Favorite Movie: I am quite a big movie buff, so choosing one was no easy task. With that in mind I'll have to go with Rounders with Matt Damon.

Favorite Place to Train: I'm a big fan of trails and in St. Louis there's no better place than the Chubb Trail

Favorite Breakfast Cereal: I usually stock between 8-12 boxes of cereal above the fridge (seriously you can ask my roomates) as I believe variety is the spice of life, but my absolute favorite is Cracklin Oat Bran.

Who's Better Superman or Batman: The man of steel! Come on x-ray vision, super hearing, and he can fly!

Fact or Fiction: The 80's rocked! Fact!

High School:
5-time All-State Winner
800m State Champion 1998 Missouri Class 4 (1:55.57)
4x800m 2nd Place 1998 Missouri Class 4 (7:53.54)
16th at 1997 Missouri Class 4 State Cross Country Meet

College:
Three-time MIAA Conference Champion (800, 1500, Mile)
All American Division II Cross Country (2002 – 26th place)
All American Division II Track (2002 - 1500m - 5th place)

Short Term Goal:
Get fit again and start training and racing with the team again.

Long Term Goal: Help the team place in the top five at Club Cross Country Championships this December.

Long, Long Term Goal: Win the Master's 800 at the 2020 Drake Relays.

Interesting Fact About Me: Over the summer I lead adventure trips through national parks out West including: Teton, Yellowstone, Bryce Canyon, Zion and Grand Canyon National Parks

Matt, the co-owner of Big River Running Company, is a busy man but has still managed to put some nice races together since the store opened in August of 2006. His best race was certainly his 65th place finish at the US Club Cross Country Championships in December 06. Last year Matt shifted his focus to the triathlon where he competed in both half and full Ironman competitions. This year it's back to the roads!

MICHAEL NELSON
DOB: 1.5.1981
Hometown: St. Louis
High School: Northwest House Springs
College: Truman State University
Graduate School: Emporia State University
Degrees: B.S. Exercise Science, M.S. Health and Physical Education

High School:
Finished 19th at the Missouri State Class 4 Cross Country Championships
Finished 8th in the 1600 at the Missouri Class 4 State Track Meet
Ran PRs of 4:24 and 1:59 at the State Meet

College:
4 Time MIAA All-Conference Athlete
2 Time Participant in NCAA DII XC championships

Post-Collegiate:
Completed 4 marathons: Grandma's, Dallas, Boston, Phoenix
Rock n' Roll.

Short Term Goal: Sub 2:35 marathon, Sub 1:13 half

Long Term Goal: See how far under 2:30 I can run in the marathon.

Mike is the head cross country and track and field coach at Marquette University. As a runner, Mike has shown an uncanny ability to be good at the middle distances on the track as well as run a good marathon. He continues to train and compete in both half and full marathon distances.

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JOE PORTER
Age: 24
Hometown: St. Louis
High School: De Smet Jesuit
College: St. Louis University
Major History

Favorite Movie: Please Vote for Me: Democracy is a 3rd Grade
Classroom in China produced by PBS. Just kidding, I'm not a tool. My favorite movie is Blazing Saddles.

Favorite Place to Train: Forest Park

Favorite Breakfast Cereal: Cheerios with bananas and 2% milk (no strawberries or sugar)

List the most played song on your iPOD/Radio: Anything by Yanni and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra live at the Taj Mahal

Who's Better Superman or Batman: Superman

Fact or Fiction, the 80's rocked: FACT!!!!

Interesting Fact about me: My mom says that I'm cool.

High School:
member of 4th place state cross country team for DeSmet
1st team all Metro Catholic Conference
Sectional 1600 champ (4:22)

College:
SLU’s #1 man all four years
4th fastest time in school history (25:37)
3 school records on the track (800, 1500, and 5000)

Short Term Goal: Recover from the St. Louis Marathon, among other things, and get back into shape.

Long Term Goal: To continue to run well and be a successful coach.

Currently Joe is an assistant cross country and track coach at St. Louis University High School where he teaches history full time. He placed third in his marathon debut at the Sprirt of St. Louis marathon in April 2006. Joe returned to St. Louis in 2007 and placed fifth.

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BEN ROSARIO
DOB: 1.13.80
Hometown: St. Louis
High School: St. Louis University High School
College: Truman State University
Major: Communications/Journalism

High School:
Part of 3rd place cross country team
All State, 18th place, in cross country
16:18 5k cross country PR
9:48 3200 PR

College:
14 time all MIAA selection
All American Division II cross country
Set school records at 3k and 5k indoors

Professional:
Finished 7th at the US Club Cross Country Championships (2006)
Finished 21st at US Half Marathon Championships (2006)
Finished 2nd at US Marathon Championships at Twin Cities Marathon (2005)
Ran for the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project from 2003-2005
Finished 27th at US Cross Country Championships (2005)
Finished 10th at California International Marathon (2004)
Finished 37th at US Olympic Trials Marathon (2004)

Short Term Goal: Ben is prepping for the US Club Cross Country Championships in Ohio.

