February Runner of the Month: Toby Zitsman
Toby first joined NBR in 2018 when he first moved to the city. After running the Jingle Bell Jog, he found that Logan Yu had followed him on Strava. “Some NYRR and Strava stalking later, I found he was on NBR, so I figured, why not join. And here we are 4 years later” You can find Toby running and leading the Saturday LC Long Run, as well as organizing some Tempo and Track session to help get the LC team ready for racing season.
What do you do when you're not running?
I work as the tech department for a school, and I’m also taking classes on environmental science to try and figure out how to save the planet/animals. I honestly like animals more than people (runners aside of course).
How did you initially get into running?
My Dad started running in the 70s, and it was just something he did when I was growing up. My twin brother ran XC in middle school, and I started track in high school. I liked it and was pretty good at it, so I continued through college and it wasn’t until a few years after that I realized it wasn’t normal for family members to be trading off weeks of who was racing, but by then it was much too late and I was addicted.
What is your favorite race distance?
My favorite distance is probably the half. I don’t have a lot of raw speed compared to some other people, but I love long hard runs, you just feel so fast and intense during them.
Best running memory?
Too many to count from 15 years of running, but one of my favorite recent memories was Christmas Morning. Four of us met up on a warm-ish misty morning, jogged over to the Carousel and had hot toddies. It was relaxed and casual and just a really nice day.
Favorite running route in NYC?
A loop of central park. It has rolling hills, real hills, and is a great length. My goal is to do 100 loops throughout my life, and I’m currently in the mid 60s
Any running-related superstitions?
I like to be clean shaven for races. It makes me feel fast and sleek and focused.
What has running taught you or changed about you?
Running, and sports in general, did a large amount to keep me open minded and accepting of others. My evaluation of teammates was never what they looked like or who they were attracted to, it was about how hard they worked and what they did to contribute. I’ve been able to apply that same mentality to other parts of my life and I think I’m better for it
Favorite post-race food?
This one is from college, chicken parm sub and chocolate milk (you had to go buy the chocolate milk down the street while the sandwich was being made)
Favorite song to run to make you want to run?
Let’s get super nerdy. I’m self proclaimed musically illiterate, so often I listen to audiobooks or podcasts, but if I’m doing music I have a playlist of anime themes that I put on. No idea what any of it means, but it’s fun, fast-paced and easy for me to run to
What do you think is the worst part about being a runner?
The worst part about being a runner is inadvertently losing a weekend day for the Long Run. I’ll do the run early and be done by maybe 10, but I’ll use the run to justify being super lazy for the rest of the day and accomplish nothing.
Also, losing toenails isn’t great
Best advice to running newbies?
I think my best generic advice for new runners is that no two runners are alike, and there’s no perfect formula to become the best or to hit your goals. Figure out what works for you and do that unashamedly
Current running goal?
PRs in everything, if you really want specifics you can ask me in person
Any other fun running facts about you?
I also pretend to be a triathlete, I’ve done 3 Half Ironmans and in the next year or two want to complete a full
