Mike Dotson

City: San Angelo State: TX

Favorite Shoe: Nike Free Size: 11

Age: 54.2 years old

Marital Status: Yes

Family members:
Ernie & Desi

What I do for work:
Counselor/Psychologist

Places I’ve called home and why I like where I am now:
Italy, Japan, Ohio, Alabama.
No traffic jams and wide open spaces.

When I started running and what got me started:
6th grade 50 yard dash. I found out that I had a little speed and it felt good.

What does running mean to me:
It is a metaphor for life.

Running accomplishments:
Ran New York once and Boston twice.

What I like about trail/mountain running:
It's a new challenge for me. I can just run without the self imposed pressure of comparing my finishing times to those of my younger years.

Favorite running trail and why:
San Angelo State Park. It's only 2 miles from my house and most days it feels like I'm the only one around for miles.

Favorite trail/mountain race and why:
I've only run one - in Bandera, Texas. Tough course. I loved it.

Best running experience:
Boston 2007. Not my greatest time and brutal weather but I had so much energy during the final 3 miles. I've never felt that way at the end of a marathon.

Worst running experience:
Boston 2008. I was much better prepared than the previous year but I just flopped. I realized that I just didn't have it by mile 8 despite my preparations. It was excruciating to realize with each ensuing step my goal was unreachable. Stuff happens. (See above comment re: running as a metaphor for life).

Neatest thing found on a run:
Myself

Running related bathroom stop story:
Nothing worth telling. The only thing to come to mind is that one year I ran the Chicago Half Marathon and I couldn't believe the number of Port-A-Potties. I kept going in and out to check if I needed to go again simply because there was no line.

Running pet peeves:
Inconsiderate A-hole drivers.

Page last modified: 11/30/2010