Runner’s World+ Member: Gary Quirke
Gary is a Runner’s World+ member. Join him and thousands of others chasing their goals with day-by-day training plans, expert advice from editors and coaches, and unlimited digital access. We regularly feature members online and in print!
Running, and being part of the running community, has given me a whole new lease of life. However bad I feel at the start of a run, I always feel better by the end. This motivates me out the door, nearly every day, come rain, snow or shine. I never have regrets like, “I did nothing today”, on days when I run. This is a big stress reliever. Stress relief also comes from feeling fitter than at any other time since my childhood days. I also love the running community. It’s one of those rare bastions of true equality in my opinion, and everyone is so supportive of each other. I never look at another runner and assume that I can beat them in a race. I’ve been beaten by every shape, size, gender and age of runner. Running has made me a better and humbler person for the experience.
I love to read and learn about running. Whenever I googled a topic on running, the best articles seemed to always come from RW+. I originally joined to reduce the cap on what non-subscribers could read each month. Now that I know what RW+ offers in full, I would gladly volunteer the money, even if there were no restrictions for non-subscribers.
Running is like a drug, but without the bad side effects. It keeps me healthy, reduces my daily stress, and makes me feel better about myself and the world around me.
I mostly run in all directions from my home in Scarsdale. Many of my runs are downhill for the first half, and then back up hill in the second. There is one hill that is about two miles long, that starts on the Boston Post Road in Mamaroneck, and ends at Griffen Avenue in Scarsdale. The route passes the famous Winged Foot golf club. On some days the climb is a total grind, and I struggle to reach the top. Once in a while I start to fly at the midway point, and power all the way to the end. My heart rate gets close to maximum, but I barely notice. That’s the best feeling in the world. Looking for that high is one of things that makes running so great.
One of the best things for me about running is all the gear. I love the gear! The shoes, shirts, shorts, socks, backpacks, hydration belts, rain gear, hot weather gear, cold weather gear, watches, sunglasses, hats; you name it, I love it! If my life depended upon it, I would say that my favorite items of gear are: 1) Garmin Fenix 6 Pro watch; 2) Brooks Hyperion Tempo running shoes; 3) Tracksmith NYC Marathon Singlet; 4) Tracksmith NYC Marathon Split Shorts; 5) CEP Short Socks 3.0; 6) Inov-8 Race Ultra Pro 5 Vest; 7) Roka Falcon running glasses; 8) 2XU White Running Cap; 9) Inov-8 Ultrashell Pro Waterproof Jacket; and 10) Tracksmith Inverno Gloves.
In my opinion, Donald Trump once lied on July 4th about shooting a deuce on an extremely long and hard Par 4 golf hole, to one up my lone birdie that I was bragging about that day to all of my American friends. He didn’t like the thought of a Brit (I’m from England) being the best on America’s day. There is no way that he holed out from 230 yards though; he probably went into the water before his caddie Tommy “miraculously” found the ball in the hole!
My 2020 Goal was to achieve a Boston Qualifying Time (Sub 3:30). Covid19 may yet prevent that from happening. Longer term, my main goal is to run all six Abbott World Marathon Majors before I’m 60. So far I’ve run just one: 2019 NYC Marathon (first ever marathon).
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