Long Term Goal: Ben's new goal is to focus on the store as his number one priority but run some shorter races that don't take as much time to train for!

Ben finished a disappointing 100th place at the US Olympic Trials Mens Marathon on November 3rd in new York City. It was Ben's second trip to the Trials after finishing 37th in 2004. His career was filled with many highlights including his 2nd place finish at the 2005 US Marathon Championships

FUN STUFF:

Favorite Movie: Good Will Hunting. Of course, this is common knowledge to those of you who have read my staff bio or to those of you who I have dated as it was a go-to for me back in my swinging single days!

Favorite Place to Train: Flagstaff, AZ. I spent three weeks there getting ready for the Olympic Trials and it was gorgeous. I looked forward to every single run I did there. An honorable mention should go to good ol' Kirksville, MO and the rolling dirt roads that I called home for five years in college. Yes, that's right, five years.

Favorite Breakfast Cereal: Life. I don't know how they do it without fancy marshmallows or a cool mascot like Capn' Crunch or Count Chocula but the stuff is great.

List the most played song on your iPOD/Radio: I certainly do not have an iPod as I am technologically challenged but let's say for a minute that I did then I think Charmer by Kings of Leon would be number one. By the way if any of you know someone in that band tell them to get back from Europe so I can go to another one of their shows.

Who's Better Superman or Batman: I read Mark Palm's bio and he picked Superman but I prefer Batman because he is the only superhero without any actual super powers. That's right, no ability to fly or x-ray vision like Superman, no ability to spin webs like Spiderman. Basically, he protects us all by just being one cool cat.

Fact or Fiction, the 80's rocked: Fiction. Again, I will disagree with Mark Palm. 80s fashion was by far the worst of any decade in the entire 20th Century. Don't even get me started on 80s music- we still haven't completely recovered. Culture-wise we went from Free Love and peace to Wall-Street driven greed. The only good thing about the 80s were the St. Louis Cardinals and Whiteyball. Oh, and Alex P. Keaton.

Interesting Fact about me: I once completed the McDonalds Dollar Menu Challenge in 8 minutes and 2 seconds. For those of you who don't know what that is it means that I ate every item on the dollar menu in one sitting and I did it at a rate that is ridiculously fast. I have it on tape if you don't believe me!

BRIAN LYONS
Age: 28
Hometown: Purdy, MO
High School: Purdy High School
College: Missouri Southern State University
Degrees: B.S. Environmental Health

College:
Four-time MIAA Conference Champion (XC, 3k & 5k indoors, 5k outdoors)
All American Division II Cross Country (2002)
All American Division II Track (2004 - 5000m)

Post-Collegiate:
4th place- 2007 Trolley Run 4 miler, 18:50.
Member of 9th place team at 2006 US Club Cross Country Champs
12th place- 2006 US Marathon Championships, 2:22:34

Short Term Goal: Spring Road and Track Season.

Long Term Goal: Qualify for the Olympic Trials.

Since joining the Big River Racing Team Brian has seen a huge resurgence in his running. In the year since the team began he has set pr's at 3200 meters, 4 miles, 15k, 10 miles and the Marathon. His biggest accomplishment was his 12th place finish at the US Marathon Championships in the fall of 2006 where he narrowly missed qualifying for the Olympic Trials by running 2:22:34. He is also co-sponsored by Mizuno.

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High School:
Part of two all-state teams at CBC (3rd) 1998, 1999
All-State, 18th place, in cross country 2000
Metro Catholic Conference Cross Country Champion 2000
Second Team All Metro 2000
16:08 5k PR, 4:27 1600, 9:50 3200

College:
All-Ohio Valley Conference Cross Country 2002
All Mid-Con. Conference Cross Country 2005
All Mid-Con. Conference Indoor 5,000m 2006
All Mid-Con. Conference 10,000m 2006

Post-Collegiate:
In first post-collegiate year set PR's in 1600m, 5k/5mi/10k road, 10k XC, and half marathon
Member of 9th place team at 2006 US Club Cross Country Championships
Member of 7th place team at 2007 US Club Cross Country Championships
Missouri Champion for 2007 Spirit of St. Louis and Lewis and Clark Half Marathon

Short Term Goal: Increase mileage, break 15:00 for 5k and 1:10:00 for the half marathon

Long Term Goal:
Reach genetic potential, help Big River Running develop.

Tim is the assistant cross country and track and field coach at St. Louis University . In 2007 Tim lead the SLU cross country team to 4 school records and their highest regional finish in school history.

FUN STUFF:

Favorite Movie: Any movie with a training montage

Favorite Place to Train: St. Louis Hills

Favorite Breakfast Cereal: Life. Any cereal bold enough to call itself life has to be good. Who are the ad wizards that came up with this one?

List the most played song on your iPOD/Radio: I don't have an iPOD or radio, I mostly just YouTube any music that I want to listen/watch.

Fact or Fiction, the 80's rocked: Fact

Interesting Fact about me: I have a great e-mail address and voicemail message. I want to make communicating with me as fun as possible. I often have people call me just hoping to get my voicemail.

