Joined
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5,629 Posts
<b>1. Why do you run?</b><br><br>
Because I am competitive of a person as you'll find and am addicted to it.<br><br>
In 2002, I was getting huge. I weighed about 245 pounds, but was strong as an ox. I was a meathead weightlifter and fighter. I fought in April that year and my cardio was crap. I was just getting into my 30s, and I told myself one of two things were going to happen. Either I could continue on my current course and Krispy Kreme my way to 300 pounds, or I could jettison some tonnage and fight the aging process.<br><br>
I decided on the latter. I went on a low-carb diet and started losing weight. During the summer of 2002, I decided I needed to do some cardio. I told myself that I wasn't going to do any bullshit stair-steppers or whatnot (NTTAWWT). Rather, I was going to do the real thing -- run. But I was too embarrassed to run outside. So I started on the treadmill at the gym, running about 5 minutes and walking for a minute. I worked my way up. I still remember the day that I ran 20 minutes straight on the treadmill with no walking break. I watched the clock tick up to 20 minutes like they were the last seconds of my life, hanging on for all that I was worth to make it.<br><br>
Later that summer, I finally got the courage to run outside. I started a 10k training program and ran my first 5k at the very end of the summer at about 230 pounds. I enjoyed it immensely and ran another one around Halloween.<br><br>
I kept running through the fall, but got walking pneumonia around December. It stayed with me til the end of January and I wasn't running. Basically, that was the end of my running until...<br><br>
The end of Apriil 2004. I had just fought what turned out to be my last fight (lost by TKO, btw. doctor stopped the fight between rounds. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/mad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Mad"> ). Two days later, playing beer-league softball, I broke my wrist. Didn't know it was broken til sometime later, but I knew I wouldn't be able to lift or fight for a while. So I decided to do the running thing again. But I wanted a more significant program than the 10k one I'd followed before. So I chose the beginner marathon program on the Runner's World Web site. I figured if I got through it, I'd run the Akron Marathon in the fall and scratch that off of my list of things to do before I die.<br><br>
Conventional wisdom said I did not have the base for this. So I figured I'd hurt myself training and probably hurt myself if I even got to the marathon. But I didn't care because I figured I'd never run another step in my life after that. I was right on two counts. I injured myself training and during the race. But I was hooked after that first marathon. And the rest is history. I've run 10 marathons and one 50k since Oct. 2, 2004.<br><br><b>2. What is your greatest accomplishment?</b><br><br>
I always have a hard time answering this kind of question. Running-wise, it would be the 3:44:54 I ran at the Flying Pig this year. But, in general, I just think leaving home, getting through college and becoming my own person is my greatest accomplishment.<br><br><b>3. What is your motto/theme song?</b><br><br><i>If you're gonna be a bear, be a grizzly!</i> Actually, I stole that line from Cannonball Run, but I do use it to motivate myself during runs sometimes.<br><br>
The one that I think describes me as a runner is <i>Eat Like a Horse, Drink Like a Fish, Run Like a Fool</i>. I want to write a book with that title.<br><br><b>4. How do you deal with bad runs?</b><br><br>
I've had enough of them that I realize they can just happen for no good reason. And I usually have another one coming up, so I have to put it behind me and get ready for what's coming.<br><br><b>5. Do you reward yourself for good runs? How?</b><br><br>
I was thinking about this this past weekend as I was finishing a 20-miler. I was kind of bribing myself with the idea of getting a pizza or something at the end of the run. But, when I was on the last mile, it kind of dawned on me that finishing the run was reward enough. Plus I knew I'd be having a few beers later, so I had that to look forward to.<br><br><b>6. Who do you admire most?</b><br><br>
I don't have any heroes. I'm not a big believer in heroes. But you know who I find myself admiring a lot? Older couples. One the trail I run on, I often see elderly couples walking together and it actually warms my heart to see them out walking together enjoying each other's company. Maybe it's because I come from a broken home, but it makes me physically smile when I see that.<br><br><b>7. What is the greatest advice you have ever received?</b><br><br>
