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<ul><li><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Why do you Skate?</span></b></li>
</ul><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">I used to be a runner since 3rd grade. I wasn’t very good at hand/eye coordinated sports and I found in third grade I ran faster than most of the 5th graders. I decided I was going to get better. I ran Track all thru school and in High school fell into XC to better my times for the ¼ mile. My first XC practice I could not even finish the 2.8 mile course. I felt dejected and a running failure. I ran almost everyday from that day on. I would run anywhere from 3-17 miles. I would actually break out of the house and run in a drug infested neighborhood at 1 in the morning just for the high. I can still remember my first high. It was in a XC meet in late October in New Jersey and raining. The feeling was literally brain numbing and exhilarating. Over the years of High School the miles would add up and I was addicted. I graduated as 5th on the XC team and went from DNF in the practice to a 15-16 minute 5k.</span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">While in the Army I had a pretty bad accident that messed up a knee. The doctors told me I would never run again and gave me a walking cane. They are pretty much right I can’t even do a 5k anymore. At the time I was devastated, depressed and angry. They told me I would probably be on the cane full time in 10 years, that would be by age 34, and they were probably going to be right if it wasn’t for my discovery of skating. Before skating I used a cane about 40-50% of the time. I was informed of major low pressure systems moving in long before anyone else, thanks to the knee. One day I got out of the funk, looked up VO2 max, calorie burns and paired that up to what I got out of running, skating fit the bill and I had a whole new set of skills to admire from those better than me and things to learn, then teach to others. I can say the last thing I used a cane for was to chip ice off from a frozen car tire in DC.</span></span><br><ul><li><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">What is your greatest accomplishment?</span></b></li>
</ul><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Prove the doctors wrong about the cane. Skate wise? I would say skating across the state of Ga, twice. Or my age placements in major skate races.</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b>3. What is your motto/theme song?</b></span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Y’all may be surprised by this, but it comes from a Christmas classic. Put one “Foot in Front of the Other.” No matter how short or how long the race may be all it is “One foot in front of the other.” And seeing the abominable snowman wobble/waling is always a great pick me up too.</span></span><br><br>
My motto? Why be normal?<br><ul><li><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">How do you deal with bad skates?</span></b></li>
</ul><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Well first it’s normally some bandaging.</span></span> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span></span> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">. Seriously though it’s all learning experiences. Analyze what you did, new, different, foods, weather and research how to fix/overcome it. That is why it is a learning experience and if you don’t learn from it, you will do it again.</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b>5. Do you reward yourself for good skates? How?</b></span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Food is a normal. But I’ll eat if it was crappy skate too though. Normally nothing special the only “splurge” I’ve allowed from a good race was a Action picture of me. I took second in my age group at Disney. The course sucked for skaters and all my training kept me literally up (most skaters fell on the wet boardwalk) with the lead elements. I finished only 11 minutes back from the overall winner</span></span><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b>6. Who do you admire most?</b></span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">I would say my 4 and 5th grade teacher, Mrs Marlin. (hmmm a fish name) She never gave up on me no matter how bad I tried to be. She new I was smart even though my parents didn’t she had faith in me and encouraged me to be me. she later becaem the Principal at that school. YEAY TEACHERS!!!!</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b>7. What is the greatest advice you have ever received?</b></span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">From my Gramma, “A Kiss is an upper persuasion for a lower invasion.”</span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">At the time I was shocked to hear my gramma say that, but as I got older it became very clear to me. “Don’t take a kiss lightly.” It’s a serious contract being discussed there with a heart on the line.</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b>8. What do wish you had learned younger?</b></span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Easy. Finances I had to take a business class and all the terms and math scared the shit out of me. To this day I still suck at fianances. Also how to control my temper, it got me in a lot of trouble as a youth and as an young adult</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b>9. What do you wish you could do but can't?</b></span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Run an Ultra, around one of my high school traing routes there was an annual week long ultra race to see who could run the furthest in that week, they could run at any time, day or night. I always wanted to do that but with this knee I can’t. This is why I like to skate the Athens to Atlanta and the Bike Ride across Georgia.</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b>10. How would your friends describe your personality?</b></span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">It’s funny, my friends see me as an outgoing, life of the party and “work the room” kind of person. In actuality I do what I can to cover my shyness. Most see me also as leader of sorts. It’s funny though because I hate to be responsible, but I hate more to see a something ruined because a spot was left vacant.</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b>11. What do you wear skating? favorite outfit?