Photo by Brightroom.com

It doesn't matter whether you run one local running event a year, or a dozen, there is a very good chance that you'll run into Silver Spring's Chris Caravoulias. To say that Caravoulias is a regular on the local running scene is an understatement. The 50-year-old ran more than 160 local races of all distances last year, and plans on running well over 100 this year.

"I have run over 100 races a year for the last couple of years. I have run distances from 1-mile at local track meets to the marathon," said Caravoulias.

In addition to toeing the line as a competitor at numerous local events, Caravoulias is also actively involved in several local running clubs.

"I am a member of a lot of area running clubs. I would say five or six different clubs. I am very involved in the Montgomery County Road Runners Club. I do the club newsletter and am the meet director for the Run for the Roses 5K on June 18."

With all of the time that she spends racing, training, and volunteering, you might think that she has time for little else. However, Caravoulias leads an active life outside of the sport, including holding down a full time job as a consultant.

"I have always been in consulting. I am currently working for a government consulting firm. It's a project that I have been working on for the last three or four years."

Unlike some runners who race only to improve their finish times and chase personal bests, Caravoulias isn't as concerned about her finish time and finds that the social rewards are far more valuable.

"I really enjoy the race atmosphere," said Caravoulias. "I enjoy the social aspect of the sport. Everyone is so supportive of each other."

Caravoulias knows firsthand of the supportive atmosphere that is present on the local running scene. It was just a few short years ago that she first decided to jump into her first race.

"My first race was in 1997. I had never run a race before or been involved in the sport in any way. I would do a little warm- up running before I worked out in the gym, but nothing serious."

On a whim, and with no running-specific training, Caravoulias decided to enter a local 5K. While she did not finish anywhere near the front of the pack--she did finish. She enjoyed the experience so much that she decided to enter an 8K event just a few weeks later. Once again, she finished and was officially hooked on the sport.

"After this race I knew that I was suited for distance running. I have never been the fastest runner, but have always enjoyed just being part of the atmosphere."

Since those first races, Caravoulias has quickly transformed herself from a non-runner into a serious competitor that not only pushes herself when she races, but also during daily training sessions. Chris typically trains solo when she is training for shorter distances, and will typically hook up with a training partner when training for a marathon.

The training load and the number of races that she runs each year put her at high risk for injury. Caravoulias understands this and has worked hard to avoid injury and stay healthy.

"I have been very healthy. I have really taken care of myself to not get injured," said Caravoulias. "I get regular massage and cross train. I believe this has helped me to stay healthy."

The cross training regimen that Caravoulias follows includes a variety of exercises that she performs instead of running several times a week. Yoga, Pilates, biking, weight training, and stretching are just some of the supplemental activities that she performs on a regular basis.

The cross training also adds variety to her training schedule, which keeps her from getting tired of the sport that she has grown to love. In fact, Caravoulias has no plans on changing anything in the near future, and can see herself competing in the sport for many years to come.

"I have no plans of quitting anytime soon," said Caravoulias. "I don't ever want to lose the joy of running."