Monumental Runner – Randall Myers

Name: Randall Myers

Self-described age group: Masters > 40

Residence: Arlington

Occupation: Emergency Medicine Physician

Why you run: I enjoy training for, preparing for and competing in races

When did you get started running: I started running track as a high school sophomore

Have you taken a break from running:  I will usually take 3-4 months off from running each year after training for a long race. During this time I will usually busy myself by swimming, rock climbing or doing some other sort of athletic activity.

Training shoe: Asics 2000 series: This is the only training shoe I have wore for past 25 years

Coach or training group: D.C. Road Runners

The hardest race you’ve ever run: The 2007 Chicago Marathon – It was 88 degrees with nearly 100% humidity by the end of the race. Nearly 200 people were taken to the hospital and two runners died.

Most adventurous decision you’ve made with your running: I worked with Doctors without Borders in 2011. I spent seven months in the province of South Kivu in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. There were security measures that kept me from running without restrictions but I was allowed to run along a 1 kilometer dirt airstrip just outside of town. I had to carry a walkie-talkie whenever I left the base so I would run up and down the airstrip several times every morning carrying a large walkie-talkie.

My favorite place to run in the D.C. area is:  Anywhere along the Potomac River

Favorite local trail: The C&O Canal Towpath

My best race was: 2016 Bird-in-Hand Half Marathon

Favorite local race: Marine Corps Marathon

Ideal post-run meal: A blackened Mahi-Mahi Sandwich and a cold Allagash White beer

Favorite flavor of gel, gu, etc: Gu Energy Gel Birthday Cake

Pet peeve: Running with wet shoes

Goals: To set new personal records at any distance after age 40

Your advice for a new runner:  Set high expectations for yourself, but learn to be flexible and innovative with ways to train and improve. Running is so much more fun when it fits in with all of the other activities in your life.

Song in your head during a run: “Push it” by Garbage

Have you dealt with a major injury: Nope

Running quote: “There is no such thing as bad weather, just soft people”

Why is the D.C. area a great place to be a runner: There is just an incredible variety of trails and paths to run on in the DC area; one day a runner can enjoy the scenery along the wooded trails in Rock Creek Park or along the Potomac on the C&O Canal Towpath while another day one can run along the reflecting pool and take in all of the monuments and Capital buildings.