I was
helping a college coed try to qualify for Boston. She dropped off the
pace at about 23, and it's almost unheard of for someone to rally that late
in a race if they've faltered. But I kept turning around and yelling
back to her to encourage her, and urged spectators that I passed to spur her
on as she got to them, and she miraculously caught me at about 25 3/4 miles
and literally cried shen she crossed the finish line with me.
Why should
someone run in your pace group?
I'm not a Chatty Kathy Pace
Team Leader, so if you enjoy non-stop talking you may be disappointed.
I talk enough to let you know I care about your efforts, I tell just enough
jokes to keep you wanting more, and I will encourage you to make your goal.
If you're still with me at mile 20, I will help you with nutrition and
hydration. We will finish about 30-40 seconds ahead of goal time, as I
would rather do that than take the chance that mile 25 or 26 were mis-marked
and we miss our goal by a few seconds.
Any tips for
runners about to join your group?
Better to taper too much than
too little. Run your last hard run (e.g., tempo, interval) AT LEAST 4
days before the race, preferably 5. Buy a throwaway jacket at Goodwill
for about $3 and wear it to the start, then toss it when you no longer need
it. Double knot your laces. Bring a water bottle to the start
line so you can skip the first water station or two. Thank the
volunteers. Watch for the photographers and smile as they take your
picture, especially at the finish line.
