Friday Spotlight: Barnaby_McFoo
Good Morning! Good Afternoon! And Good Evening! It doesn't matter if your Friday is just starting or it's coming to an end, IT'S STILL FRIDAY!!!!
Today's featured runner is definitely someone I enjoyed asking questions to. I got to know him personally after racing together with the 2016 r/running ultra meet up team at the Black Mountain Monster back in May. We've remained in contact and I'm glad we did. Our athlete has come a long way and is only getting better. He and I share a fondness for English bulldogs and testing our limits. Ladies and gentlemen I present to you this week's highlighted Friday Spotlight athlete... u/Barnaby_McFoo!
Let's do this!
###The Runner:
First Name?
Jonathan
Age?
36
Where are you from?
Originally from Ithaca, NY, but now call New Orleans home.
Occupation?
Attorney
###Running Q&A's:
What are your PR’s?
5K - 21:29
10K – 46:30
HM – 1:37:54
M – 3:57:09
What is your distance PR?
52.82 Miles
What’s your highest recorded weekly mileage?
62.1 Miles
What’s your comfy pace?
Nov – Mar: 8:30-9:30; Apr – Oct: 9:30-10:30
How long have you been running?
I have been running for 18 years, but most of that time was due to military service and I hated every minute of those runs. I have been running for personal enjoyment/fulfillment and taking it more seriously since about the summer of 2014.
Tell us why you began running?
As mentioned above, I began running due to military service. So, in 2014, when I felt like I needed to get back into shape and lose some weight, I naturally turned to running. I continued running because of the positive mental effects that I experienced and truly began to enjoy running for running’s sake.
Most memorable running moment?
I have two, for opposite reasons. My most positive memorable running moment was getting a high five from Meb in the final mile of the Chicago Rock n Roll Half.
But, the one running moment that sticks with me the most is from a random run on a Saturday morning. I was running through a subdivision that I used to run through pretty much daily. I was approaching a place where the sidewalk switches from one side of the road to the other. As I approached, I saw a vehicle coming in my direction, so, as I ran, I was watching it to see if they would stop for me to cross. When I saw that they were slowing, to allow me to cross, I reached the turn, and just as I turned to cross the street, a large SUV came rocketing past from behind me. It was so close that it shook me to my core. I have had a lot of close calls in my life, but that was probably the closest I have come to death. I am now much more vigilant at any crossing. Be careful out there people!
Do you have a running mantra?
Not really. The only time I ever repeat a mantra is during a race, and then I have a few, depending on where I am in the race: (1) Run your own race; (2) Run the mile you are in; and (3) Trust your training.
What time of day do you prefer to run?
I never thought I would say it, but I am now a morning runner. I used to hate getting up early, but now look forward to those early morning runs.
Any big races coming up?
As I write this, I have the Rock n Roll New Orleans Half coming up, but by the time you are reading it, that will be done and, hopefully, I will need to edit my HM PR. The other goal races on my calendar are the Crescent City Classic (10K) in April, a 12H ultra in May, and then the Berlin Marathon in September. What are your short-term running goals? Complete the next run on my training calendar. What are your long-term running goals? Stay healthy enough to keep running well into my golden years so that I can finally take home an age group award and/or BQ. I’m also working on completing all of the World Marathon Majors.
What’s one piece of running advice you’d give to the younger version of yourself?
Stop smoking, slow down, and do not take running advice from the Army.
What is something you need to work on to become a better runner?
I probably need to resign myself to running my workouts on the treadmill in the summer. The summer heat/humidity is too oppressive to allow me to run at goal paces for workouts, so I have seen much better improvement in the winter. I may try to move my workouts indoors this summer and see if it makes a difference.
What is your current shoe choice?
Depending on the run and/or how I’m feeling, I rotate through Saucony Kinvara 7, Brooks Launch 3, Brooks Ghost 7, and just added a pair of NB Zante, but haven’t taken them out for a spin, yet.
Trail? Road? Track? Or Treadmill?
Road. Although, in New Orleans, I get the best of both worlds and get to run along the streetcar tracks, which are hard-packed dirt and grass, so it’s sort of a mix between road and trail.
