CARLOS ALVAREZ, 44
IN THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS

 
I'VE BEEN RUNNING FOR 15 YEARS.

I STARTED RUNNING BECAUSE IT WAS A FREEING AND EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE.  IT GIVES ME CALM AND RELAXATION.  IT GIVES ME TIME TO THINK AND REFLECT ON MY LIFE AND WHAT I AM DOING WITH IT.  IT KEEPS ME IN TOUCH WITH NATURE AND GOD. 

RUNNING KEEPS ME IN SHAPE.

IF I COULD NO LONGER RUN, I WOULD SWIM, BIKE AND WALK.
MY FAVORITE RUN IS ON SUMMER MORNINGS WHEN IT IS HOT.

I LIKE TO RUN WITH ANYBODY THAT IS FASTER THAN ME (RON LEONHARDT).

SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT ME IS I LOSE TRACK OF TIME WHEN I AM RUNNING.  SOMETIMES I THINK I WILL BE OUT FOR AN HOUR AND I AM ACTUALLY OUT RUNNING FOR TWO OR THREE HOURS.

I LOVE STRETCHING AFTER A HARD WORKOUT.

WHEN I'M NOT RUNNING I LIKE TO SPEND TIME WITH MY KIDS (PLAYING BASKETBALL, SWIMMING, SOCCER AND HAVING THE OCCASIONAL PIZZA).

I AM INSPIRED BY PEOPLE WHO BREAK ADDICTIONS AND BAD HABITS AND START A NEW HEALTHY LIFESTYLE.

RUNNING HELPED ME CLEAR
OUT MY HEAD.  IT AFFORDED
ME THE ABILITY TO ACCEPT
MY LIMITATIONS AND MY DYSFUNCTIONS.  AND THEREFORE BETTERING THEM.

THE LOCAL RUNNER I MOST ADMIRE IS...OBVIOUSLY THE GUY WHO NEVER QUITS, RON LEONHARDT.

TO PUSH MYSELF ON A RUN, I SHUT EVERYTHING OFF AND JUST CONCENTRATE ON THE TASK AT HAND.

MY GREATEST RUNNING ACCOMPLISHMENT IS TAKING SECOND OVERALL IN THE LAKE GENEVA HALF MARATHON.

MY NEXT GOAL IS TO GO UNINJURED IN THE HOBO RUN.

MY ADVICE TO OTHER RUNNERS IS TO STRETCH BEFORE AND AFTER EACH AND EVERY RUN ALONG WITH CROSSTRAINING.

I PLAN TO RUN UNTIL I AM NO LONGER PHYSICALLY ABLE TO DO SO.