PRX PROFILES

GARY

Birthdate: May 18, 1952

Hometown: I have several towns I can call my "hometown". I was born in Pasadena, California, grew up in a Chicago suburb, but lived in Texas for twenty-some years until 2000 when I moved to SF.

Occupation: Computer software architect

Education: BBA, University of Texas at Austin

Family Life: Single. Two brothers (neither are runners) one in Orange County CA, and another in Atlanta.

Running History: I started running regularly about 10 years ago. I've run 7 marathons, including Chicago and twice here in San Francisco. But no way will I ever qualify for Boston.

Miles per week: Varies a lot; I have almost no discipline, so if I spend the weekend skiing I may only get a few miles that week; other weeks I'll get in maybe 25.

Paces: 8 1/2 to 10 minute miles

Favorite Race: Well, maybe my most unusual was the Groundhog Run in Kansas City, a 10K race that's entirely underground, in a huge cave that used to be a salt mine.

Best Running Experience: Running along the boardwalk in Miami in the early morning, watching the sun rise into a clear blue sky over the ocean.

Worst Running Experience: Fortunately nothing very bad has ever happened to me personally. But in September I was running here in the Presidio and, about ten yards ahead of me, a motorcycle "T-boned" a car: the car had abruptly turned left, the bike hit the car squarely in the door and the driver tumbled over the top of the car. Scary to watch. Fortunately the driver was unhurt. But it's a chilling reminder of how careful we runners must be when sharing the road with all those bad drivers.

Diet: I'll eat anything, except maybe asparagus or beets or some other excessively-healthy veggies.

Injuries: None. I don't run fast enough to get hurt.

Non-Running Interests: Snow skiing: I still say "snow skiing" because people in Texas think "skiing" means water skiing. Auto racing: I used to drive race cars but now I work as a scorekeeper at both amateur and pro (NASCAR and Indy car) races.

Who would star as you in the Hollywood story of your life? Well, Paul Newman has my blue eyes and my love of auto racing.