Profession…Escrow officer.
I started running in…1995. I really started running a month after my first marathon in 1995.
Life/sport philosophy…Enjoy different sceneries, make every run different.
Athletic highlights…Running Boston in 2001. I never dreamed that I could qualify for Boston. And for three years in a row, I ran a marathon a month.
My running experience with AREC has been…rewarding because it helped me train better for marathons and I got to know new friends.
I’ve been with AREC for…almost 9 years.
The best thing about AREC is…the beer! Friends, because that’s what keeps me going.
When I’m not running I…am spending time with my kids.
I always run with…Todd Fanady. He pushes me!
My pre-race meal is…I like to eat peanut butter jelly sandwiches, of course 1/4 of the sandwich for marathons. For ultras, it’s good to have a pinch of salt. It’s good for your muscles. And I like to have a sip of Coke.
After a race I treat myself to…lemonade.
My favorite race is…the LA Marathon and the NYC Marathon.
My goal is…always to finish a marathon. I really don’t have any goals but to keep on running and enjoying it. I really don’t like to be a competitor. I just like to run.
I’m inspired by…Joan Benoit. I watched her finish the marathon at the ’84 Olympics and she inspired me a lot. I worked for the 1984 Olympics and I went to check out the Coliseum to see what event was going on. Joan Benoit just happened to finish running the marathon with a great smile and joy. And I’m inspired by Jo Flo because of the way she sprinted. I volunteered at the LA Marathon in 1993 and 1994 and just seeing the wheelchairs, making it seem so easy, it inspired me more.
When I run I think about…Usually I have a marathon song that keeps me going and it’s always different. Since Heather Stevens was diagnosed with her illness, she’s been my inspiration and my angel.
My dream is…to make people happy. Peace and love for everybody.
My best training tip…to take it easy at the start and enjoy it. At Mile 13, increase the pace.
The best advice I ever got was…to drink the Coke. I was at Mile 19 of a Long Beach Marathon and someone there gave me a Coke and that helped me in the last 5 miles.
Running has helped me… accomplish finishing races and meeting new friends. Running is keeping me in shape. And mostly importantly, I met Chuck Sohaskey.
I hate…when I broke my left foot and wasn't able to run.
I run marathons because… I get to explore other cities and countries and at the same time I get to meet new friends and I also take it as a vacation.
Final thoughts… I’d like to say thank you to Todd Rose, Bernard Mills, Steve Singer, and Diane Belanger who welcomed me to AREC back in 1997. And now, to the rest of AREC, thank you for cheering me up when my foot was broken last year.