How and when did you start running?
I
started running in Kindergarten at age 5. I was hyperactive as a kid
and the teachers made me run a mile on the crushed granite track next to
the playground before school and at the start of recess in an effort to
burn off the excess energy. I wasn't allowed to start class or play
until I had gotten my laps in. I started to enjoy it and found out I
had a bit of talent for running which led me to enter local 5k and 10k.
What's your favourite distance and race and why?
Growing
up I enjoyed the 10k the most because it was long enough for endurance
and training to have an impact. I was small for my age and while I
wasn't the fastest I did have a good sense of pace and endurance.
Later
on the marathon became my favorite distance because of the mental
aspect of the race and the discipline that one has to put into it in
order to succeed. You can bluff your way through a 5k and even 10k
without being fully prepared but the marathon you have to train for if
you want to do more than finish.
How many miles per week do you usually do?
When
I'm not training for a specific race I'm running between 20-30 miles
per week. During marathon training I would probably I increase to 25-40
miles per week.
In 2014 I
over trained and exacerbated my IT band training for and running the
NYC marathon. I also discovered I had piriformis issues, which took a
while to diagnose oddly enough.
Where do you typically run, track, roads or trail?
Mostly
roads with the occasional trail or track workout. There are a few
parks and nature preserves in Plano, the city where I live now, but it's
nothing compared to New Jersey, where I went to college, or Austin,
where I grew up.
" I
first heard about Salming through a
Facebook Group and review for the
Salming Distance 4 from Believe in The Run. "
What's your favorite workout?
When
running by myself I love a tempo workout with negative splits. Starting
out slowly then gradually increasing the pace before finishing with a
burst.
How do you plan your training? Coach, book plan or self coached?
Mostly
self-coached which works or about as well as people who serve as their
own attorney during a trial. I've always done better when I've had a
coach, whether an actual physical coach or an online coach. I use my
work schedule as an excuse but I just need to be more disciplined.
How would you describe yourself as a athlete?
At
the moment I would say I'm a recreational athlete, trying to recapture
some of the magic from the past while balancing work and family in the
present.
I played Div
III lacrosse and ran cross country in high school and my senior year at
Drew University. I was above average in that I would place in smaller
meets and qualified for Regionals but nothing like guys on the power
D-III running schools at the time, like Haverford.
I'm not quite Uncle Rico level from Napoleon Dynamite but I might be there some day...
" I'm not quite Uncle Rico level from Napoleon Dynamite
but I might be there some day..."
Goal race for the fall? And what's your goal for that race?
My goal race for the Fall is a half marathon and if all goes well a full marathon in the Winter.
I would be happy with anything under 1:45 with a secondary goal of under 1:40
I really want to qualify for Boston again which I will likely need to wait until I hit 45 as that gives me an extra 10 minutes
You
work as a Doctor, a job that requires long irregular hours. Do you find
it hard to fit in your runs and how do you plan for it?
Early morning or late night runs are the norm, along with the treadmill when I'm on call.
It
is definitely challenging trying to fit in linger, especially with
kids. My wife works full time as an OB/Gyn and it can be a juggling act
with our call schedules since we try to not be on call at the same
time.
When you're on call
the rules are eat when you can, sleep when you can, and run when you
can. There is a sign at Facebook headquarters that reads "Done is better
than perfect" and that applies to runs sometimes. I may have wanted to
get a long run in but sometimes you just have to get it however many
miles the day or night allows.
"When you're on call
the rules are eat when you can,
sleep when you can, and run when you
can."
You live in Texas, how do you cope with the heat and humidity during your training?
Growing up it never seemed like a big deal but when you're young and don't know any better you can get away with a lot more.
Early
morning or late night runs and courses with loops that allow for water
stops are key. Plus consciously slowing down the pace by 30-60 seconds
per mile on runs over 30 minutes. We are also blessed to have what must
be a state law to require a Starbucks to be located no more than 3 miles
from an existing Starbucks.
I
ran the Disney Marathon in 2013 and it was quite warm and humid and the
race director Jeff Galloway implored everyone to slow pace by about 30
seconds for every 5 degrees above 60 degrees, which was quite helpful
and actually led to a pretty decent time since I went out much slower in
the beginning than I would have if the temperatures were cool.
Consciously slowing the pace down helps out immensely.
I've seen you travel a lot for vacation, what's your favorite place for a run that you have traveled to?
This
summer we took a tour through Switzerland with my in-laws, which
included stops in Zermaat and St Mortiz. The strict schedule of the
tour forced me to get up early and the scenery was too spectacular to
pass up. Running around the lake in St. Mortiz was blissful. It was
around 6:30 am just as the sun was coming up. The whole town was quiet
and I essentially had the whole trail around the lake to myself except
for one guy walking his dog and guy doing Tai Chi. The water was as
smooth as glass with perfect reflection of the mountains in the
background on the water. I noticed this group of ducklings swimming in a
line, with one particular duckling lagging behind. The mother looped
back around to scold or encourage the little straggler to keep up. It
was the pure essence of running. No music, no Garmin, just the sound of
my breath and the dirt beneath my feet. Truly no nonsense running.
When did you first hear about Salming and Salming Running?
I
first heard about Salming through a Facebook Group and review for the
Salming Distance 4 from Believe in The Run. I had been looking for a
lightweight trainer similar to the Adidas Boston and DS Trainer and the
Distance really fit the bill - light weight, Low but not zero drop,
responsive feel for the road, and efficient design for quick turnover.
How long have you been an ambassador?
This
is my first year as an ambassador. I'm extremely grateful for the
opportunity as it's introduced me to many interesting individuals,
mostly through social media, that I would not otherwise have come into
contact with.
What's your favourite Salming shoe and equipment?
Until
about two weeks ago I would have said the EnRoute and the Distance were
my favorite shoes, but the Speed6 has really impressed me with the
balance between cushioning and responsiveness, along with unique upper.
The
design platform of the 62/75 principle makes the transition from long
distance trainer to a racing or speedwork shoe quite seamless.
What does #nononsense mean to you?
Substance
over style with purpose driven performance. The models have simple but
effective names which precisely describe their intended purpose - Miles,
Speed, Distance, Race without unnecessary hyperbole.
The
materials and the design of the shoes are not some gimmick, like blades
or springs, but classic running shoe materials that are put together
from a runner's perspective.
Salming
doesn't claim their next shoe is going to revolutionize running. They
allow you to be the best runner you can be, whether that is someone who
is up on the podium at the end collecting a medal or someone running
with your friends.
How does Salming Running fit in, in today's running industry?
That's
a very interesting question with the way the retail industry is
changing from brick and mortar stores to online and word of mouth.
Growing up you went with what was available at the local running shop or
the major sporting goods store at the mall. Now the choices are
seemingly endless thanks to Amazon and online retailers.
Salming
is a brand for genuine runners who are serious about running and
fitness as a part of their lifestyle, whether that's trying to qualify
for Boston or just running to burn the stress off and stay I shape.
How do you promote Salming as an ambassador?
I
promote Salming through the social media platforms I use - Instagram,
Facebook, Strava, along with personal interactions at the HIIT studios
that I work out at. The colors and design, particularly with the Race5
and Speed6.
How do you see Salming grow in the future?
Salming
has tremendous potential to grow in the US as word of mouth spreads and
its presence increases in the running and triathlon community. I also
see an opportunity for the cross fit and High Intensity Interval
Training (HIIT) crowd as well.
"Salming
is a brand for genuine runners who are serious about running and
fitness as a part of their lifestyle, whether that's trying to qualify
for Boston or just running to burn the stress off and stay I shape."
