Monumental Runner – Paul Wester

Name: Paul Wester

Self-described age group: 50-55

Residence: Beltsville, Md.

Occupation: Director of the National Agricultural Library

How has your running changed in the last few months: Except for the mask and reducing mileage because of the heat, not much.

Why you run: Fitness and to clear my mind for the day.

When did you get started running: May 2009

Have you taken a break from running: Since May 2009, not really.

Training shoe: New Balance 1080v10 (RED)

Coach or training group: College Park parkrun

The hardest race you’ve ever run: Vermont City Marathon, May 2010

Most adventurous decision you’ve made with your running: I am not terribly adventurous, so deciding to run a marathon in 2010 was pretty adventurous for me!

Running mentors: Kara Drake (a friend who inspired me to start running), and Kara Goucher and Hal Higdon

My favorite place to run in the D.C. area is: Around Lake Artemesia and on the Paint Branch Trail in Prince Georges County, Md.

Favorite local trail: Paint Branch Trail (College Park parkrun course)

My best race was: Each one that I have finished

Favorite local race: Azalea 5K in University Park, Md.

Ideal post-run meal: Plain steel-cut oatmeal

Favorite flavor of gel, gu, etc: Salted Caramel GU

Pet peeve: Running with earphones

Goals: Run at least a mile everyday until Thanksgiving 2020 … I am on day 246 (07/30/2020)

Your advice for a new runner: Just start and keep at it.

Favorite running book: What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami

Song in your head during a run: None, see pet peeve above 🙂

Have you dealt with a major injury: No (knocks on wood)

Running quote: “It’s not so much that I began to run, but that I continued.” – Hal Higdon

Why is the D.C. area a great place to be a runner: The plentiful trails and beautiful parks and historical sites; friendly people; and except for a few weeks here and there, consistently decent weather.

Recent Stories

Running Shorts

Marine Corps Marathon sells out, Tewalt and Johnson to race at NCAAs, Chocolate City Relay sets off on Saturday and a D.C. runner wins gold medals for Malta.

Local runners captured 25 titles at state outdoor track championships in distance races and another broke the 4-minute-mile barrier.

Derwood’s Lake Needwood helped Maggie Lloyd almost forget all about the summer misery and, somehow, the pandemic, for an hour or so.

Loudoun County’s map of unpaved roads led me to a beauty of a run north of Leesburg.

3rd Annual APA MOORE Equity in Mental Health 5K Run,…

About APA’s MOORE Equity in Mental Health 5k
The APA’s Division of Diversity and Health Equity invites you to join us in combating mental health inequities facing young people of color and in honoring mental health advocate Bebe Moore Campbell.

Losing to Live 5K Walk/Run

WHEN Saturday, June 17, 2023 at 9:00 am WHERE This convenient location is just minutes from your house located 1/2 mile inside the 1-495 Capital Beltway at exit 51. Spectators are welcome to watch and cheer on the runners. Capital

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