PRX PROFILES

RACHEL Z

Birthdate:  November 19, 1971

Hometown:  Boston, Massachusetts

Occupation:  Food Scientist/ Product Developer

Education:  BS Food Science (U-Mass, Amherst) MS Food Science (U-Illinois, Urbana) and Culinary Arts Degree (NY Restaurant School, NYC)

Family Life:  Not yet and no hurry (for myself). My brother and sister live in NYC, and my parents are in upstate NY.

Running History:  I started running in 1996 while living in Fort Worth, Texas.  I joined a "runner’s clinic" for people training to run the Cowtown marathon and 10K.  I ran my first 10K two months later and have been running ever since.

Miles Per Week:  25-30

Paces:  Training pace 8:30-9:30. Race pace 7:30 to 8:30

Favorite Race: Denville, NJ 5K and Fort Worth Texas "Hit the Bricks" 5K. They are both fast downhill runs.

Worst running experience:  January-March 2000. For three months I had to run at 6AM in 15° F weather wearing a huge green smurf-esque hat that covered my whole head and eyes. It was so cold that even two pairs of gloves did not keep my hands warm. This was the only time I could fit the run into my schedule during a particularly busy winter season.

Best running experience:  Running along the "Cliffs of Mohar" (over 1000 feet high) in County Clare, Ireland, during the summer of 2000.

Diet:  I am always on one, and I try to follow weight watcher "points" with varying degrees of success. I eat too much candy and love to snack, but I am trying to be more healthy. I am open to any and all foods and love to try anything that is new or strange.

Injuries:  Shin splints and sore heels.

Non-Running Interests:   Picking fresh herbs in the countryside. Cooking cooking and cooking and reading cookbooks.

Who would star as you in the Hollywood story of your life?  I think the redhead girl from six feet under could be me (she is sort of bitter and angry, the way I was about 10 years ago) but then Drew Barrymore could play the older Rachel.