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<b>1. Why do you run?</b><br>
I was cursed from an early age with both charm and good looks, and learned very quickly that the only means of survival was to be quick-footed. Then the ladies all decided I looked freaky in short shorts and left me alone. Nowadays I wish it hadn’t worked so well. Quite the paradox really.<br><br>
However, the casual observer would suggest that I took it up because I was the quiet, awkward 7th grader who wanted to fit in somewhere. The problem was I lacked any real natural athletic skills and the art of throwing, hitting, and kicking balls and whatnot had always evaded me. With cross country however, I found a sport in which success was largely determined by desire and effort….I was competing much more against myself than the other people around me. Those first couple weeks of practice were some of the most painful of my life; I was one of the slowest kids and couldn’t even go 2 miles without stopping. But I managed to keep my focus away from everyone else, and saw it as a personal challenge…..I knew that I probably wasn’t going to be the fastest guy on the team, but I was going to push myself harder than everyone else.<br><br>
I would see races on TV and I was always mesmerized by the Kenyans and how smooth and perfect they looked, how they could run that fast for that long and make it look so easy. Naturally, the marathon appealed to me especially….it was all about who could put up with the most amount of pain for the longest, and I loved to watch them battle through it. Few people could understand why I would want to watch a bunch of guys run for hours at a time, but I was transfixed. I knew I wanted to be like them, and I put every effort into running as long and hard as I could and learning to deal with the pain.<br><br>
Things naturally fell into place with my half-crazed work ethic and I started to improve….finishing middle school in the top half of the team……finishing out high school as 3rd on the XC team with an 18 minute 5k, and qualifying for states in outdoor track with a 2:07 800.….running for my college XC team and being able to hold my own with a 29 minute 8k…..attempting and finishing a marathon in 3:28 and being slightly disappointed with the time. Quite the progression from when I first started.<br><br>
Often times during college training I’d be out for a longer run on a particularly good day and have the ‘runners high’ set in….I’d be clicking off the miles almost without effort and feel completely in the zone. This is quite possibly the best feeling in the world. I would think back to all those times watching the Kenyans on TV and knew that I finally had found what I was looking for.<br><br>
Plus the endorphins kick ass (I‘m kind of a junkie)….<br><b><br>
2. What is your greatest accomplishment?<br></b>The generic stuff like high school & college graduation, finishing the marathon, but especially the kids that I’ve worked with; getting a laugh or smile out of them, even if only for a split second, knowing that I’ve helped take their minds off troubled times.<br><b><br>
3. What is your motto/theme song?<br></b>“I touch myself” -blondie (In fact it’s on repeat as I type this! Sorry if some of the responses are a little touchy-feely)<br><b><br>
4. How do you deal with bad runs?<br></b>Take some pepto bismol<b><br><br><br>
5. Do you reward yourself for good runs? How?<br></b>A few satisfied grunts….then flush…..then take some pepto bismol & repeat<br><b><br>
6. Who do you admire most?<br></b>Lots of people in different ways. My brother for all the crap he has to go through day to day, never being able to have a normal life (severe autism). My mom for everything she’s had to and continues to deal with, and yet still find time to be the typical pain-in-the-ass mom, calling up her oldest son all the time and reminding him to eat. My sister for everything she’s had to deal with at such a young age, and yet still manage to be a straight A, slightly giggly, slightly moody middle school band/drama geek. Of course all the PRT folk for their many running endeavours, especially those on the fringe, like that weird guy with the shorts and finger cartilage issues.<br><b><br>
7. What is the greatest advice you have ever received?<br></b>Happiness is a choice that we make….life only gets to us as much as we let it.<br><br>
…and be careful about tapping feet in restroom stalls…..<br><b><br>
8. What do wish you had learned younger?<br></b>don’t worry about your flaws/oddities because everybody else has something they’re equally ashamed of. Self-confidence is everything.<br><b><br>
9. What do you wish you could do but can't?<br></b>Lick my elbow<br><b><br>
10. How would your friends describe your personality?<br></b>Really laid back, doesn’t really get stressed out about anything. Crazy sense of humor, often in bad taste, and not afraid to break it out at the most random times. Can add comic relief to just about any situation.<br><b><br>
