Despite this somewhat painful experience Mike continued running. In fact, a week after the Grunt Run Mike was attending a seminar in Toronto and made a commitment to himself to run a marathon in a year. He found a training plan online and began his marathon training. In May 1999 he competed in Burlington Marathon where he finished in 4:54. While he was thrilled with this accomplishment, he no longer had any specific running goals, no races to look forward to. This soon changed. After much encouragement from his friend Walt who told him of the excitement and crowds at the Utica Boilermaker, Mike made a last minute decision to check it out that summer. It was a decision that changed his life, as the energy of the popular race took hold of him and he was hooked! Since then, many other Boilermakers, marathons, road races, trail runs, and group runs have followed.

Even though Mike loves running, like everyone, there has to be motivating factors to get out the door day after day. For Mike, he feels exercise is important for a sense of well-being and quality of life. "In 1994 I started a health plan for life," states Mike. When he set out on this path, he was doing a great deal of rollerblading. Now, he primarily runs because for Mike, "Running is the perfect combination of the mind and body." However, he feels exercise in any form is a way to improve and enhance life, a belief he instills in his children. In addition to the physical and mental benefits he gains from his commitment to run, Mike also keeps at it because he likes to compete. He looks forward to competition, not just with other runners, but in trying to beat his own times as well.

Mike has just come off a banner year. In 2002 he set pr’s in every distance including the St. George, FL 5K (18:24), ARC half-marathon (1:27:05) Stockade-a-thon 15K (59:15) and the Boston Marathon (3:22.) For the year ahead he has hopes to break the one hour barrier (he has been so close) at the Utica Boilermaker. He would also like to do a fall marathon, perhaps Chicago and is aiming for a 3:10 to close out his last year in the 45-49 age group.

Mike has done so many races and recorded some impressive pr’s along the way that it is certain he has quite a few special race memories. However, the one that stands out for him has nothing at all to do with his running performance. After completing the half marathon at the 2000 Ottawa Citizen National Races in a record time for himself, he and a friend saw a young child, no more than four, who was lost and crying. For those not familiar with the Ottawa Races, this is a very well attended two-day event with thousands of competitors and spectators. The young girl was frightened and unable to locate her family. Mike and his friend stayed with the child, calming her down and comforting her until at last her mother was located. Seeing the happy reunion between mother and child was so touching, it is a moment that he will remember always.

A single father of two, Ashley 15 and Morgan 11, Mike enjoys spending time with his daughters, attending their sporting and school events. He can still be seen from time to time on rollerblades at Onondaga Lake Park. He enjoys a good movie and some television, especially Seinfeld reruns. He is always interested in items of personal growth, such as attending seminars and reading. He is open to all subjects to better one’s self.

March, 2003