So I thought it would be appropriate to kick off the five fast facts section with five facts from my dad – since he got me into the whole running thing.

My dad and I have always been super close. He is one of my best friends and someone I can talk to about anything and everything. No one makes me laugh harder or puts me in a better mood when I’m down. I’ll never know what I did to get lucky enough to have him as a father, but I am forever grateful.

FIVE FAST FACTS

How did you get started running?

• When I was in JR. High I was a high jumper but I couldn’t get the technique down and I was directed to the running team. That worked out though because I made varsity my freshman year.

Favorite place you’ve ever run?

• Downtown Atlanta. A couple of friends and I made up a run called the Jaunt. It starts at the AT&T building, goes through Georgia Tech, Centennial Olympic park , Georgia State, up the length of Peachtree, and back to the AT&T building.

Favorite quote?

• “What we want and what we need has been confused”

Who is your role model?

• I don’t want to sound too cookie cutter, but it would be my dad. He was just a very simple man. He got up in the morning and went to work, and he was always happy. It was more of what he didn’t say than what he did say that I really admired.

Favorite food?

• Pizza. As long as its not margherita.

I didn’t know that about my dad trying out for the high jumping but I was honestly in tears from laughing. I take after my dad in the coordination department, so the image of him trying to high jump was hilarious to me. I also take after him in the resilience department, so I also know he put his heart and soul into what he was doing. It definitely reminded me of my tennis and figure skating years.

 

What I didn’t touch up on is the fact that my dad is a fantastic runner and boasts a 3:51 marathon PR. Unfortunately, he has had two knee surgeries (one meniscus in each knee). He is slowly getting back into running and he is getting stronger every day. I love to hear him talk about how much progress he is making on his way back into it and how excited he is about running. There is less than a month until I get to go home for Christmas, and I am so incredibly excited to see him and catch up in person.