PUBLISHED 08/31/2006
Where does finishing a marathon rank in your personal list of athletic achievements?
From a personal standpoint, it was an achievement; the whole process was exhilarating because I changed my diet and everything. The whole process, it has been a great memory for me. But what surprised me was how good I felt the next day. It seemed when I was done, in that noon hour, just sitting around postrace, unwinding, I went back, took a nap, it seemed like that span of time was about a week long, that day, that morning. But the next day, Sunday I swam and Monday I ran again without any problem.
You're the official spokesperson of the YMCA Country Music Kids' Marathon. How did you get involved with it?
Well, the promoters here in town, they put it together several years ago. Unfortunately, the Country Music Marathon usually falls right around the time of the NFL draft for us, the last weekend in April. So the last few years, I've elected not to run it. But several years ago I was invited to be at the finish line for the kids. And I'll continue to do it. That is really a great experience to see these kids finish. They start a month out and run a mile a day or something and so they'll complete their marathon, that final mile, at the finish line. So the kids in essence have run their marathon over a period of time and the final mile is at the finish line. There are four or five age groups and it's really fun. So we'll take pictures and high five them as they finish. It's loaded with parents, and both sides are just cheering them on, and the kids come around the corner, and we hold the tape up. It's a neat deal.
Do your kids run?
My kids are athletic, but they don't run.
Wife?
No.
Are there other races you'll hop into?
I've done several 10-Ks here in town for charity, but that's the extent of it.
Do you have time goals for yourself?
Sometimes it's time permitting, but the 30 to 45 minute time goal. Just enough.
Does it energize you? Relax you? What does it do for you?
Yeah, it relaxes. Chance to unwind a little bit, relax, you can go a lot longer in the day with exercise.
You've never had any running injuries?
No.
Do you think about football when you're running?
I think about different things. Plan the next day. Whatever comes to mind.
You're not diagramming plays.
No, no.
