PRX PROFILES

MARIA

Birthdate:   October 12, 1969 (Columbus Day)

Hometown:  Orinda, California (Allllll the way from the East Bay!)

Occupation:  self employed real estate consultant

Education:  Anthropology Major UC Berkeley 1991

Family Life:  Single, but close to my parents and 2 sisters.

Running History:  Started in June with PRX, but got a kick start from my former boyfriend who would compel (force is almost too strong a word) me to run through Golden Gate Park with him last year.

Miles per week: 10 with PRX

Paces: 11-12 minute mile

Favorite Race:  Human Race

Best Running Experience:  Since my experience is virtually limited to PRX, my most memorable times have been on the Monday and Wednesday runs. The first time I ran, Steve probably didn't believe me when I had said that I have not EVER run 5 miles at time. And certainly not with a lot of stops for anything even approaching a quarter mile. So he helped me find all the short cuts and walked with me when I couldn't go on. The next week, I was on my own. Thats when it happened - my memorable experience.... I was following the flour trail, but it had a huge gap from the Presidio Golf Course to those paths near the bridge. I thought real hard about turning back or trying my own hand at a short cut. I ran in an oblong circle for about 45 seconds and decided to continue. I was so excited when I found the flour trail I practically sprinted back! Well...for the first 10 seconds until I got winded again. The next most memorable experience was when I started running with Ellyn and Betsy. Their companionship really did a lot to boost my efforts. Just trying to keep up with them, and following their pace, I ran the most I had ever run with the least amount of stopping. Finally reaching the end and finding people still there was by far the best running experience.

Worst Running Experience:

Diet:  Alot of junk you really don't want to hear about. Ice cream every day - sometimes twice a day. Chocolate once in a while. Butter and jam on my whole grain toast, if I don't use cheese (most days). Caffeine like I know I can't quit. Olive oil on EVERYTHING. (yep you name it) Avocados with salt as snacks. Kentucky Fried Chicken with jalapenos - extra crispy and spicy of course. (once a week or so) Rib eye steak and pork chops. Hamburgers with fries. And fruit juice. And salad.

Injuries:  None. Believe it!

Non-Running Interests: Cooking, reading, real estate, lazing around and hiking.

Who would star as you in the Hollywood story of your life? Margaret Cho because she's Korean, Cameron Diaz because she kicks ass, Gweneth Paltrow because she's a great actress and can pull it off, Sandra Bullock because she rocks like me. :-)

Additionally:  I just saw the trailers for Intolerable Cruelty and as a result, I want to add "Catherine Zeta Jones" to my list of actresses. Don'tcha think she's a dead ringer for me ? Sure...I only have to lay off the potato chips and run a little more....really! ;-)

Editor's Note:  Perhaps Maria would be best portrayed by Sally Field, critically-acclaimed for her role as Sybil and her 17 personalities.