LRC RUNNER IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Feature article on Denny McDowell
Interviewed by Karen Dudek
Karen: How many years have you been running?
Denny: For a long time. I can remember running in the Lake Run when there was "only" the outer loop. Good thing they don't keep stats from then.
Karen: Why did you start running?
Denny: It was a way to stay in shape when I was playing competitive racquetball.
Karen: Why did you join the Lake Run Club?
Denny: I attended the banquet once as a guest and was "encouraged" to join.
Karen: Tell me about your first race.
Denny: I think my first race was the Lake Run. I remember getting about halfway around and thinking that this didn't seem so bad when I was riding my bike.
Karen: What makes your favorite race your favorite?
Denny: The Big Sur Half Marathon I ran last year is one of my favorites. It was very scenic and well organized. I would recommend this to others as a bucket list run.
Karen: What race really sticks in your mind for one reason or another?
Denny: The one that really "sticks" out was the first time I ran the Pere Marquette Endurance Trail Run. It rained the night before and the morning of the race. I almost lost a shoe a couple times in the mud during the run. And I remember the race director telling us when we checked in that the trail on Thursday was in the best shape he's ever seen it.
Karen: Do you have a favorite route that you run?
Denny: Anywhere along the trail or up at the lake.
Karen: If you could run any race in the world, which would you pick, and why?
Denny: There has been some discussion on getting a group together for an international run and Ireland keeps coming up.
Karen: If Chilly Chili isn't the most unusual race you've ever run, what race is?
Denny: I guess that would be the Living History Farms Cross Country Race. It was my first time running with 7,000 runners in costumes. And yes, Rich was one of them.
Karen: What race do you think is the most fun to volunteer at, and why?
Denny: I've helped out with Catch the Wave and Ride the Wave for a couple of years and it's good to see runners improve upon their goals.
Karen: What are you training for right now?
Denny: I'm running later this month at the Illinois Half Marathon in Champaign and next month in Chicago at the Soldier Field 10-Mile.
Karen: Do you have any superstitions or rituals you go through before a big race?
Denny: Just be there in time to get in the Porta Potty line.
Karen: What's the coolest piece of running gear you own?
Denny: All of my Dri-Fit race shirts. I think it's time to start having some quilts made.
Karen: Who have you been running with lately?
Denny: I don't have any friends so I run a lot by myself. :) Sometimes with Lisa Sparks or Missy Adams (when healthy). I also like to get out for some of the group runs.
Karen: Who motivates you as a runner?
Denny: Myself
Karen: What makes you stay with it and keep running?
Denny: We have a fun group of runners here to hang out with and it's always a good time at races where we are all well represented.
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| Denny holding up the "Bean" after the 2012 Soldier Field 10-Mile run. |