11. What do you wear running? favorite outfit?<br></b>Clothes are overrated…..the less, the better<br><b><br>
12. What has been your favorite race?<br><br></b> Philly Marathon ‘05, my entrance to the marathon cult.<br><br>
There was also this race in college XC on an insanely difficult course that I loved just for the challenge…..and there was also this section that was about 100 yards on a slight downhill that went right in between 2 rows of tall, perfectly parallel trees. It was right out of a movie or something, you felt like you were flying! Most surreal feeling I’ve ever had in a race except at the end of the marathon. I had a really good day too, that helped!<br><b><br>
13. Do you have a goal race right now?<br><br></b> Me & a bunch of the folks on the kiddie forum back at CR have a pact to run the Western States 100 in 2015, and dammit I’m stickin to it! Running that ridiculousness would quite possibly be the peak of my existence.<br><br>
Unfortunately I’ve slacked off of late and gotten pretty out of shape, but I’d definitely like to run some more marathons as well, as I know I’m capable of running faster…..especially if I actually train legitimately. I’d really like to get the BQ and do Boston, that’s probably at the top of my list for the next few years.<br><b><br>
14. What makes you happy?<br><br></b> Running, kids, psychology, wasting as much time as possible on the internet, quacking, pretty girls, crush threads, anyone who can appreciate the value of laughter<br><b><br>
15. Tell us one interesting thing about you that you haven't said (at least not often) on this forum in the past.<br><br></b> Aside from running I’m also an avid poker player. I play online a lot (when I’m not getting backslapped by grad school or getting my CH/PRT fix) and once won $4000 in a tournament at foxwoods. Profitable hobbies are the best kind!<br><b><br><br><br><br>
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!).<br><br></b> Jeez, I’m still trying to learn about myself and you want me to know about other people too??? I guess I could post the numbers of people in the cellphone loop, but they might get mad….<br><br><br>
Other questions are highly encouraged. As random as you can get! GOGOGO!!!!<br><br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/headbang.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="headbang">
I was cursed from an early age with both charm and good looks, and learned very quickly that the only means of survival was to be quick-footed. Then the ladies all decided I looked freaky in short shorts and left me alone. Nowadays I wish it hadn’t worked so well. Quite the paradox really.<br><br>
However, the casual observer would suggest that I took it up because I was the quiet, awkward 7th grader who wanted to fit in somewhere. The problem was I lacked any real natural athletic skills and the art of throwing, hitting, and kicking balls and whatnot had always evaded me. With cross country however, I found a sport in which success was largely determined by desire and effort….I was competing much more against myself than the other people around me. Those first couple weeks of practice were some of the most painful of my life; I was one of the slowest kids and couldn’t even go 2 miles without stopping. But I managed to keep my focus away from everyone else, and saw it as a personal challenge…..I knew that I probably wasn’t going to be the fastest guy on the team, but I was going to push myself harder than everyone else.<br><br>
I would see races on TV and I was always mesmerized by the Kenyans and how smooth and perfect they looked, how they could run that fast for that long and make it look so easy. Naturally, the marathon appealed to me especially….it was all about who could put up with the most amount of pain for the longest, and I loved to watch them battle through it. Few people could understand why I would want to watch a bunch of guys run for hours at a time, but I was transfixed. I knew I wanted to be like them, and I put every effort into running as long and hard as I could and learning to deal with the pain.<br><br>
Things naturally fell into place with my half-crazed work ethic and I started to improve….finishing middle school in the top half of the team……finishing out high school as 3rd on the XC team with an 18 minute 5k, and qualifying for states in outdoor track with a 2:07 800.….running for my college XC team and being able to hold my own with a 29 minute 8k…..attempting and finishing a marathon in 3:28 and being slightly disappointed with the time. Quite the progression from when I first started.<br><br>
