Where are you from?

South Bend, Indiana

Current P.R.

2:56:32 (26.2)

Typical pace

7:30/mi (easy training pace)

Number of marathons

8 marathons, about 15 ultras

Occupation

Professor (mathematics)

Favorite marathon

Pike’s Peak Marathon

Hobbies

Cycling, bikepacking, vegetable gardening

Favorite Running Food

Coke

What are you reading now?

Where the Deer and Antelope Play by Nick Offerman

Who do you train with?

Mostly alone but sometimes with good friends Nick Boa, Pearce Durst or David Schmitz

Personal goals

Visit every U.S. National Park with my son Zeke

A quotation you like…

In all that you do, settle for nothing less than your absolute best.

Why do you run?

It’s part of my identity and I couldn’t see myself not running.

Describe your best marathon memory.

Mile 25 of two different marathons: my first (Kansas City) and thinking, “I’m really going to finish a marathon,” and my Boston qualifier (Illinois), thinking, “I’m actually going to qualify for Boston.”

Why do you pace?

Helping others achieve their goals is beyond rewarding.

Tell us your best pacing experience.

Pacing my home town event

Why should someone run in your pace group?

I’m very optimistic yet very focused on the goal-at-hand.  Having years of running experience along with being a certified running coach, I’m adept at race strategies, mental approaches to running, and the physical aspects of the sport. 

Any tips for runners about to join your group?

Make reasonable goals, put in the hard work to attain them, then trust your training.

Anything else you’d like to share?

It’s not how far you go or how fast you are; it’s how much fun you have.

What philanthropic activities do you have?

I do a lot around my career as a professor, doing what I can to help students set and achieve short- and long-term goals.  My ultimate hope for each of them is that they end up doing something that makes them truly happy.