From my dad: Joe, don't ever get married (said right before his second marriage. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Very Happy"> )<br><br>
From my bartender/running coach: Run with your knees, not your feet.<br><br>
Actually, my mom gave me the greatest advice during my first semester in college. She told me to always remember that, no matter how bad things get, there's always a way out. Meaning, that there's no need for drastic (bad) decisions when you mess up.<br><br><b>8. What do wish you had learned younger?</b><br><br>
Women. While I enjoy being single most of the time, I am envious of my married friends and their families.<br><br><b>9. What do you wish you could do but can't?<br></b><br>
Play the guitar. I'm trying to learn, but I suck something awful!<br><br><b>10. How would your friends describe your personality?</b><br><br>
Some of my friends say I'm always on party standby. Mostly, they would say I'm laid back, funny and a little bit (ok, maybe a lot) crazy. They also would say I'm a loyal friend who they can trust with anything but, at the same time, will tell them how it is if they come to me for advice.<br><br><b>11. What do you wear running? favorite outfit?</b><br><br>
Need you ask?<br><br><img alt="" src="http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL610/2610275/17969451/281346431.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"><br><br><b>12. What has been your favorite race?<br></b><br>
The Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon. I avenged a bad race there in 2005 with a marathon PR of 3:44:54 this year.<br><br><b>13. Do you have a goal race right now?</b><br><br>
Surf City Marathon 2/3/08<br><br><b>14. What makes you happy?<br></b><br>
What makes me most happy is knowing that my family is doing well and happy. I can take care of myself, I'm not worried about that. I wish that I could give my dad, mother and brothers everything they possibly could need so they would never have to want for anything.<br><br><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><br><br>
I almost got on Survivor once and have been trying to get on it since the second season. I'm dying to get on that show.<br><br><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!).<br></b><br>
runningInNYC does not have a New York accent! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Very Happy">
Because I am competitive of a person as you'll find and am addicted to it.<br><br>
In 2002, I was getting huge. I weighed about 245 pounds, but was strong as an ox. I was a meathead weightlifter and fighter. I fought in April that year and my cardio was crap. I was just getting into my 30s, and I told myself one of two things were going to happen. Either I could continue on my current course and Krispy Kreme my way to 300 pounds, or I could jettison some tonnage and fight the aging process.<br><br>
I decided on the latter. I went on a low-carb diet and started losing weight. During the summer of 2002, I decided I needed to do some cardio. I told myself that I wasn't going to do any bullshit stair-steppers or whatnot (NTTAWWT). Rather, I was going to do the real thing -- run. But I was too embarrassed to run outside. So I started on the treadmill at the gym, running about 5 minutes and walking for a minute. I worked my way up. I still remember the day that I ran 20 minutes straight on the treadmill with no walking break. I watched the clock tick up to 20 minutes like they were the last seconds of my life, hanging on for all that I was worth to make it.<br><br>
Later that summer, I finally got the courage to run outside. I started a 10k training program and ran my first 5k at the very end of the summer at about 230 pounds. I enjoyed it immensely and ran another one around Halloween.<br><br>
I kept running through the fall, but got walking pneumonia around December. It stayed with me til the end of January and I wasn't running. Basically, that was the end of my running until...<br><br>
The end of Apriil 2004. I had just fought what turned out to be my last fight (lost by TKO, btw. doctor stopped the fight between rounds. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/mad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Mad"> ). Two days later, playing beer-league softball, I broke my wrist. Didn't know it was broken til sometime later, but I knew I wouldn't be able to lift or fight for a while. So I decided to do the running thing again. But I wanted a more significant program than the 10k one I'd followed before. So I chose the beginner marathon program on the Runner's World Web site. I figured if I got through it, I'd run the Akron Marathon in the fall and scratch that off of my list of things to do before I die.<br><br>