Often times during college training I’d be out for a longer run on a particularly good day and have the ‘runners high’ set in….I’d be clicking off the miles almost without effort and feel completely in the zone. This is quite possibly the best feeling in the world. I would think back to all those times watching the Kenyans on TV and knew that I finally had found what I was looking for.<br><br>
Plus the endorphins kick ass (I‘m kind of a junkie)….<br><b><br>
2. What is your greatest accomplishment?<br></b>The generic stuff like high school & college graduation, finishing the marathon, but especially the kids that I’ve worked with; getting a laugh or smile out of them, even if only for a split second, knowing that I’ve helped take their minds off troubled times.<br><b><br>
3. What is your motto/theme song?<br></b>“I touch myself” -blondie (In fact it’s on repeat as I type this! Sorry if some of the responses are a little touchy-feely)<br><b><br>
4. How do you deal with bad runs?<br></b>Take some pepto bismol<b><br><br><br>
5. Do you reward yourself for good runs? How?<br></b>A few satisfied grunts….then flush…..then take some pepto bismol & repeat<br><b><br>
6. Who do you admire most?<br></b>Lots of people in different ways. My brother for all the crap he has to go through day to day, never being able to have a normal life (severe autism). My mom for everything she’s had to and continues to deal with, and yet still find time to be the typical pain-in-the-ass mom, calling up her oldest son all the time and reminding him to eat. My sister for everything she’s had to deal with at such a young age, and yet still manage to be a straight A, slightly giggly, slightly moody middle school band/drama geek. Of course all the PRT folk for their many running endeavours, especially those on the fringe, like that weird guy with the shorts and finger cartilage issues.<br><b><br>
7. What is the greatest advice you have ever received?<br></b>Happiness is a choice that we make….life only gets to us as much as we let it.<br><br>
…and be careful about tapping feet in restroom stalls…..<br><b><br>
8. What do wish you had learned younger?<br></b>don’t worry about your flaws/oddities because everybody else has something they’re equally ashamed of. Self-confidence is everything.<br><b><br>
9. What do you wish you could do but can't?<br></b>Lick my elbow<br><b><br>
10. How would your friends describe your personality?<br></b>Really laid back, doesn’t really get stressed out about anything. Crazy sense of humor, often in bad taste, and not afraid to break it out at the most random times. Can add comic relief to just about any situation.<br><b><br>
11. What do you wear running? favorite outfit?<br></b>Clothes are overrated…..the less, the better<br><b><br>
12. What has been your favorite race?<br><br></b> Philly Marathon ‘05, my entrance to the marathon cult.<br><br>
There was also this race in college XC on an insanely difficult course that I loved just for the challenge…..and there was also this section that was about 100 yards on a slight downhill that went right in between 2 rows of tall, perfectly parallel trees. It was right out of a movie or something, you felt like you were flying! Most surreal feeling I’ve ever had in a race except at the end of the marathon. I had a really good day too, that helped!<br><b><br>
13. Do you have a goal race right now?<br><br></b> Me & a bunch of the folks on the kiddie forum back at CR have a pact to run the Western States 100 in 2015, and dammit I’m stickin to it! Running that ridiculousness would quite possibly be the peak of my existence.<br><br>
Unfortunately I’ve slacked off of late and gotten pretty out of shape, but I’d definitely like to run some more marathons as well, as I know I’m capable of running faster…..especially if I actually train legitimately. I’d really like to get the BQ and do Boston, that’s probably at the top of my list for the next few years.<br><b><br>
14. What makes you happy?<br><br></b> Running, kids, psychology, wasting as much time as possible on the internet, quacking, pretty girls, crush threads, anyone who can appreciate the value of laughter<br><b><br>
15. Tell us one interesting thing about you that you haven't said (at least not often) on this forum in the past.<br><br></b> Aside from running I’m also an avid poker player. I play online a lot (when I’m not getting backslapped by grad school or getting my CH/PRT fix) and once won $4000 in a tournament at foxwoods. Profitable hobbies are the best kind!<br><b><br><br><br><br>
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!).<br><br></b> Jeez, I’m still trying to learn about myself and you want me to know about other people too??? I guess I could post the numbers of people in the cellphone loop, but they might get mad….<br><br><br>
Other questions are highly encouraged. As random as you can get! GOGOGO!!!!<br><br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/headbang.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="headbang">
