What is your favorite distance and why?
This is a tough decision for me as I love both the marathon and half marathon, but having to choose one, I would say the half marathon. I like the discipline of training and having a goal to aim for, and then achieving that goal. Personally, the half marathon is a long enough distance to feel like you have accomplished something great and deserving of a few post-race beverages!
What do you struggle with most in running?
Time constraints. I have a wife and three boys that as of last month, are now all involved in their own activities. I love being my family’s biggest supporter, but I do struggle with finding the time for my longer runs.
Do you rotate shoes and if so, what is in your current rotation?
Yes, I do rotate my training shoes. My current rotation includes two pair of the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 36, Nike Pegasus Shield 35, and the Saucony Peregrine 4 (my favorite of this trail shoe series).
Do you have a mantra that you use when you are racing/training?
Yes, my go to mantra for workouts/races is “Pain is temporary. Pride is forever.”
Do you ever feel unmotivated to train and if so, how do you overcome it?
Yes, I’m more so unmotivated to train during the summer months due to the heat. I will usually register for a late summer/early fall race to help crack my unmotivated spirit. This forces me to keep up my training during the summer months by having something to look forward to.
What is the best thing running has given you?
Running is such a passion of mine and I have met some incredible people and developed some lifelong friendships.
What is your favorite race you have participated in and why?
2012 Kauai half marathon. The day before the race, my girlfriend (now wife) and I took a helicopter ride around the island, and about halfway through our helicopter ride, we landed at the Manawaiopuna Falls (in the movie Jurassic Park) and I proposed. The race itself provided some incredible views throughout the course and it was an unbelievable experience. The day after the race, I was pictured on the front page of the Garden Island Newspaper.
How did you get started in running?
In 2000, my dad took me and my friend (Neil Hertenstein) to Columbus, OH to run our first 5k, which was the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. The rest is history!
What is your favorite running workout?
800 repeats on the track.
How many marathons have you run?
To date I have run 12 marathons.
Who is your favorite professional runner?
Eliud Kipchoge. I have been following his career since 2004 when he won the bronze medal at the Olympics in Athens, Greece.
What are the craziest race conditions you have had to endure?
I ran a virtual 5k while deployed and the temperature was 120+ degrees.
Do you have a goal race you haven’t done yet and why do you want to do it?
The Boston Marathon. I view the Boston Marathon as the premier marathon in the world. I have always wanted to run it, but even more so since the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.
Do you listen to music while you run and if so, what music gets you pumped up for a race?
I sometimes listen to music on my runs when I’m running solo. I have never listened to music during a race, but I do enjoy some 1980-90’s Hip Hop and 1960-80’s Classic Rock.