Conventional wisdom said I did not have the base for this. So I figured I'd hurt myself training and probably hurt myself if I even got to the marathon. But I didn't care because I figured I'd never run another step in my life after that. I was right on two counts. I injured myself training and during the race. But I was hooked after that first marathon. And the rest is history. I've run 10 marathons and one 50k since Oct. 2, 2004.<br><br><b>2. What is your greatest accomplishment?</b><br><br>
I always have a hard time answering this kind of question. Running-wise, it would be the 3:44:54 I ran at the Flying Pig this year. But, in general, I just think leaving home, getting through college and becoming my own person is my greatest accomplishment.<br><br><b>3. What is your motto/theme song?</b><br><br><i>If you're gonna be a bear, be a grizzly!</i> Actually, I stole that line from Cannonball Run, but I do use it to motivate myself during runs sometimes.<br><br>
The one that I think describes me as a runner is <i>Eat Like a Horse, Drink Like a Fish, Run Like a Fool</i>. I want to write a book with that title.<br><br><b>4. How do you deal with bad runs?</b><br><br>
I've had enough of them that I realize they can just happen for no good reason. And I usually have another one coming up, so I have to put it behind me and get ready for what's coming.<br><br><b>5. Do you reward yourself for good runs? How?</b><br><br>
I was thinking about this this past weekend as I was finishing a 20-miler. I was kind of bribing myself with the idea of getting a pizza or something at the end of the run. But, when I was on the last mile, it kind of dawned on me that finishing the run was reward enough. Plus I knew I'd be having a few beers later, so I had that to look forward to.<br><br><b>6. Who do you admire most?</b><br><br>
I don't have any heroes. I'm not a big believer in heroes. But you know who I find myself admiring a lot? Older couples. One the trail I run on, I often see elderly couples walking together and it actually warms my heart to see them out walking together enjoying each other's company. Maybe it's because I come from a broken home, but it makes me physically smile when I see that.<br><br><b>7. What is the greatest advice you have ever received?</b><br><br>
From my dad: Joe, don't ever get married (said right before his second marriage. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Very Happy"> )<br><br>
From my bartender/running coach: Run with your knees, not your feet.<br><br>
Actually, my mom gave me the greatest advice during my first semester in college. She told me to always remember that, no matter how bad things get, there's always a way out. Meaning, that there's no need for drastic (bad) decisions when you mess up.<br><br><b>8. What do wish you had learned younger?</b><br><br>
Women. While I enjoy being single most of the time, I am envious of my married friends and their families.<br><br><b>9. What do you wish you could do but can't?<br></b><br>
Play the guitar. I'm trying to learn, but I suck something awful!<br><br><b>10. How would your friends describe your personality?</b><br><br>
Some of my friends say I'm always on party standby. Mostly, they would say I'm laid back, funny and a little bit (ok, maybe a lot) crazy. They also would say I'm a loyal friend who they can trust with anything but, at the same time, will tell them how it is if they come to me for advice.<br><br><b>11. What do you wear running? favorite outfit?</b><br><br>
Need you ask?<br><br><img alt="" src="http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL610/2610275/17969451/281346431.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"><br><br><b>12. What has been your favorite race?<br></b><br>
The Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon. I avenged a bad race there in 2005 with a marathon PR of 3:44:54 this year.<br><br><b>13. Do you have a goal race right now?</b><br><br>
Surf City Marathon 2/3/08<br><br><b>14. What makes you happy?<br></b><br>
What makes me most happy is knowing that my family is doing well and happy. I can take care of myself, I'm not worried about that. I wish that I could give my dad, mother and brothers everything they possibly could need so they would never have to want for anything.<br><br><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><br><br>
I almost got on Survivor once and have been trying to get on it since the second season. I'm dying to get on that show.<br><br><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!).<br></b><br>
runningInNYC does not have a New York accent! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Very Happy">
