Where are you from?

Brookfield, WI

Current P.R.

3:26:41 – 5/1/2011

Birthday

12/27

Number of marathons

23 and counting!

Typical pace

8:00 – 8:30

Favorite marathon

Boston and Lakefront (Milwaukee)

Occupation

Information Systems Project Manager

Favorite Running Food

Night before: angel hair pasta

During a run: Hammer Sustained Energy

After a run: chocolate milk, yogurt

Hobbies

Running (duh!), movies, reading (history, biographies), music (listening, I have no musical talents of my own)

Who do you train with?

I normally run at 4:30 AM before work, so it’s just me and the moon and the stars until the sun comes up!

Favorite book, what are you reading now?

The Optimistic Child, Why The Allies Won

A quotation you like…

“Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever give up.  Never give up.  Never give up.  Never give up.”  -- Winston Churchill.

Personal goals

Running: To continue to improve on an absolute basis as long as possible, and on an age-grade basis after that.

Other: Together with my wife, to raise two wonderful boys as well as possible.

Why do you run?

In part because I love the challenge to continue to improve, and also now that I’ve been running a good number of years, I continue to run because I dread the thought of not running, getting out of shape, and looking back and thinking “What have I done to myself?”

Describe your best marathon memory.

During my first (and so far, only) Boston Marathon in 2010, running by Boston College around mile 22 and having the students in the crowd literally running along side me and the other runners, encouraging us with all the energy they could muster, giving every runner individual encouragement like you were running for them…I was glad I was wearing sunglasses because I had tears in my eyes.

Why do you pace?

To encourage other runners to achieve their goals and realize that if you put your mind to it and put in all the hard work necessary, things you thought were impossible for you really are not only possible, but inevitable.  I am normally going to spend my weekend mornings running for a few hours anyway, why not share it with others?

Why should someone run in your pace group?

The encouragement and camaraderie of running with a group with similar goals and at a steady pace cannot be underestimated.  As Pace Group Leader I will ensure we keep that steady pace to reach our goal time, but I encourage the entire group to share their stories and motivation for undertaking this challenge.

Any tips for runners about to join your group?

You’ve come this far, and that is an accomplishment in and of itself.  A marathon or half-marathon takes work without a doubt, but it also can be a lot of fun if you take the time to talk with other runners, and take in the sights and sounds of the course and the spectators.  Doing this can help take your mind off the work part of the equation, at least for awhile.

Anything else you’d like to share?

You may not necessarily think of yourself as a runner yet, but that changed the moment you registered for your first race, and once you cross that finish line you are a runner for life!

What philanthropic activities do you have?

Volunteer for my boys’ Cub Scout Pack and youth soccer league.