</b></span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Loose running short and a bike jersey. The pockets in the jersey hold everything I need for a skate and well I just like the breeze on the boys. Better than scrunching them up I think. My present favorite skate set is a 4 wheel by 90mm wheel diameter set up with a race boot mount. For the last several years my preferred manufacture is a company called POWERSLIDE. It’s a German</span></span> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">company that spilt from an Italian Company, and we know the Italians make good boots, but POWERSLIDE split off due to design differences in the frame production, Verducci wanted to stay old school, POWERSLIDE wanted to modernize.</span></span><br><br><b><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">12. What has been your favorite race?</span></span></b><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">As an event Athens to Atlanta hands down. This year will be my 8th time in 10 years. I missed 2 due to knee complications. my favorite individual race would be Disney 2004 being handed a AG medal by two Olympians speed skating and also meeting another one there and holding his Gold medal in speed skating (ice)</span></span><br><br><b><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">13. Do you have a goal race right now?</span></span></b><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Athens</span></span> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">to Atlanta, ALWAYS. This year I want to win the double marathon distance. A2A has three distances in it, 38, which is a hill Challenge into Dacula, HARD CLIMBS. A 52 mile and the full 87. I’ve already medaled AG in 38, and placed OA in 38 3 times. While I’m good at 87 I am not great. I think the 52 mile will be a good hybrid option for me. Last years winner would be the only concern. 23nd and 3rd place I know I can beat them since I normally do every Tuesday night skate.</span></span> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;">J <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Also in the line up is a marathon in Callaway, and the US10k Classic, one hilly ass route but some wicked speeds, in Cobb County<br></span></span></span></span></span><br><br><b><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">14. What makes you happy?</span></span></b><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Wow, so many things make me happy. A kiss from my cat, and the way we sniff noses when I come home. I good long hot bath. Deep kisses with the SO a good cheese steak sandwich (Philly shout out), the look when teaching someone how to skate and you see it CLICK.</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b>15. Tell us one interesting thing about you that you haven't said (at least not often) on this forum in the past.</b></span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">I don’t talk to my family at all. I guess you can say I divorced them.</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b>16. Tell us one interesting thing about another user of this forum that has not been posted (at least not often) on this forum in the past (make sure the other person will not object to posting the info!).</b></span></span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Well I know some stuff about Jenna, but she’d object to me letting that out.</span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Umm. I guess nothing really interesting about her but Tithers and I had an epiphany moment last summer when she was discussing BRAG it dawned on me we met IRL months before hand at a pizza place. She was asking me biking advice about BRAG, I had to tell her I never biked it but I hope she has a good time and use the masseuses. OFTEN.</span></span>
</ul><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">I used to be a runner since 3rd grade. I wasn’t very good at hand/eye coordinated sports and I found in third grade I ran faster than most of the 5th graders. I decided I was going to get better. I ran Track all thru school and in High school fell into XC to better my times for the ¼ mile. My first XC practice I could not even finish the 2.8 mile course. I felt dejected and a running failure. I ran almost everyday from that day on. I would run anywhere from 3-17 miles. I would actually break out of the house and run in a drug infested neighborhood at 1 in the morning just for the high. I can still remember my first high. It was in a XC meet in late October in New Jersey and raining. The feeling was literally brain numbing and exhilarating. Over the years of High School the miles would add up and I was addicted. I graduated as 5th on the XC team and went from DNF in the practice to a 15-16 minute 5k.</span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">While in the Army I had a pretty bad accident that messed up a knee. The doctors told me I would never run again and gave me a walking cane. They are pretty much right I can’t even do a 5k anymore. At the time I was devastated, depressed and angry. They told me I would probably be on the cane full time in 10 years, that would be by age 34, and they were probably going to be right if it wasn’t for my discovery of skating. Before skating I used a cane about 40-50% of the time. I was informed of major low pressure systems moving in long before anyone else, thanks to the knee. One day I got out of the funk, looked up VO2 max, calorie burns and paired that up to what I got out of running, skating fit the bill and I had a whole new set of skills to admire from those better than me and things to learn, then teach to others. I can say the last thing I used a cane for was to chip ice off from a frozen car tire in DC.</span></span><br><ul><li><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">What is your greatest accomplishment?</span></b></li>
</ul><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Prove the doctors wrong about the cane. Skate wise? I would say skating across the state of Ga, twice. Or my age placements in major skate races.</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b>3. What is your motto/theme song?</b></span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Y’all may be surprised by this, but it comes from a Christmas classic. Put one “Foot in Front of the Other.” No matter how short or how long the race may be all it is “One foot in front of the other.” And seeing the abominable snowman wobble/waling is always a great pick me up too.</span></span><br><br>
My motto? Why be normal?<br><ul><li><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">How do you deal with bad skates?</span></b></li>
