Name: Joe O'Leary
Age: 34
Residence: Medford, MA
Birthplace: Sewickley, PA
Education:
         HS: Wellesley High School, Wellesley MA
         College: University of Notre Dame, South Bend IN
Occupation: Software Developer
Marital status: Single
Children status: None

How long have you been running? 21 years
What made you decide to begin running? I had a crush on a girl in seventh grade so I started running regularly as an excuse to go by her house. I quickly gave up stalking but found I liked running.
Did you run competitively in high school? yes
Did you run competitively in college? yes
Total number races: roughly 220 (mostly in high-school)
Favorite race (and why): Marathon Sports Wellesley 5 miler (because it's in my hometown and finishes on my high school track!)
Favorite race distance: 5K
Favorite running shoe: Nike Air Pegasus 2000
Best running memory: Every cross-country race I have ever run.
Worst running memory: Once, while on a training run in college, I was attacked in broad daylight by a complete stranger as I ran by and said hello. I ended up with my ear cut in half and needed stitches. Never found out why.

Running PR's (when and where):
         Khourys: 22:48 (Nov 14, 2002)
         5K: 15:59 ("Weaver Waddle," Weaver, IN, Nov 14, 1987)
         10K: 34:30 (Niles YMCA 10k, Niles MI, Nov 23, 1987)
         15K: 55:10 (Great Stew Chase, Feb 2, 2003)
         4 mile: 21:00 (Notre Dame FCR, Oct 9, 1987)
         5 mile: 26:18 (Nike Wellesley 5 Miler, July 11, 1989)
         Half-marathon: 1:15:55 (New Bedford Half Marathon, March 17, 2002)
         Marathon: 2:51:57 (Cape Cod Marathon, Oct 27, 2002)
         Other:
         3 mile: 15:12 (Notre Dame FCR, Oct 16, 1989)
         2.5 miles: 12:48 (Fresh Pond, July 1, 1989)
         3000 meters: 8:59 (ND Track Time Trial, Nov 3, 1989)
         400 meters: 52.0 (Spring, 1986 Wellesley High Track Meet)

Favorite author: Robert Parker
Favorite book: Catch-22
Favorite actor: Gene Hackman
Favorite TV show: "Sports Night" (no longer on the air, sadly)
Favorite movie: Grosse Point Blank
Favorite musician: Peter Gabriel
Favorite song: "Mercy Street" by Peter Gabriel
Favorite politician: Harry Truman (of the living? None.)
Favorite cereal: Raisin Bran (with extra raisins)
Favorite food: smoked swordfish
Favorite ice cream: Emack's Oreo
Favorite cocktail: Cocktail? I like beer.
Fill in the blank: I like it when Training pays off. I hate it when I get injured.
Favorite quotes:
         "A computer allows you to make more mistakes faster than any invention in human history, with the possible exception of handguns and tequila." — Mitch Radcliffe

Philosophy: "There is a little Spinal Tap in all of us."

Other: After college, in the 1990s, I ran only sporadically. My college running experience was so negative (for reasons I won't go into here) that it took me years to really enjoy running again.

The main reason I joined SRR was because of the people I met — starting with Steve Martin — who are very enthusiastic and positive about running, always helping you out. Competitive, but in a friendly way. SRR has a lot of people like that. It's a nice change from that all-consuming, negative, running-is-everything attitude that you sometimes encounter in the running community. People like that just drain the fun out of it. I've only been a member for a few months but I'm wondering why I didn't join long ago. (Plus we've easily got the best web site of any club I've ever seen. I've checked around.)