My 31st Interview: The Great Pat Fannon

My 31st Interview is about The Great Pat Fannon and here it is

1. How did you get started in running?
I first got my start in running when I was cut from my middle school football team. Apparently 5'4 and 90lbs doesn't make for the best defensive linemen.. So I took up a strange sport where my size didn't get me made fun of or chosen first to play. I fell in love with our sport the day I showed up to my first practice and haven't lost my passion for running since.
2. What do you tell people that don't get our sport of distance running?
I think every runner is faced with the same questions which is "how far do you run a day?' or "have you run a marathon" followed by the rolling of eyes and normal response of "you're crazy!" So if doing a sport makes me labeled "crazy" then I'll continue being crazy
3. What are you current PR's?
Not to satisfied with my current PR's but they are 3:59.05, 4:17.19, 8:49.03, and 15:03.40. Unlucky for me I entered college at the age of 17 but I continue to get better every year and will hopefully continue to do so.

4. Who are your favorite professional and/or college distance runner(s) past and/or present & why?
My favorite runner of all time has to be Steve Prefontaine. He is legendary, the way he raced and his attitude to putting everything on the line is something I like to strive for. Another couple of my favorites are Ryan Hall, Chris Solinsky and Evan Jager. I had the pleasure of spending last summer in Flagstaff and got to meet all of them at some point and it was an honor.

5. Best or Worst thing about being a distance running?
Worst thing about running, at least for me would be the injuries I've faced over the year. But even with a number of injuries I have never thought about giving up on running. Best think about running would be all the places/people I've met along my journey. It really is my passion and don't go a day without thinking about it
6. Your Favorite Moment of your distance running career?
Wow, tough question umm I would say it wasn't any race but just meeting all the professionals I did in the summer of 2011. It was so overwhelming and It was a dream come true.
7. Goals for 2013?
Goals for 2013, Stay Healthy! Get to NCAA's the last 3 seasons of my collegiate career, and win some hardware!

My 30th Interview: My Distance Running Man Crush John Jefferson

The new interview is my Pro Distance Running Man Crush John Jefferson


1. How did you get started in running? Sports, I started running for sports. On the soccer field, on a baseball diamond and the two miles to the beach with a surfboard under my arm.

2. What do you tell people that don't get our sport of distance running? It's a niche sport so there are a lot of people who don't understand distance running. I don't blame them, the sport only resurfaces every four years in the mainstream media. Nascar is one of the biggest sports in America and I don't have the first clue how it works or what the draw is, so if I can't get interested in one of our biggest sports here in America I don't expect everyone to be into distance running.

3. What are you current PR's? Mile: 3:56.86, 1500m: 3:39.39, Wave: 10-12ft at Surf break just west of Sunset Beach North, Shore Oahu, Fish: 15 pound Lincod off the Oregon Coast, Beard: 5 months of growth. ( @omfgchocotaco to a beard contest?)

I think that there is a Bread contest on the rise between A.J. Acosta vs. John Jefferson. I would like to see that contest

4. How different is Professional Distance Running Then College Running, for you? Very different, at the end of the day as a professional distance runner its about being an individual and being selfish, finding out what you are running for, where as in college you have team obligations.

5. Who are your favorite professional and/or college distance runner(s) past and/or present & why? Professional distance runner? I wont answer that because I will leave someone out. I will tell you I do look up to other athletes outside of running. Captain Nate Stansberry, professional fly fisherman, once fishing for Albacore Tuna he ate the beating heart of a tuna in front of a client, put his arm up to the elbow, into an endangered rockfish's mouth to retrieve the hook and taught Nick Symmonds everything he knows about yanking the hook right out of a Steelhead's mouth or snagging the bottom. Andy Bayer is my favorite college athlete.

6. Best or Worst thing about being a distance running? Best thing about distance running is winning a race, although it is getting harder and harder to come by with the talent we have here in America. Worst thing are the injuries.


7. Your Favorite Moment of your distance running career? Breaking four minutes in the mile for the first time because I did it with my #broforlife Sean and we went 1-2 in the race.