What is your ideal running weather?
High 50’s to Low 60’s and clear, but without a lot of direct sunlight.
Do you have any social media accounts you’d like to share? [Facebook, Strava, Twitter]
I normally only add people if I can somehow associate their strava profile with their Reddit username, though.
###Just For Fun:
What’s your spirit animal?
Years ago, I probably would have said the English Bulldog because they are just so chubby, and lazy, and just lay around the house snoring all day, which I could totally identify with, but then we adopted one and she is the opposite of everything I thought Bulldogs stood for. Now, I would probably say Hippopotamus.
What hobbies and interests do you have besides running?
Between work and running, I don’t really have time for other hobbies and/or interests, but I have taken up a particular version of Magic: The Gathering known as Elder Dragon Highlanders (EDH). I played Magic way back in high school, so when I saw a thread on my local subreddit looking for players to join the group, I decided to check it out, and now it’s become my version of poker night with the guys.
Do you have any hidden talents?
No. I don’t even have any visibly apparent talents.
Biggest pet peeve?
Poor driving etiquette. Don’t get me started.
Dream job! What would it be?
Is there any way to get paid to recover from my runs? I don’t really want to get paid to run professionally, but if I could get paid to lay on the couch and watch TV while drinking chocolate milk and eating pizza after my usual runs, that would be my dream job.
Favorite Quote or Poem?
Invictus by William Ernest Henley
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how straight the gate
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
What is your favorite movie?
The Way, Way Back.
What is your biggest character flaw?
I take things too seriously, which effects many aspects of my life, including my running, at times.
What songs have you been listening to recently?
Same old stuff I’ve been listening to for years. I’m not sure when it happened, but, at some point, I reached the age where I just don’t like most new music and would rather just listen to music that was from ‘back in my day.’
What are some of your favorite non-running subreddits?
/r/NewOrleans; r/legaladvice; and r/bulldogs
###One Last Question:
What is the origin of your username?
When I was much younger, I was part of a sketch comedy group and everyone went by odd names that were still believably real. I happened to be given the name Barnaby McFoo. Also, around the same time (back before the Internet was readily accessible), I began frequenting BBSes, so I used that name as my handle and have been using it as my online persona since.
That's it folks! Have a great weekend and enjoy the miles.
####Thanks for reading everyone!
#Please tag u/Barnaby_McFoo when asking a question in this thread.
Previously Featured Spotlight Runners:
| Palindrome27 | A-german-muffin | xfkirsten | PepperoniFire | rennuR_liarT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Claus | Brwalkernc | Pinkpiggie | Fobo911 | Kinsibit |
| Jaime_manger | Craigster38 | Despoena | Philpips | Brunchweasel |
| Chickensedan | Skragen | Incster | Freedomweasel | Jennifer1911 |
| RedKryptonite | Zebano | Kevin402can | Punkrock_runner | ProudPatriot07 |
| Once_a_hobby_jogger | Loratliff | 57001 | Borichu | Denovosibi |
| Causticwonder | Dirtybritch | TheRedInTheSky | Aewillia | Judyblumereference |
| Flocculus | El_day2 | YourShoesUntied | Jeade-en | Kyle-Kranz |
| ItsReallyReallyTrue | Jangle_Bo_Jingles | RichieClare | sloworfast | RobotPettingZoo |
| Runwichi | Smruttkay | Sacamato | Kibitzor | Edge767 |
| BrianOgilvie | Cromagnonized | c0me_at_me_br0 | Some_Other_Sherman | Caitlionator |
| Ahf0913 | Vermilionweirdo | NonReligiousPopette | JonnyHydra | LadyMasterChemist |
| Polgara19 | Mamabear5678 | Octopifungus | Barnaby_McFoo | ???????????? |
| ???????????? | ???????????? | ???????????? | ???????????? | ???????????? |
| ???????????? | ???????????? | ???????????? | ???????????? | ???????????? |
| ???????????? | ???????????? | ???????????? | ???????????? | ???????????? |
Posted Feb 10, 2017, 12:55 PM UTC