Profession…World’s Best Electrician.
I started running in…July 4th 1998
Life/Sport Philosophy…Have fun with everything you do. Life is way too short.
Favorite spot to be active…Besides the Bedroom, any place outside, preferably near the water. That’s why I Moved to SoCal.
Athletic highlights…I love to water-ski. Back in the Midwest I belonged to a water-ski show team club (kind of like Tommy Bartlets or sea world). But we were a lot better. I skied for ten years and our team placed 2nd in the nation a couple of years.
My running experience with AREC has been…FANFRIGGINTASTIC!
I’ve been running with AREC since…July 2005.
The best thing about AREC is…definitely the people. The beer. Todd Rose ?
I run because…A couple of reasons really. First I started running to help quit smoking and I found out I liked it and haven’t really stopped since. Second, the health aspects of staying in shape. And third, it is a huge stress reliever. After a bad day at work I can go for a run and things just seem to work themselves out.
When I am not running…I like to bike, cook, read, travel, and other things I hesitate to mention! Basically anything that puts a smile on my face. I have a hard time sitting still.
Favorite running surface…Smooth, flat, straight asphalt in 95 degree weather in the Midwest. With not a car in sight, just acres and acres of corn! I told you guys I’m weird!
Pre-race meal…usually oatmeal, maybe a banana or a Power Bars, Mai Tais if I am out with Conboy the night before.
After a race I usually treat myself to…lots and lots of beer.
My favorite race is…besides the next one, The Bix 7 in Davenport, Iowa. 7-mile race with over 20,000 people. Followed up by one heck of a party also held in the middle of July in 90 degree weather and 80 percent humidity. My favorite California race is the Carlsbad 5000. I would say so far the best beer garden I have been to yet.
My running goal is to…have fun and stay healthy.
Running mantra…Stay focused, concentrate, breathe, go forward.
I’m inspired by…positive people I come in contact with.
My best training tip…listen to your body and be disciplined, focused.
The best advice I ever got…“Instructions for Life” that the Dalai Lama wrote.
I want to improve in…endurance and speed if we are talking about running. If we are not then just endurance.
I love…the list is long but I can sum it up by saying I love the things that make me happy.
I hate…takes too much time and energy to hate.
I run marathons…for the mental and physical challenges, and for the beer gardens.
I wish…for my life to continue as is. And also world peace!
My best experience running was…while I was running the Hood to Coast Relay in Portland Oregon with some of you fellow ARECers. I have two. First, I was waiting for my last leg to start and lying in my sleeping bag looking up at all the stars in Oregon. Which were absolutely amazing. Falling asleep, worrying about getting run over by another van. Then getting kicked awake at 4 A.M. by Dick Ames who was saying I had 15 minutes to start my last leg of the run. So from a dead sleep to a full out run in 15 minutes, I wasn’t a happy camper. I found myself running in the mist and fog. All my senses were heightened except for my eyesight (due to the fog and I wasn’t wearing my glasses). I could hear and feel the crunch of the gravel under my feet, the mist on my face, the sound of my breathing, and hear the rustling of whatever was lurking in the forest (probably Pumas). It was eerie and so fantastic at the same time. I was out there in the middle of the night all alone. Then I would see a glimpse of a reflective vest and think ‘Road Kill,’ speed up to pass them and find out as I got closer that they were walking. I would say “Good Morning” and slip off into the protective veil of the night. The second is we stopped at a little general store/bar at 9AM sitting in the van drinking ice cold Black butte beer, sharing our stories, and being glad we were done. That comradeship with my fellow chubbies was fantastic. Then, Susan spotted an Oregon punk rocker wannabe across the street, complete with a blonde Mohawk, and she said “Look, he has a Brian Conboy starter kit!” We all laughed till it hurt except for Brian, who I think still has a contract out on Susan. That’s where I came up with my Halloween costume.
Brian, you are still my Heterosexual life partner!
To All…Thanks!