Jack Phillips

Q: When did you begin running and why?
I began running in middle school. My dad would run marathons and I would run some 5Ks. I really didn’t get crazy into it until I ran a half marathon in college.

How did you find out about DCRR and when did you join?
I joined in late last year. My girlfriend, the lovely Anna Staats, is a member and it seemed like fun! It’s so fun to have people to run with and do a bunch of races.

Q: What are you training for right now?
Right now I’m training for the Marine Corps Marathon. Also excited to run the Army 10 Miler!

Q: What is the toughest run or race in which you have participated?
I don’t know really. I’ve had some major blow ups. Getting home when everything hurts and you feel like your gonna puke is rough. One time saw this baby puke and it almost killed me.

Q: What is the most important lesson running has taught you?
You can often just keep pushing. Running has really taught me that your body can take a lot more than you think it can. You can often just keep pushing it harder and harder and it will survive. Not only that, it will recover when you give it time. It’s been nice to see how my body (and even mind) can be pushed and come back.

Q: What is your favorite route in the area?
Ooooo . . . D.C. is so pretty to run in. But I’d have to say the Mall loop. It was the first route I did when I moved here and it will always have a special place in my heart. I don’t know why, there’s just nothing quite as good as running through the Mall and seeing the Nation’s Capital. It feels very Patriotic and I love how pretty the Capitol building is. It’s probably my favorite building in the city. I don’t know it’s just so pretty. Not as pretty as Anna, but still you get the point.

Q: What race day traditions do you have?
I don’t have any yet. The goal for me is to get to the race in one piece.

Q: What is your favorite post-race meal?
This is probably the most important question. Eating is probably the best part of running. With this I mean that I can eat so much food. I love donuts, and breakfast food. So being able to really get a good breakfast after a run is great.

Q: What is your proudest running moment?
I don’t know if I have one yet. Up there though is the DC Half and Half. You run a half marathon and eat a half smoke from Ben’s Chili Bowl in the middle. Learning that my body could run with all that food in me was so cool. I’m really hoping my next races this year will be good.

Q: What is your favorite running book and/or movie?
Cool Runnings. I mean there’s running at the beginning of it. Sprinters bobsledding! So fun.

Q: What is your life like outside of running?
I’m kinda’ lame. I don’t do much. I like sleeping, watching baseball. Sometimes I go hiking or climbing with friends. Love hanging out with Anna and spending a nice day inside.