Hometown

Anacortes, WA

Current P.R.

2:57

Where were you born?

Anchorage, AK

Number of marathons

121

Birthday

5/21

Favorite marathon

Delaware Trail Marathon

Typical pace

7:05 - race, 7:35 - training

Favorite running music

No Music

Occupation

Oil Refinery Operator

Favorite running food

Payday bars, jelly beans, watermelon

Any hobbies?

Race Directing, Pacing Ultras and Marathons, Coins, Snow Boarding, CC Skiing, Mountain Biking.

Who do you train with?

Skagit Runners, lots of marathon and ultras as training runs.

Favorite book, what are you reading now?

Born To Run

A quotation you like…

To keep from decaying, to be a winner, the athlete must accept pain - not only accept it, but look for it, live with it, learn not to fear it."

Dr. George Sheehan.

Personal goals

Run Badwater  Ultramarathon

Why do you run?

I run for my health, for solitude, and for my well being, but most of all because I love to run.

Describe your best marathon memory.

The inaugural Tacoma City Marathon my first experience pacing a marathon. Annie Thiessen a Northwest elite marathoner and friend paced the 3:20 pace group with me. We laughed and joked the entire race. Annie and I stopped and did a pushup every mile until mile 13 when I noticed a few of the folks we were leading were getting annoyed at our arrogance. So I quit doing push ups  she continued.

Why do you pace?

I enjoy the comradery of other runners, listening to their stories, and sharing mine. It is fun for me to go into a race to pace and not feel like I have to compete.

Tell us your best pacing experience.

One of the guys that finished with us at the inaugural Tacoma City Marathon was really giving it everything he had in order to finish and BQ. I didn’t realize exactly how much he left on the course until the end when his wife and I had to carry him to the medical tent for an IV.  About a month later he sent me a framed picture of the three of us running together during the race. What an experience to be able to give a little of myself to make others dreams come true.

Why should someone run in your pace group?

If you want to get to the finish line you should run with me.  I have officially paced 4 marathons in the 3:20 pace group. I have unofficially paced friends in about 10 marathons, 3:20, 3:15, and 3:10 pace.

Any tips for runners about to join your group?

Plan on running a constant pace. I typically try to catch up over the first few miles to account for a slow start, a little slow down at the aid stations, and finish right on time. I will run the 1^st half of the marathon no more than 1 minute faster than the 2^nd half.

Anything else you’d like to share?

If towards the end of the race you feel great and want to pick up your pace the last 2 or 3 miles don’t feel like you need to stay me out of respect. The same holds true if for some reason you just don’t have it to stay with me. I would love to have everyone that starts with me finish with me but in reality that just doesn’t happen. No matter what happens at the end of the race please find me so we can talk about our experiences at that point even the bad experiences are good!