Thad M has the runs!

The next installment of "People who have the runs"

"Looking back, I'm proud of my sticktoitness"

Why do you run? 

It's my passion. It keeps me fit. It keeps me sane.

How long have you been running? How did you get started? Why did you choose running over other activities? 

I've been running over 25 years. I was the "fat kid" in elementary and middle school. Before high school I decided to lose weight. After Weight Watchers and a 40-pound weight loss, I discovered running during college when I ran my first 10K, the Great Raleigh Road Race in 1984. I wasn't fast, but I had a blast and I was hooked. I was never the "team sport" kind of kid. I think that's why I was overweight. I never knew there were activities you could be involved in that didn't involve organized sports teams. 

How do you motivate yourself to run regularly? What about on the days the weather is bad or your are feeling particularly lazy? 

The best motivation I have is knowing deep down that if I get on up and do it, I'll feel great both mentally and physically afterward. If I chose not to do it, I'll beat myself up the rest of the day for skipping it. Also, being a running coach is a great incentive, because my runners depend on me being there for them.

Do you use a running coach, or read any books to aid in your training? 

I am a running coach and personal trainer by profession, but that doesn't mean I have all the answers. I'm a avid reader of everyone from Bart Yasso to Hal Higdon to Matt Fitzgerald to John Bingham to Jeff Galloway, to Danny Dreyer. I don't believe in a cookie-cutter program. Everyone is different and has different needs, including myself. So, I read, read, read, talk to other coaches and athletes all over the country and the world for that matter which helps me pick and chose elements from different philosophies of training to meet my clients' training needs as well as my own.

How do you fit running in with your daily schedule? 

My job makes me get in running several times each day, but before making coaching my career, I was an afternoon runner. I would stop at the park on the way home and get in my run. Then I ran about every other day. I realized that if I went home first, I'd never get back out. I'd either end up with errands to do or I'd feel guilty for popping in saying hi to the wife and kids and then heading out for a run. So doing it before I got home worked well. I found a local running group to do my Saturday long runs with. That was a great decision. Being a part of a group really ups the accountability. Knowing they expected me there bright and early every Saturday morning was a huge motivator (cattle prod) in getting me up when the alternative was to roll over and get some more nice cozy/warm sleep.

Do your friends and family support your running or think you are crazy? 

Well, kind of both. LOL! My family has always supported me. Most of my friends are runners so of course they're supportive. But I have other friends that always ask..."so you pay to run 26.2 miles? You pay to put yourself through hours of running, sweating, and exhaustion?" LOL!

What is your favorite running terrain (road, trail, treadmill)? 

My favorite running terrain is the local Greenways here in my town, Greensboro, NC. We have a great network of miles and miles of greenway most of which is paved with blacktop, some sidewalk, and some hard-pack dirt. The greenways take you through urban and rural areas. I've done some trail running, but it's just not my thing. I like looking around and taking in my surroundings when I run, and with trail running, I'm always looking for the next tree root to avoid.

What is the hardest race you’ve run to date? 

The hardest race I've done to date was the 2007 Chicago Marathon. I was set to PR in that race with a 3:25 and qualify for Boston. If you recall that was the year the Chicago had a heat wave and it was in the upper 80s with about the same percent of humidity. 10,000 runners didn't even show due to the heat. The race ran out of water during the race and they even shut it down at 4 hours and bussed the runners out on the course back to the start. Luckily I was ahead of the 4hr cut off. I finished with a 3:42 and given the conditions, felt pretty good about that (several days later). I was on track with my pace until about mile 20 when I began experiencing heat exhaustion and began to really slow. Had a huge headache. Somehow I made it across the finish line only to experience my first and worst calf cramp of my life. Was sore for two weeks. Looking back, I'm proud of my sticktoitness.

What is the most enjoyable race you’ve run to date? 

The most enjoyable race I've ever done was the Danville Half Marathon a few months before the Chicago marathon in 2007. I ran it in 1:30 which was a PR for me. It was a tough race, but I've never felt as strong during an entire race like I did in that one.

Have you ever been injured due to running? What were the ramifications? 

Yep, In 2006 I ran the Richmond Marathon and had some problems with one heel. I followed that with running the Honolulu Marathon a month later in December. I knew I shouldn't run, but it was a once in a lifetime opportunity so I took and and suffered the consequences. After Honolulu, I couldn't put any pressure on my left heel. I had a stress fracture in my heel. I wasn't able to run for 4 months. I walked and did cross-training and actually by that summer I came back stronger than ever. PR'd with a sub 20 5K twice and that fall ran the Danville Half and PR'd. That taught me too things....Listen to your body and Rest is a good thing.

Do you use any music or run tracking devices when you run, or are you a naked runner.? 

I'm a naked runner.

How do you get yourself through the difficult parts of your runs? 

Do you have a personal mantra or do you just give up? Running with others is the best way to get through the tough spots and I have the mantra, "Trust. Believe. Conquer!" Trust in your training. Believe in yourself. Conquer your goals.

A lot of runners know that “Who has the runs” has a double meaning. How do you deal with the occasional “problem” that plagues every runner at one time or another? 

Well, I have ulcerative colitis (diagnosed in 2001), so I have to be careful with digestive issues. Always, always, always test out various gels and sports drinks during your training. Never change at the last moment, especially on race day. Murphy's Law will reign for sure. There is no one thing that works for every runner. Some can't drink sports drinks, the quick carbs cause digestive distress, so they have to find other ways to fuel thier long runs and get in their electrolytes. I make recommendations for my runners, but then tell them to test, test, test and see what combinations of foods and hydration sources work best for them.

What is your immediate running goal? 

Since becoming a running coach, my immediate running goals are to be their for my clients, run as much with each one as I can during their training and get them to race day healthy physically and mentally. My personal runs, I call "Me Runs." While I often log 30-50-mile weeks, I don't get many "Me Runs".....and that's fine. I love helping other runners reach their goals. It's put my personal racing on hold for now, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

What is your ultimate running goal? 

Boston. I figure by the time I'm 65, I'll be able to qualigy. :-)

Do you have a way we can keep track of your progress (Twitter, Facebook, Blog, etc) 

Well, I'm a member of dailymile.com and athlinks.com. Both are great, just don't have the time to log my miles and since they're more reflective of my running with clients and not "me miles" and a "me pace" I've stopped officially logging my mileage.

Blog: http://ncrunnerdude.blogspot.com
Twitter: @RunnerDude_