Current P.R.

2:53:56 in 2002

Where were you born?

St. Louis

Number of marathons

48

Birthday

January 25

Favorite marathon

Chicago

Typical pace

3:15 to 3:40 pace groups

Favorite running music

The sound of my feet.  Back in my headphone wearing  days, Black Uhuru or Johnny Clegg.

Occupation

Litigation attorney

Favorite running food

Dried apricots

Any hobbies?

International travel, fishing, listening to live bands at small clubs.

Who do you train with?

I’m the Marathon Training Coordinator for the St. Louis Track Club Marathon Training Program.  We get up to 70 runners for our weekend runs.

Favorite book, what are you reading now?

Reading the biography of Abraham Lincoln

A quotation you like…

“Endurance is one of the most difficult disciplines, but it is to the one who endures that the final victory comes.”  Buddha

Personal goals

Stay healthy so that I can keep running, so that I can stay healthy. 

Why do you run?

Apart from the physical challenge and the friends I’ve made running, I run because I’m not very good at just sitting around.  I also run because I cannot think of any time I’ve finished a casual run or a race and regretted having laced up that day.

Describe your best marathon memory.

Probably not my time in the medical tent at my first St. Louis Marathon, largely the result of my being clueless about marathons and registering for the race on a whim, without having logged more than a 6-miler.  Perhaps the first time I broke 3-hour marathon mark.

Why do you pace?

It’s so much more fun than running a marathon solo.  I get a lot of satisfaction from helping others run a smart marathon and seeing just what they are capable of doing.

Tell us your best pacing experience.

Earlier in 2009, I had a good streak.  I led pace groups for 4 consecutive weeks and capped it off with a perfect 3:40:00 chip time in Pittsburgh.

Why should someone run in your pace group?

If you’ve trained properly and set a realistic goal, I’ll help you get there.  References available upon request.

Any tips for runners about to join your group?

Promise yourself ahead of time that you’ll stick with our game plan, then stick with it.  The most common mistake my runners make is pulling ahead of the group, only to get humbled at mile 23 as they have bonked and our group cheerfully passes them.

Anything else you’d like to share?

Not running related, but I used to be a Peace Corps Volunteer on a tropical island, where I lived in a leaky palm frond shack without running water or electricity.