8. Goals for 2013? Stay healthy.

and hopely one of you goals and it is one of my goals of 2013 is run with you and the rest of the T.I.E. (Team Indiana Elite) Running Group

DI XC National Predictions

A lot of people are making predictions about DI XC Nationals on this Saturday, like Runnerspace, Flotrack and Let's Run and now I am going to make it on my blog. People may have seen my predictions on my facebook Status but I am going to make it offical with a couple of changes. Here is the Top 11

11. Michigan

10.Arkansas

9.Stanford

8.BYU

7.Notre Dame(Darkhorse)

6.Oregon

5.Colorado

4.Texas

3.Oklahoma State

2.Oklahoma

1.Wisconsin

Sexiest Men Of The Year Honorable Mention List

All of distance runners were make coments and asking me why this guy or that guy or themself weren't on the Sexiest Men Of The Year list . Also, one person said I should make a Honorable Mention List and that is what I am doing.

College Distance Runners
1. David Forrester
2. Jerrod Berget
3. Erik Hofferber
4. Mitch "The Goose" Goose
5. Sam Evans
6. Parker Stinson
7. Rory Tunningley
8. David McDonald
9. David Flynn
10. Zach Torres
11. Patrick Casey
12. Kyle Meber
13. Craig Lutz
14. Zachary Ornelas

Pro Distance Runners
1. Chris Solinsky
2. Evan Jager
3. Daeni Stockberger
4. Craig Miller
5. Jack Bolas
6. Billy Nelson

International Pro Distance Runners
1. Nick McCormick
2. Ben St. Lawrence
3. Ryan Gregson
4. Ross Millington
5. Colin McCourt
6. Mark Draper
7. Lee Emanuel

College/Pro Sprinters
There are four Sprinters on this list. Three DIII College Sprinter from Carroll University and One Pro Sprinter
1. Nick Nelson
2. Cooper Witt
3. Ryan Bloor, "The White Bloor"
4. Jeremy Wariner

Non-Distance Runners
There are two non-distance runners that are runners that are in the running communtiy that are big names are on this Honorable Mention List
1. Alex Lohr
2. Ryan Fenton

These are in no order so one runner at #1 could be #1 or they could #3 or another number

Sexiest Man Of The Year: Distance Running Edition

Today People Magazine came out with their annual Sexiest Man Of The Year Issue and Channing Tatum won the title but their was no male distance runners named in the magazine. So, I thought why not put a list of the Top 10 Sexiest Distance Runners and One Decathlon Of The Year. So Let's go and annoucer them.

10. A.J. Acosta
His Beard and how funny he is makes him Sexy to women

9. Maverick Darling
Maverick is a DI College Distance Runner for Wisconsin

8. Jordan McNamara
Jordan is on this list cause of his sexy goofiness and his sick abs that every male distance runner wants to have like him

7. Nick Symmonds
Need I say more

6. Stephen Haas
His goofiness and his hair make him sexy

5. Ian Dobson
Julia Lucas you are one lucky duck cause his charm and sweetness makes him sexy

4. Stephen Pifer
This guy is just too cool of a guy and I think that what makes him sexy

3.Ciaran O'Lionaird
Ciaran being Irish makes him sexy to women

2. Trey Hardee
Trey being Muscular, Jacked & Ripped makes him sexy to women and he is just one nice guy

1. John Jefferson
John Jefferson has the whole pacae sick abs, sweet ass beard, a sick distance runner and my Pro Distance Running Man Crush

October Overview

Hey this Derek and I'm. I know I haven't bloged in a while since Sept. but I will do an overview what happened in October in the running world in my life.

Oct. 6th- I got to run with 2-Time Olympian Nick Symmonds in Milwaukee, WI
Oct. 13th- Wisconsin Adidas Invite. I was like a chicken with his head cut off cause I knew a lot of DI College Distance Runners and ran warm-up and cool down with them. Also, I got to run about 40 mins with a great Kenyan guy, Isiah Koch
Oct. 14th- DIII Brooks Invite
Oct. 27th-DIII Midwest XC Conference Meet
Oct. 31st-Halloween and I dress up for my Halloween Costume as two distance great distance, Will Leer and John Jefferson
All through out the month of October I ran more mileage toward my goal of 4,000 miles this year