David Kiefer, 48
Information Specialist with a large IT outsourcing firm

I've been running...

Forever.  I took it up seriously about 15 years ago.

I started running because...

The age category for bicycle racing was to broad.  I was in the same category as college kids and it got a bit dangerous.  Running is less complicated than most other activities.  You just need to put on your Nike's and your off.  With most other sports, you have prep time involved. 

I haven't thought about not running. I think I would become more active in volunteering at races, become a race director, coach, maintain a connection to the sport. I would be lost without it.

My favorite place to run is...

There are two areas that I truly admire because it's peaceful and beautiful.  1) The bike path north of Riverside Rd to Sports Core Park; 2) Blackhawk Springs Forest Preserve south to Kishwaukee Forest Preserve.

My favorite thing to do after a hard workout is...

Catch my breath, then review my run.  I make mental notes of the run so they can be logged into my training journal. I try to make notes on the weather, the course, my pace, running partners...things like that. Over time, you can see what works and what doesn't.

I would love to run a marathon and all of the great (or near great) runners would pace me. Carl Lewis, Steve Prefontaine, Jesse Owens, Jim Fixx, John “The Penguin” Bingham, Hal Hidgon, George Sheahan, Amby Burfoot, Lance Armstrong, Jeff Galloway...the list goes on.  Looking back over my running career, these are the folks I've read about and admired. 

There were two challenges that I faced in my running career. First it was the mental toughness. Until I started training for the Literacy Council Half Marathon three years ago, the longest I'd run was a 10K and I ran that once. Now, 10K's seem very short. The second challenge I had to overcome and to some extent still live with, is a bad heart. I have high blood pressure, high cholesterol and SVT. I have to be aware of these conditions when I run and back off some times.

When I'm not running I like to...

Is there anything other than running?  In all seriousness, I love cycling and the outdoors in general.  One of my current projects is the building of a wooden kayak which I hope will see water soon.  My wife Connie and I also enjoy many activities with our three dogs, Enzo, a Border Terrier, Fuggles, a miniature Bull Terrier, and Derek, a recent, 12 year old, rescued Border Terrier. 

I am inspired by...

The Wildcats.  It's great to see youngsters out running and exercising.  If they continue with it, they would have found a great activity for the rest of their lives.  And besides, most of them beat me at the local races.

The local runners I most admire are...

The members of The Buddy Group.  This informal group of runners was started three years ago after training for the Literacy Council Half Marathon.  In the three years that have passed, about 30 of them have gone on to complete their first marathon.  This is a great accomplishment from a group of people who didn't believe they could do it.

Many hadn't taking running seriously before that first half marathon.

To push myself on a run I...

Listen to my iPod to push myself on a run.  At the Chicago Marathon back in 2005, at mile 24 along Michigan Avenue, Bachman Turner Overdrive started playing “Taking Care of Business” on my iPod.  Say no more.

My greatest running accomplishment is...

Standing at the starting line at the Rock-n-Roll Marathon in San Diego in 2005.  Getting to the start line is what running is all about.  It's not about finishing, though it was a comfort to finish.

My next goal is...

The Madison Marathon in May, 2007.  After that, I may go back to school this fall and I'll need to hang up the Nikes for a while, at least the serious running. 

My advice to other runners...

Patience.  If you're just starting to run and you want to run a 5K, it will take you a month or two to get up to that distance.  If you want to run a marathon, anticipate training for 6 months before the marathon.  If you want to increase your pace, this too will take time.  Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day.  Practice patience.

I plan to run until...

One day this old runner died and went to heaven.  St Peter was showing him around.  They visited the local shoe store, then ventured to the local running path.  At the end of the tour, St Peter took the man to the local track and they went into the stands.  The man noticed a runner putting in laps around the track.  The man asked St Peter who that man was.  St Peter's response, “Oh, that's God.  He thinks he's Steve Prefontaine.” 

Wherever I end up, I'll be running.