Brad and his dog Pepper.
Well, well, well, here we go again. PRC's Twelve Questions dept. returns from a long hiatus due mostly to the real bad blisters we picked up when we tried to run the Marathon des Sables in foam gardening shoes. Our first subject is (*shuffles food-stained papers*) Brad Paisley!
...Sorry, that's Brad Pankey. Brad is a new PRC employee who has loads of previous experience in the running industry (even in France, oolala, patisserie) in addition to teaching marketing at Portland State. While he is working at PRC Brad is also pursuing a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling with the goal of going into private practice.
We hope you enjoy, or should we say, bon appetit?!
PRC: In what city and state were you born?
BP: I was born in Lincoln City, Oregon. I grew up in Waldport and Newport, Oregon.
PRC: What high school did you attend? What was the mascot?
BP: Newport High School Cubs and the Waldport High School Irish.
PRC: What was the make and model of your first car? Explain.
Ugh…. It was a red 1996 Volkswagen Jetta. It was an awful car aside from getting decent gas mileage. Other than that, it would sometimes shut down when I drove through big puddles, the transmission went out at one point, and it was gutless. The best thing about this car is how mother nature took it from me. A branch snapped off a tree and totaled the car while I was driving it during a storm in the Bay Area. The branch hit the back window, which exploded, and it wrecked the trunk. The car was totaled, which means I got a nice insurance check for probably more than I could gotten if I sold the car. That car eventually tuned into a new iMac.
PRC: The 1996 Jetta. That was the one that came with the Trek bike. We all should have been more suspicious of a car that came equipped with another form of transportation just in case....
PRC: If you run, how did you get into running?
BP: My father was a lifelong runner and coach. From as young as I can remember, I went to his track and cross country practices where I participated in form work and drills. I would occasionally run with the team. I entered a few races, and I generally loved talking about every aspect of the sport with my dad. He also took me to the Prefontaine Classic almost every year. My love for running hasn't waned well into my adulthood.
PRC: What is your current training shoe? Why?
BP: I am currently running in the Nike React Infinity Run Flyknit 2. I generally like something a bit lighter, but I have been battling some injuries the past few years. These seem to be helping me get my mileage back up and support my healing.
PRC: What is your favorite race experience of all-time? Why?
BP: My older brother, my dad, and I raced one time while I was in high school. My brother, who has a stocky wrestler build, is not a runner, but he seemed to think he could beat me and my dad in a footrace. We took him up on the challenge by setting up a 5k from our house one weekend. I came in about 200 meters ahead of my dad to win. We stood there laughing and wondering where my brother was for a while until we looked up and saw him sauntering down the final 100 meter stretch. We laughed at him as he finished and long after that. Nothing better than humbling your older brother!
PRC: What is your biggest pet-peeve? Explain.
BP: People riding bikes on the sidewalk. I have been diverted from one too many sidewalks for bikers while running. Roads are for bikes. Sidewalks are for walking/running.
PRC: What's your position on scooters? We'll take our answer off the air.
PRC: Who is the most famous person you have ever met? Explain.
BP: I met Carl Lewis at the Prefontaine Classic when I was a kid and then again when I was at the University of Oregon. Him, or Sally Field.
PRC: You met the lady who sells the cookies at the mall?! No way.
PRC: What is the best accessory PRC carries?
BP: I can not overstate how helpful for recovery my massage gun has been. It undoubtedly has helped me overcome shin pain and a cranky hip. The upfront cost is quickly saved by the number of massages I no longer need to book.
PRC: The massage therapists are going to like this about as much as the cyclists.
PRC: What is your hidden talent? Explain.
BP: I am talented at not dying when getting hit by a car. I’ve done it twice.
PRC: And you're angry at the bikes?!
PRC: If you couldn't run, what other sport or hobby would you be doing?
BP: Do I have to think about this nightmare scenario? I have already had a taste of it while injured, and it tastes like punishment. My spin bike is like a torture device. Swimming is great, but I don’t like having to find a large enough body of water. Cycling requires too much kit. I used to have an Eliptigo, and I loved it. It felt close to running but without the pounding. Perhaps I would get one of those again.
PRC: What is the best advice you have ever received?
BP: I am not sure this is advice, but my dad used to have a mantra that he shared with me. He told me to use this when I am unsure about something in my life or feeling stuck. In these moments, he told to me say, “this or something better.” That means that either what you have or what is happening now now is best for you. If it isn’t, something better is on the way. The caveat here is that this can bring tremendous change to one’s life. Use with caution!
