Why I Started Running:
Growing up, the only sports exposure I had was through my church. We had basketball tournaments, and even a 2 day track meet every year. I absolutely loved competing in them, they were easily the highlight of my high school life.
To give perspective, I had my Senior Prom and that track meet on the same weekend… and of course I went to the track meet (that was of course called ‘The Olympics’).
I always wanted to do more running, but (rightfully so) my parents had instilled in me that the best thing to do right now is to get good grades in school, go to college, graduate, get my career started, and then have a family of my own after that…
Flash forward a few years, I graduated with a Bachelors in Science in Computer Science and found myself working in a major software company as a Software Engineer… Where as while I was a full time student, I found myself juggling a lot of different clubs; I was on the board of student government, helped found a Greek club, and part of the Student Activity Councel as well as the local CS Club… Yet, now that school was finished and I was working..suddenly for the first time in my life there was down time. There was work, and now there was just a big void in my life…
It must of been great timing, because at that time the movie 300 had just come out, and it inspired me to sign up for a Spartan Race, which were popping up around the same time. Of course, to do that I needed to train; and my good friend Steve put me on to Crossfit. In the next 2 years I would go on and do 9 Spartan Races in total. As I did those races, a friend of mine decided to run a marathon.. and suddenly she inspired me, and I was signing up for my first half marathon!
After doing that first half (in 2:10:10!) , I was hooked.. and set out to run the NYC Marathon… Of course to do the marathon I had to do the local option by running 9 races and then volunteering for 1 more… Doing this just brought out the competitiveness in me and before I knew it I was targeting and crushing the times I wanted…
While training for that first NYC Marathon, my friend asked me to do a half Ironman triathlon; and I was all-in! I didn’t know how to ride a bike or how to swim properly; but said why not! I finished that half ironman just under the cut-off and did it in 7:28! Once again I was hooked, and two years later I would go and finish Ironman Lake Placid!
That was the beginning.. and it’s been a great ride ever since. My times have gotten significantly faster, but the love and joy has never wavered.
My Favorite Moments / Biggest Accomplishments:
Personal Accomplishment: When I first started getting into Triathlons, I met a friend Christian who was starting a club.. I jumped at the chance to join up.. Flash forward 6 years, and the club is growing well! We just took 8 athletes to Ironman 70.3 Atlantic City; complete with a team tent, changing rooms, bike rack, and BBQ! Taking this club from the beginning to where we are now has been fulfilling. Helped so many people reach their goals, and it’s just the beginning.
Favorite Race Moment: Ironman Lake Placid 2016. Going in, I was nervous about making the bike cut-off, after the swim I had eight hours 33 minutes to finish 112 miles in the Adirondack Mountains.. I completed the first loop in 4 hours…. Feeling doubt for the first time ever, I said to myself that these next 56 miles are going to define my life right now…. did it in 4:25… Made the cutoff by 5 minutes! 5:30PM was the cut-off, I was in by 5:25… It was in the changing tent that for the first time I realized that I had to run a marathon… 6 hours later, I made it to the finish line.. and that finish line may of been the happiest moment of my life.. pure ecstasy took over! I would be back at the Lake Placid finish line 2 more times, but nothing beats that feeling at the first finish.
Current PRS:
2019 Atlantic City 70.3 5:30:33
2017 NYC Marathon 3:40:40
2018 NYC Half Marathon 1:35:49
2017 Ironman Lake Placid 16:14
3x Ironman Lake Placid (2016, 2017, 2018)
4x NYC Marathons (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
Future Goals:
3:30 NYC Marathon time -November 3, 2019
13:30 Ironman Maryland -September 28, 2019
1:30 Staten Island Half Marathon – October 13
2020 Race Calendar will be finalized soon..
The 50th running of the NYC Marathon!
There will be an Ironman, but which one has yet to be decided.