</ul><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Well first it’s normally some bandaging.</span></span> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span></span> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">. Seriously though it’s all learning experiences. Analyze what you did, new, different, foods, weather and research how to fix/overcome it. That is why it is a learning experience and if you don’t learn from it, you will do it again.</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b>5. Do you reward yourself for good skates? How?</b></span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Food is a normal. But I’ll eat if it was crappy skate too though. Normally nothing special the only “splurge” I’ve allowed from a good race was a Action picture of me. I took second in my age group at Disney. The course sucked for skaters and all my training kept me literally up (most skaters fell on the wet boardwalk) with the lead elements. I finished only 11 minutes back from the overall winner</span></span><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b>6. Who do you admire most?</b></span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">I would say my 4 and 5th grade teacher, Mrs Marlin. (hmmm a fish name) She never gave up on me no matter how bad I tried to be. She new I was smart even though my parents didn’t she had faith in me and encouraged me to be me. she later becaem the Principal at that school. YEAY TEACHERS!!!!</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b>7. What is the greatest advice you have ever received?</b></span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">From my Gramma, “A Kiss is an upper persuasion for a lower invasion.”</span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">At the time I was shocked to hear my gramma say that, but as I got older it became very clear to me. “Don’t take a kiss lightly.” It’s a serious contract being discussed there with a heart on the line.</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b>8. What do wish you had learned younger?</b></span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Easy. Finances I had to take a business class and all the terms and math scared the shit out of me. To this day I still suck at fianances. Also how to control my temper, it got me in a lot of trouble as a youth and as an young adult</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b>9. What do you wish you could do but can't?</b></span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Run an Ultra, around one of my high school traing routes there was an annual week long ultra race to see who could run the furthest in that week, they could run at any time, day or night. I always wanted to do that but with this knee I can’t. This is why I like to skate the Athens to Atlanta and the Bike Ride across Georgia.</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b>10. How would your friends describe your personality?</b></span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">It’s funny, my friends see me as an outgoing, life of the party and “work the room” kind of person. In actuality I do what I can to cover my shyness. Most see me also as leader of sorts. It’s funny though because I hate to be responsible, but I hate more to see a something ruined because a spot was left vacant.</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b>11. What do you wear skating? favorite outfit?</b></span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Loose running short and a bike jersey. The pockets in the jersey hold everything I need for a skate and well I just like the breeze on the boys. Better than scrunching them up I think. My present favorite skate set is a 4 wheel by 90mm wheel diameter set up with a race boot mount. For the last several years my preferred manufacture is a company called POWERSLIDE. It’s a German</span></span> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">company that spilt from an Italian Company, and we know the Italians make good boots, but POWERSLIDE split off due to design differences in the frame production, Verducci wanted to stay old school, POWERSLIDE wanted to modernize.</span></span><br><br><b><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">12. What has been your favorite race?</span></span></b><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">As an event Athens to Atlanta hands down. This year will be my 8th time in 10 years. I missed 2 due to knee complications. my favorite individual race would be Disney 2004 being handed a AG medal by two Olympians speed skating and also meeting another one there and holding his Gold medal in speed skating (ice)</span></span><br><br><b><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">13. Do you have a goal race right now?</span></span></b><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Athens</span></span> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">to Atlanta, ALWAYS. This year I want to win the double marathon distance. A2A has three distances in it, 38, which is a hill Challenge into Dacula, HARD CLIMBS. A 52 mile and the full 87. I’ve already medaled AG in 38, and placed OA in 38 3 times. While I’m good at 87 I am not great. I think the 52 mile will be a good hybrid option for me. Last years winner would be the only concern. 23nd and 3rd place I know I can beat them since I normally do every Tuesday night skate.</span></span> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;">J <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Also in the line up is a marathon in Callaway, and the US10k Classic, one hilly ass route but some wicked speeds, in Cobb County<br></span></span></span></span></span><br><br><b><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">14. What makes you happy?</span></span></b><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Wow, so many things make me happy. A kiss from my cat, and the way we sniff noses when I come home. I good long hot bath. Deep kisses with the SO a good cheese steak sandwich (Philly shout out), the look when teaching someone how to skate and you see it CLICK.</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b>15. Tell us one interesting thing about you that you haven't said (at least not often) on this forum in the past.</b></span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">I don’t talk to my family at all. I guess you can say I divorced them.</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b>16. Tell us one interesting thing about another user of this forum that has not been posted (at least not often) on this forum in the past (make sure the other person will not object to posting the info!).</b></span></span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Well I know some stuff about Jenna, but she’d object to me letting that out.</span></span><br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Umm. I guess nothing really interesting about her but Tithers and I had an epiphany moment last summer when she was discussing BRAG it dawned on me we met IRL months before hand at a pizza place. She was asking me biking advice about BRAG, I had to tell her I never biked it but I hope she has a good time and use the masseuses. OFTEN.</span></span>
