I started running when I was 9 years old. My first run was the 1985 City Pier City run 5k with my class when I was in elementary school. I finished far before my classmates and other kids my age. A few weeks later I joined the local athletics club. I started with running 1000 meters and specialized in running 800 meters. As I got older I got more problems with longer distances, I couldn't improve my 800 meter time and eventually I ended up in the hospital diagnosed with stage 3 thyroid cancer. During 2 years of surgeries, iodine treatments and recovery my interests and way of live changed and I decided to live life to the max and did not always make the healthiest choices. After a divorce and a year of getting my life together I stopped smoking and picked up running. My first intention was to work on my condition and to empty my mind.