Where are you from?

Pittsburgh, PA

Current P.R.

3:21.01 in 2008, two seconds away from my then Boston qualifying time, for more crazy stories join my pace group.

Typical pace

8:00-8:45 for a nice average run

Number of marathons

47, should reach 50 by the end of the year, but I pace to help people reach their goals, not to count marathons

Occupation

Personal Trainer

Favorite marathon

Well overall I’ll still go with Towpath, but favorite start- Mohawk Hudson, Favorite finish- Wineglass, Favorite challenging but scenic course and best volunteers, Blue Ridge, and honorable mention to Run For the Red in the Poconos.

Hobbies

Well besides running and training I like to sit outside while listening to good music, reading, and drinking Japanese green tea. 

Favorite Running Food

My famous cereal before the race. Whatever is in my hydration pack during the race, and then shamefully whatever junk food I happen to come across on the way home from the race.

What are you reading now?

Any technical running book I can get my hands on, also fantasy or science fiction. Harry Potter Trivia anyone?

Who do you train with?

Mostly people from my Facebook group, Mike’s Challenge.

Personal goals

Once and for all break 3:20 for the marathon. I have paced 20 something marathons now, but I’m always looking to improve and learn as a pacer. 

A quotation you like…

Here’s my own, “Only the Great Ones” (you’ll hear me saying that frequently during the race) and also, “Start fast and you won’t last; start slow and you’ll go, go, go!!!”

Why do you run?

It’s getting to the point where I just don’t know any other way.

Describe your best marathon memory.

After a disappointing finish, I decided to run the Towpath marathon 15 days later which at the time I thought was crazy. Well I decided to smile more and have more fun, and I dropped 8 minutes from my previous marathon. Would have been more except I made a wrong turn at mile 26. Remember those crazy stories I was telling you about?

Why do you pace?

:  Well first, let’s face it, I’m a ham as you might notice particularly at the starting line. But really, I am very big on helping people accomplish their goals, just watch how fired up I get at the finish when you tell me you accomplished yours.  And of course I love the race atmosphere.

Tell us your best pacing experience.

Before I officially started pacing, there was a girl who I informally paced on runs,  who was running her first 30k. I appeared at different spots rooting her on, listened as her parents shouted at her with pride, and then, for the last mile, wearing jeans and a long coat, ran her in, just like I had for so many training runs. Very emotional.

Why should someone run in your pace group?

Use the group anyway you want. Some people just want to keep me in their view and pass me later. Others may want to be motivated and be chatty. If so, I am not good with names so please take one of our bibs at the expo and write your name on it. Don’t be afraid. Listen to my strategy at the starting line, I am usually pretty loud. During the race, stay positive and be grateful, not only will you have more fun, you’ll run faster, trust me! Don’t be afraid to start slowly, and instead be a party crasher with me, a party crasher is someone who crashes a person’s party at the end of the race by zipping right past them! Or stay right with me for the final “HOOOHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!” going into the finish. 

Any tips for runners about to join your group?

Anything else you’d like to share?

For those of you at Wineglass, the first person who can tell me that whenever I played 20 questions during a race last year, I always picked President William Howard Taft, if I have it with me or you see me afterwards, I’ll give you my Wineglass champagne spit. I don’t drink.

What philanthropic activities do you have?

For years I have led Jewish Sabbath Services on Friday evenings. Also I have individually coached many people for their goal races, always for free. If you want to learn more, join Mike’s Challenge on Facebook.