Running has been part of me for most of my life. I ran my first road races in fourth grade, encouraged by a teacher who was a lifelong runner herself. I went on to run cross country and track and field in high school and college.
I continued to run after college, but the demands of a job, a family and a life pushed running into the background for a while. Thanks to an Achilles' tendon injury, I didn't run regularly for four years.
I truly rediscovered running in 2008, when I realized that my Achilles' injury was gone (or so I thought) and jumped head first back into training. I finished my first Portland Marathon in 2010. Since then I have had two recurrences of an Achilles' injury, but have learned how to manage it and to keep good medical minds nearby who can get me through such issues.
Since 2008 I have run two marathons, five half marathons and a number of shorter races. My wife and two daughters are incredibly supportive of my sport, and my wife is now a runner herself, hitting the streets three days a week and on race day.
When I am not running, I work as the sports information director for Pacific University, a small college near Portland, Ore. I work on a regular basis with over 600 talented college student-athletes, which keeps me motivated. My job has allowed me to have a front seat at some incredible running events here in Oregon, including the 2008 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials and the 2014 IAAF World Junior Track & Field Championships.
In addition, I help edit the Oregon Distance Runner, the quarterly magazine for the Oregon Road Runners Club. In that role, I get to help tell the stories of the members of our club, who come from all walks of life, have varied running and walking ability levels and their own motivations and inspirations. And maybe, in a small way, I can help inspire them.
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