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| "I love dessert! So therefore I really need to run, a lot." |
Running allows me to escape the stresses of the day but it also provides me an opportunity to explore new areas. For example, when my lease was coming up I started running in different parts of the city to help determine where I would move to next. Fortunately I found a cool location relatively quickly.
How long have you been running? How did you get started? Why did you choose running over other activities?
As a kid I played a variety of different sports which required me to run. As an adult I just gravitated towards running because it provides me with an opportunity to clear my head and it is really cheap.
How do you motivate yourself to run regularly? What about on the days the weather is bad or you are feeling particularly lazy?
I love dessert! So therefore I really need to run, a lot. I figure that a scoop of birthday cake ice cream equates to roughly 2 miles; so a bowl is approximately 8 miles for me. Needless to say it is my love of desserts that keeps me motivated.
In terms of weather, I really enjoy running in all types with the sole exception of the hot and humid summer days…must run early in the Atlanta summer. Occasionally, if the weather is absolutely horrible I will run on a treadmill or set my bike up on the indoor trainer. Both are really a last resort as they are incredibly boring. Sorry all y’all treadmill runners out there.
Do you use a running coach, or read any books to aid in your training?
No coach here. I do have a buddy that has a coach and what she makes him do sounds tough but he is a tough dude, so it works out well for him.
How do you fit running in with your daily schedule?
I try to sneak it in when I can. I generally run in the evening during the week and early in the morning on the weekends.
Do your friends and family support your running or think you are crazy?
My wife is very supportive of my running, so long as I do not sign up for a 100 miler. The majority of my friends think that my running is nuts, but in a “man, you are so cool” way. Most of them run less in one year than I do in a good week.
What is your favorite running terrain (road, trail, treadmill)?
I have really been into trail running lately. There is something really awesome about being out in the open with no other people around.
Quick story. One morning I was running solo and I saw the puppy equivalent of a deer. It was cute little guy. Anyway after we stared each other down for a bit, the puppy-deer wagged its little tail and continued running into the woods. It was probably the coolest thing I have encountered at this point. Puppy-deer are very cool. Be sure to look for them at your nearest trail.
What is the hardest race you’ve run to date?
The 2007 Chicago Marathon was brutal. If you recall, this was the race that was stopped midway due to unseasonable heat. I did finish but the issue was that I told my girlfriend, now wife, that it would take me 4 hours when it actually took me 5. Note: over-promising and under-delivering is not the way to impress a woman. Fortunately I looked so pitiful after the race that she had no choice but to stick with me.
What is the most enjoyable race you’ve run to date?
The 2010 Atlanta Thanksgiving Half Marathon has been my enjoyable race to this point. One of my best friends was visiting for the Thanksgiving holiday and we signed up to run the race together. The course was awesome and it provided us with an excellent tour of the city. Additionally the beers we shared at mile 11 as we ran by my house were also great. It will certainly go down as my most enjoyable run…until my wife runs a race with me.
Have you ever been injured due to running? What were the ramifications?
No injuries to this point. Probably a result of those fancy and extremely fashionable compression socks I bought…
Do you use any music or run tracking devices when you run, or are you a naked runner.?
I typically just run with my watch, Nike+ Sportwatch GPS. As mentioned earlier, running provides me with an opportunity to think and reflect. That said songs do run through my internal jukebox. On race days, “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” by The Darkness constantly runs through my mind. Great, great song.
How do you get yourself through the difficult parts of your runs? Do you have a personal mantra or do you just give up?
No secrets here. I do not have a mantra but I just hate not finishing what I started. So if I am out there running I pretty much just push myself through it.
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?
This is probably the best question yet. My wife thinks that it is so gross that I can literally go anywhere. I simply have no shame. When hitting the road I will typically look for coffee shops along the way, just in case. If on the trail, I will just pack a little bit of toilet paper and hope that I do not have to stop. However, after reading some of the other posts, I will start to bring some baby wipes.
Recently I had some coworkers in my car and they asked, “yo Todd, what is the deal with the toilet paper?” It was a funny, yet embarrassing conversation.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about taking up running?
Do not look at it as exercise but as a way to explore your surroundings and see things from a different perspective. Be it running along a creek, or past occupy Atlanta protestors, just enjoy yourself and have fun. Also, buy some body glide.
What is your next big race?
Running A Stroll in Central Park. It is a 12 hour race, in which I will just work on my nutrition and pacing. It should be pretty interesting. Not sure if I will wear my vibram five fingers or trail shoes. Oh man…decisions, decisions.
What is your immediate running goal?
Beat the guy ahead of me. While I am not the strongest runner, nothing gives me a boost like seeing someone I can shoot past before the finish line.
What is your ultimate running goal?
Rim to Rim to Rim. Not sure if it will ever happen but I would absolutely love to attempt this. Plus the Grand Canyons are simply incredible.
Do you have a way we can keep track of your progress (Twitter, Facebook, Blog, etc).
You can follow me on twitter @TravelinTrails and on my blog at The Traveling Trailsman.
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