Coach: How did you start running?
JP: I had one season of track - I was trying to be a pole-vaulter, which is a bad idea if you are not coordinated and have little upper body strength! That ended with a fractured shoulder. I ran off an on in college, but got serious about it in law school. I ran my first marathon in 1980, and since then it works out to about an average of one a year, including the old New Orleans / Mardi Gras marathon, New York, Marine Corps, L.A., Detroit, Big Sur, Boston, Napa, and Pikes Peak. That one was interesting.
Coach: Who is your running role model?
JP: When I was starting, we were all watching [Frank] Shorter and Bill Rodgers. They were just lighting it up and I was amazed at what they could do. I couldn’t do it myself, but I was impressed and motivated by it. I am also a big fan of people on Focus-N-Fly, people like Steve Burns and Shaluinn Fullove. It is pretty amazing to get to run with them.
Coach: What has been your most memorable running / racing experience?
JP: Years and years ago I accidentally took first place in my age group in the Buena Vista Colorado Fall Color Half Marathon, and I promised I would never again threaten my amateur status. For the longest time I had the t-shirt, but then it finally fell apart.
Coach: What have you enjoyed about working with Focus-N-Fly?
JP: Obviously the camaraderie [Jon participates with our Palo Alto based group]. I love the rough and ready feel to the group. I also love the structure in the training. It works. You just follow the plan, and it gets you to race day in good shape. Not every race has been a PR, but I feel like I have gotten as much out of this “carcass” as I can. Tom is a great coach. He doesn’t baby you, but he definitely knows when to push you and when to back off.
Coach: What is one part of your racing routine you can’t do without (sleep, pre race meal, tie shoes certain way, other ritual)?
JP: I wear glasses, so it is absolutely key to get my glasses strap exactly right. I am always dorking around with that. Everything else I am pretty easy going about, but that strap has to be just right.
Coach: What is your favorite place to go for a run?
JP: I love to run up windy hill [Windy Hill Open Space Preserve in Portola Valley, California] with my dog. I can let him off leash there. He has a great time, I have a great time, and he gets to chase the rabbits. It is a beautiful view at the top.
Coach: In the next year, what goals do you hope to accomplish?
JP: My goal is to pace myself well and just finish [the Vineman]. I hopefully won’t walk much during the marathon. I have been raising money for the Leukiemia and Lymphoma Society. My minumum goal was $5800 and my stretch goal was $10,000. I am only about 600 from it! I just hope to run a strong Ironman, not damage anything major, and be back to running with my dog soon. I did the half last year, but I figure half measures are no good. So, I am going for it!
