Runner of the Week

RUNNER OF THE WEEK

J&A Racing is excited to announce a new feature on our website, the “Runner of the Week.”  Every Wednesday throughout the Summer, we will introduce to you one of our many runners and share their inspirational stories, funny anecdotes and training tips to keep you motivated and moving as you train for your Fall races.

Earlier this Spring we surveyed many of our most loyal fans, those who completed our “Live, Love, Run VB Challenge” by running in all four J&A events: the Blue Moon Wicked 10k, the Samuel Adams Surf n Santa 10 Miler, the Virginia is for Lovers 14k, and theYuengling Shamrock Marathon or Anthem Half Marathon.  We asked them five questions that we often are asked by runners, and the stories came pouring in.  We love our runners!  If you too would like to share your funny or inspirational running story, send us an email.

To cap off our summer-long series of Runners of the Week, we introduce Ryan Carroll from Portsmouth, Va...

Why do you run?

To me, running is a way to truly test the human body, or as Bowerman said, “test the limits of the human heart.”

I think George Sheehan best summed it up with…

“So, I run each day to preserve the self I attained the day before. And coupled with this is the desire to secure the self yet to be. There can be no let up. If I do not run I will eventually lose all I have gained-and my future with it… There is nothing more brief than a laurel. Victory is of the moment. It must be followed by another victory and then another. I have to run just to stay in place. Excellence is not something attained and put in a trophy case. It is not sought after, achieved and, thereafter, a steady state. It is a momentary phenomenon, a rare conjunction of body, mind, and spirit at one's peak. Should I come to that peak, I cannot stay there. I must start each day at the bottom and climb to the top. And then, beyond that peak to another, and yet another. Through running I have learned what I can be and do. My body is now sensitive to the slightest change. It is particularly aware of any decline or decay. I can feel this lessening of the "me" that I have come to think of myself. Running has made this new me. Taken the raw material and honed it and delivered it back ready to do the work of a human being. I run so I do not lose the me I was yesterday and the me I might become tomorrow.”

Of the four J&A Racing events, which is your favorite and why?

Though each event has a something special, I definitely have to say the Surf-n-Santa 10 Miler is my favorite. There are so few races of this distance, which I think is a great distance to run. The course is awesome, what better way to celebrate the winter holidays than with a run at the Beach! I think a big seller on this race is definitely the loop course which allows for more spectating, and of course the finish inside the Virginia Beach Convention center, definitely makes for a family friendly event!

What is your most memorable J&A race moment?

There are two that definitely make my “memorable” list, the first being the 2007 Shamrock Half Marathon. This was my first time breaking 1:10 for the half distance, and as “silly” as it sounds, the first time I was able to beat any West Africans. Everything seemed to just click that day!

The other would have to be the 2010 Wicked 10k. Coach Jerry had given me a pretty detailed race plan, but ultimately wanted me to finish strong. I still remember coming down the boardwalk feeling like nothing could stop me. Seeing Jerry’s face at the finish line, I know we had accomplished what we had set out to do. That was a day I really started believing in what I wanted to do in the future and with running.

How do you stay motivated to train?

I have to be honest, I hate training, hate it with a passion. But on the opposite extreme, I love to race, and as my coach tells me, sometimes “race too much”. Every day I know that I am just putting the little pieces together to reach that ultimate goal. I have a huge support group in my family, friends, coach, sponsors and my athletes. They have all put in so much time, support, love and devotion, that at times I feel I owe it to them to keep it going, to see what level I can take it to. I know I am lucky enough to participate and enjoy this crazy sport, and hope that I can continue doing as long as these legs will let me!