When did you join NBR and why?

I joined North Brooklyn Runners in 2015. I had started running about a year before and was running with another club in the city, but living in Williamsburg at the time I saw NBR kits all over. I came to a few bridge runs and track workouts and everyone was incredibly welcoming. I was new to running and looking to get faster, and NBR seemed like the perfect way to do that and make friends in the neighborhood.

In what ways have you been involved with NBR?

For several years I was very involved in the LC. I helped organize LC Saturday long runs and track workouts for a few years before COVID, when I moved away from NYC for 4 years.

What do you do when you're not running?

During the winter, I ski as much as I can. I spent the past 4 years living in Colorado doing a lot of that before I moved back to Brooklyn in October. I got super into back country skiing and skimo racing during that time, and I compete 1-2 times a year in skimo now. I also love to bike and go camping and backpacking with my girlfriend. And fawn over our new cat.

How did you initially get into running?

I was a long time cyclist and grew up racing bikes all over the country. I was still racing bikes when I moved to Williamsburg when I was 23. But I was getting burned out on bike racing and tired of training indoors, so in the winter of 2024 I started running. A close friend of mine was running with a group out of Paragon Sports and she encouraged me to join here. It was a lot less lonely than riding the indoor trainer and I was making friends quickly through it, so I kept at it. Over the next 2 years I balanced running and cycling but running slowly took over as my primary sport. Before long running made up a lot more of my community in NYC than cycling did, in large part thanks to NBR.

What is your favorite race distance?

I should say the marathon, but in reality it's the beer mile.

Best running memory?

The Berlin Marathon in 2018. It was my fourth marathon, and I hadn't yet felt like I had cracked the distance. My first marathon was an ENORMOUS positive split, with a lot of walking. My second was more of a fun run because I had been hurt for three months prior and spent most of that time biking. My third was another tough second half and a missed goal. So in Berlin 2018 I finally felt like I had cracked it, going from a 3:04 PR to a 2:39 that day. All the friends there with me had amazing races that day too.

Favorite running route in NYC?

Along the piers and down around Redhook then up to Prospect Park for a loop. It has a little bit of everything.

Favorite post-race food?

Breakfast burritos. They are also just my favorite food period. If anyone knows good ones in NYC, please let me know. I am still searching for the right one.

Favorite song to run to / that makes you want to run?

Honestly, unless I am stuck on a treadmill, I almost never listen to music while I'm running. I'll occasionally put on some podcasts or the news if I'm on a longer run by myself though.

Favorite running social media account?

I got rid of all my social media aside from Stava about 2 years ago so I don't have one!

Best advice to running newbies?

Run less than you think you should and go to the gym. It's so easy to get sucked into running more than your body is ready for because the people around you are doing it, and before you know it you're hurt. Consistency is key, cliché is that is. So whatever lets you keep running without injury is best. The thing that has improved my running more than anything else has been lifting.

Current running goal?

Break 1:10 in the half marathon and 5:10 in the beer mile.

Any other fun running facts about you?

I have a PR in the beer mile of 5:23. It is for sure my best event and simultaneously the most and least fun running event.