My name is John and I am on here because I am a runner and this has a lot of cool things for runners.

 My running history:

I went to high school at Gladstone HS in Gladstone, Oregon.  I feel very fortunate that I grew up running in the greatest running state in the US.  I am one of those converted soccer players to track and xc guys.  I didn't really start my running career til my freshman year in high school when I was looking for something else to do other than play soccer.  After trying out for baseball and not enjoying it as much as t-ball (in fact the only fun part for me was when we got in trouble and had to run.  I switched and went out for track.  I had a lot of success throughout high school and spent most of my high school career learning about something very new to me.  Unfortunately, there was not as much information floating around as high school kids have today.

 I then went on to run at a small private NAIA that turned into a DIII school my senior year.  The school is located in Oregon and called George Fox University.  NAIA/DIII was a great fit for my ability levels and I enjoyed the experience that it allowed me to have.  I got to travel the country a couple times a season and participate in the National meets a few times.

 After college I continued to run and train on my own while balancing the demands of the real world, more schooling and a job.  I continue to run, train and race to this day.  I compete in road races and open meets that colleges put on.  I have competed in the Hood To Coast Relay as well for the last 8 summers (A 195 mile 12 man relay race in Oregon that travels from Mt. Hood to the Oregon Coast).  Mostly now for me running is about improving and still chasing my PRs before age catches up to me and I can't do it any longer.  Then I will hang up the spikes and turn into a for fitness and health runner.

 I also had the fortune to spend some time as a assistant coach at two different D III colleges and really enjoy following what is going on at that level.  Since there are no scholarships at that level you find many people who truley are motivated to run for the love of the sport.  It is pretty inspiring to see.