For this profile, we head back to the happy predawn hunting grounds of Prattville, Alabama to catch up with James Killian of the Early Morning Cruzin podcast and blog. J1′s long “career” in running allows him to provide a balanced perspective on the tradeoff between short-term and long-term goals.
With an Ironman triathlon finish under her built and an ongoing series of marathon PR’s, Erin Ruyle is an inspiring athlete who has figured out how to balance a career in sports management with high volume training, yielding impressive results.
Jenny Jowdy brings a versatile approach to her running and all-around fitness, and her outgoing personality motivates others to join her in the predawn hours for some intense workouts.
Drew Trachy is one of a host of predawn runners from Alabama, and between his Running Recon blog and recent completion of his first marathon at Chickamauga, he has a great story to tell.
You probably know Mike as Dirt Dawg, he of the Rambling Diatribe fame (the podcast on ultra and trail running). Learn a little more about the family man behind the successful program and blog, and about his trials and tribulations on the roads and trails.
One of the most inspiring and friendly runners you may find on Dailymile is Jeni Henrickson; her familiar frosty avatar portrays the joy that she finds in her running, despite the hurdles (such as a Minnesota winter) it brings, and that she spreads to others.
One of the cadre of predawn runners I have seen post consistent improvement in performance throughout the past summer is Brian Vinson (aka Reverend Run Vinson on Dailymile). Brian often provides vivid descriptions of the Central Ohio trails on which he runs, and truly brings you along for some breathtaking scenery. As you might have guessed from his handle, Brian is a pastor, and his blog, My Brother, The Thief, mixes spirituality and running in a unique way.
After having run a 3-hour marathon as a “recreational” runner, Ariana Hilborn has set her sights on something a bit more lofty – qualifying for the 2012 Olympic Marathon trials. Learn more about her training, the challenges of running in Arizona, and her race results in this Predawn Profile.
If you join Dailymile, one of the first people to greet you may be Jay Parker. With just one look at his avatar, you can accurately predict that he’s one of the friendliest people you’ll come across. And when you watch his training, you’ll find he’s a pretty intense runner as well. I’ve enjoyed my own interactions with Jay (especially his sense of humor) on Dailymile and Twitter, and like reading his blogs, one of which (That Guy Who Runs) focuses on running and the other on, well, root beer? It was fun to sit down with Jay (OK, I mean sit down at the computer) and learn more about him. I mean, maybe our standards have slipped a bit on “predawn” (though Jay insists he gets out before 6AM sometimes), but they have not slipped on commitment and personality.
You may know Ally from Dailymile or Twitter for her bubbly personality. You may know her from the marathon-winning accomplishments of her husband, Steve Speirs (aka British Bulldog). But behind all that, Ally is an accomplished athlete in her own right, with some inspiring performances and ambitions that make me excited to be able to share this interview with her here on Predawn Runner.
Running Ahead of the Sun portrays a journey from injury to marathon glory. Let it inspire and inform your own approach to chasing your dreams in the midst of your busy life.
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