I’m featured in Runner’s World online!!

Runner’s World does a feature every week online titled “How Running Changed Me.”

I sent them the video I did of my journey becoming an endurance athlete asking if they ever did video versions of the article. I got a reply about three weeks later asking me to answer a bunch of questions.

And this week they featured humble, old me http://bit.ly/1fUGe3l.

They don’t post all of the answers each person answer and since I spent so much time on them, I figured I would post the answers in their entirety.

I also didn’t mention the New York Cycle Club or the New York Road Runners by name and want to make sure I call them out as the cycling and running clubs (respectively) that I mention in the below answers.

NAME: Eric Rayvid
AGE: 43
OCCUPATION: Branding/Social Media Strategy and Content Development
HOMETOWN: New York, NY
FAMILY: wife Denise; parents, brother, in-laws, nephews, etc.

1. What prompted you to start working out?
Seven years ago as a 36-year-old overweight guy with cholesterol inching past 160 and a pack-and-a-half-a-day smoking habit, I decided that I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I looked in the mirror and couldn’t believe what was staring back at me. What happened to the guy who could eat anything and still be skinny? My diet of ice cream and take-out had finally gotten to me. I decided it was time to get in shape.

2. How did you start?
As a cycling enthusiast my entire life, I started riding my bike the way I had always dreamed about (and by that, I mostly mean consistently). I joined a local cycling club and enrolled in a 10-week training program designed to get you in shape for the upcoming season and teach group riding skills. After being on the bike for a while, running seemed like the next challenge to tackle. And I loved it. In fact, it turns out I loved it more than the bike. After training for my first marathon, triathlons seemed like the next logical step. But since I have an irrational fear of open water, I settled into life as a runner and cyclist (although I still do about two tri’s every year). I actually made a video about my journey: http://bit.ly/FatGuy2Runner

3. Describe your regular workout routine.
That all depends on the time of year and what I’m training for; the last few years I’ve been doing three marathons (one spring and two fall) and an Olympic Triathlon (late summer). Add to that my running club requires nine local races for guaranteed entry into the marathon for the following year, this means I’m always doing 13.1s, 10Ks and five milers. On average I put in 35 running miles each week (but that can go up to 50 during peak marathon training season) and anywhere between 50 and 100 miles on the bike. Weekly running workouts consist of a few base mile runs, some sort of speed work and a long run. During Tri season, I add in two swim workouts normally it would be only one (I’m never going to win the swim and just do what I can to get through it).

4. What was the biggest hurdle to working out and how did you get over it?
Life is my biggest hurdle to working out – sprinkle in lack of time management, a job, friends, and add a dash of “I just got married last year.” I now set my alarm for 4:30 and taught myself how to not hit the snooze button. Although I admit, if it’s cold, raining, snowing, hot, mild or perfect out, I still struggle with the snooze button.

5. What’s the most rewarding part of your running life?
Is “everything” too general an answer? Running has given me a renewed interest in everything about life. I love reading about it, talking about it, shopping for it and don’t even get me started on the gadgets! I’ve also taken an active role in my health – my cholesterol is down from 160 to 45. I’ve also met some of the greatest people I’ve ever known — and not just in passing either. There’s a hodgepodge of us that meet in Central Park every Saturday and Sunday to run together. I got married last summer (2012) and would never have met wife if it were not for the person running has helped me become.

6. Did you have a weight-loss goal? (Please include before and after weight)
Yes and no. I lost most of the weight I wanted to when I was on the bike before I started running. That said, I like to keep my weight down and still indulge in ice cream and French fries as much as I can and running helps me maintain my weight.

7. What’s the secret to your weight-loss success?
I got active and started burning calories. Period, full stop.

8. What kinds of changes did you make to what and how you ate?
You can’t live on ice cream and take-out alone and be healthy. Trust me, I’ve tired. I was never a “snacker” but I was eating a lot of food that was fried and heavily salted. I was also a HUGE fan of soda. I now take look closely at the calories I consume, whether they are the beneficial or not is a huge deciding factor in what I put into my body. But again, I’m human; I still eat burgers and fries (and love them!) but I haven’t had a soda in almost seven years (and I don’t miss it one bit).

9. What advice would you give to a beginner or someone just starting out?
Start slow and try and find others to run with – I find group running to be one of the best parts of our little community. Most cities and towns have a running store that offers free group runs. Sign up for the beginner runs and lose your ego. You’ll get fitter and faster eventually (if that’s what you want) but the important part is you’ll probably make a few friends and can continue to run with them after the classes are over.

10. What are your favorite motivational quotes?
“It never stops hurting, you just get faster,” unknown (to me anyway).

“The only good pace is suicide pace and today’s a good day to die,” Pre.

11. What’s your idea of a Rave Run?
It takes place every fall when there are deep reds and browns, bright yellows and oranges on the trees, the air is crisp and I’m a little chilled waiting for everyone to assemble before the run starts. Afterwards we sit around drinking something hot, maybe getting something to eat while we compare splits and talk about where we’re running next.

12. What’s your favorite piece of gear?
I don’t think I could go out without my GPS watch. I feel naked on a run if I’m not wearing it and I absolutely love seeing the numbers stack up week over week. I also must have it with me when I travel. There’s no better souvenir from traveling than a map of a route I’ve run in a distant city or country.

13. What is your long-term goal?
I would love to qualify for Boston, but don’t think it’s attainable. Which means I’ll just have to train that much harder.