Age: 48

Home town: Southfield, MI

Occupation: Middle School Counselor

Past history of sports participation: Like most 48 year olds, I have tried many sports. I love being active, whether hiking the Rockies with my family, or bowling on the weekend. I was an amateur skateboarder as a youth, and will still get the old board out from time to time.:)

Primary athletic focus currently: Since turning 40, I have been focusing mostly on running (completing 28 marathons during that time) and triathloning (finishing over 50 triathlons in the past 5 years!) I swim, bike and run regularly, and work on general conditioning at the beginning of each year.

Favorite training or racing experiences: The summer of 2008, in the midst of the Vineman Ironman, I was 16 miles into the marathon with nothing left. I was slower than I wanted to be, in more pain than I wanted to experience, and hitting a wall when my wife came alongside of me. She saw I was deflated, and walked a few hundred yards with me, pumping me up, filling my head and heart with positive thoughts, and giving me the boost I needed keep going and eventually cross that line. Thanks, Sharon!

Races/events completed this year: I have participated in the Martian Marathon (a local Detroit marathon), Detroit International Marathon, Monumental Marathon in Indiana, the Vineman Ironman in Northern California, 8 other triathlons of varying distances, and a variety of other running races along the way.

Favorite race/s: My first Ironman, Coeur D'Alene, is my favorite race to date. The volunteers, the venue, the race organizers; everything was phenomenal.

Personal Records/Best races: My top performances have happened in the past two years; Lake Placid Ironman in 13:59, Monumental Marathon in 3:30.57 (Boston qualifier - the first in 30 marathons), a half ironman in 5:19, a half marathon in 1:33, 10 miler in 71:00, 10k in 42:00, a 5k in 19:59, and an Olympic distance Triathlon in 2:29. Each of these times shows steady improvement in my results. :)

Athletic achievement/s you are most proud of: My faith in God means everything to me, and there is no greater joy than giving myself away for the benefit of others! Using the healthy body I have been given, I have had the privilege of raising money for a variety of causes that are bigger than me and help put life into perspective; like helping to put shoes on orphans in India, raising support for missionary friends, and raising cash and awareness for Arthritis, MS and Cancer foundations. While my contribution is nothing more than a drop in an ocean of need, as Mother Theresa says, it is still a drop!

Goals for the coming year/season: I want to continue to learn how to press my body to new levels, while enjoying and balancing family and work. Specifically, I want to improve my stroke efficiency in the water, strengthen my legs for the bicycle portion of the tri, and grow in my understanding of how to fuel my body to accomplish my goals and stay healthy.

Races you are planning on next season: I hope to participate in the Boston Marathon, Martian Marathon, Detroit International Marathon, an Ironman (undecided as to which one), and dozens of triathlons and road races of varying distances. While not a race, per se, I have long dreamed of riding my bicycle across the U.S. and have the goal of accomplishing that by the time I reach 50 years old!

Favorite racing and/or training tip: Get a coach! I tell all my athlete friends, having a coach is like taking a college class. I have learned so many things from Coach Dara, from race planning to how to avoid over-training; from different drills to what supplements work best for me. As just a regular guy, I need people with knowledge and experience to help me to achieve my goals, and Coach Dara has been exceptional!

Additional comments/info: People ask me why I do what I do and my answer is simple, I enjoy it. I love staying active, crossing the finish line, improving my times, meeting new people, and working through the tough spots that come my way. While the training is sometimes hard, the rewards of health and the inner satisfaction of accomplishing a goal while helping others, makes it all worth it!