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High School:
1996 Missouri 4A Cross Country State Champion

College:
10x All Big XII Conference Athlete (XC, Indoor and Outdoor Track)
3x NCAA Division I National Cross Country Qualifier

Short Term Goal:
Obtain Masters

Long Term Goal: Get back to competitive racing.

Adam brings a wealth of competitive experience to the Racing Team as well as an impressive resume. He is currently the Head Boys Cross Country Coach of his alma mater Parkway South where he also teaches.

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Favorite Movie: Moulin Rouge, Boondock Saints

Favorite Place to Train: DePauw Nature Park

Favorite Breakfast Cereal: Cocoa Dynobites

Who's Better Superman or Batman: Batman

Fact or Fiction: The 80's rocked! Not sure I was still wearing diapers

High School:
I sucked

College:
Three-time All Conference Track
Two-time All Conference Cross Country
National Qualifier XC

Short Term Goal:
Improve Fitness
Race at Club Nationals

Long Term Goal:
Break 15:00 for 5k
Qualify for the Marathon Trials

Interesting Fact About Me: I race in early 90's Oakley Sunglasses.

Drew joins the team from DePauw University where he was a standout on the XC and Track Teams. He adds more depth to the Men's Team and is currently attending SIU-Edwardsville getting his Master's in Exercise Science.

Favorite Movie: There's so many to choose from! I have to pick my favorites in a few categories. Comedy: Office Space ("Have you seen my stapler?") Adventure: Lord of the Rings Trilogy (I've read the books and the movies were stunning) Sci Fi: The Matrix (Keanu in all his monotone glory, a role he was meant to play.) Action: Fight Club (Philosophically mind blowing, plus a great quote - "I ran until my legs burned and my veins pumped battery acid, and then I ran some more.")

Favorite place to run: The Al Foster Trail. I start at the Glencoe Trailhead most of the time. I'm used to just having roads to run on so it is really nice to have a sizeable trail system to access.

Cereal: Honey Bunches of Oats

Song: Modest Mouse "Parting of the Sensory" I love stealing carbon.

Superman or Batman? Batman is awesome. Everyone has a little Dark Knight in them.

Did the 80s rock?: Sorry to say, I don't remember the 80s much. But thinking back, the one thing I do remember is the original nintendo. Duck Hunt and late night Mario binges.....yes....the 80s rocked.

Interesting fact: I played the tenor saxophone in the school band for five years.

High School:
2 time Kentucky State 3A Cross Country competitor (1998 and 1999)

College:
All Ohio Valley Conference Cross Country 2003
Placed 2 nd in the 5k as part of the 2005 OVC Outdoor Track Championship Team
Winner of the Vanderbilt Invite 5k and the Alabama Relays 10k in 2005
Ohio Valley Conference Scholar Athlete 2004-2005 (given to 3 males and 3 females in the 11 school conference)

Short Term Goal: Fall Racing Season.

Long Term Goal:
Continue competitive running and explore my potential at the half and full marathon distances. Perhaps try to qualify for an Olympic Trials.

Brian is now officially a St. Louis resident after finishing school at Southeast Missouri State University. Look for Brian to continue to be a force on the St. Louis racing scene.

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High School:
2A State 3200m Record Holder
2A State Champion 2000 - 3200m
2x State Runner up (XC - 1999, Mile - 2000)

College:
All American Division II Cross Country (2001– 11th place)
2x Division II National Qualifier Track (2003, 2004 - 10000m)

Short Term Goal:
Get through Medical School and run as much as possible

Long Term Goal:
Break 2:30 in the Marathon and continue to run competitively

Alan is currently in medical school in Kirksville, MO and is training when time allows. When training full-time Alan is one of the best runners in the Midwest. He naturally accels at the longer distances with the half marathon and marathon his best two events. Looks for him to pop up in races over the next few years when school allows him to do some decent training.

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High School:
District Champion 4x800 - 2002
3x Cross Country State Qualifier (1999, 2000, 2001)

College:
Competed on 2005 National Cross Country Team for CMSU - 2005
4x MIAA Scholar Athlete

Short Term Goal:
Improve 5k PR

Long Term Goal:
Enjoy Running and Stay Injury Free

Jeremy recently debuted at the Marathon distance running the 2007 Spirit of St. Louis Marathon finishing 8th place. His ability to train at a high level will allow him to continue to drop his PR's at teh longer distances. Look for him to jump in some shorter races this summer.

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High School:
2-time Illinois All-State Selection
4 th Place 3200 Class A 2003(9:39)
5th at 2002 Illinois Class A State Cross Country Meet (15:08)

College:
9- Time NJCAA All-American 2(Cross Country) (2-Out 5k)
(2- 10k) (2-In 5k) (1-In 3k)
2-Time MVC Champ (In-5k, Out 10k)
76th 2006 NCAA Division I CC Championships
Ind State School Record Holder in Outdoor 5k (14:22) and 10k. (29:51)

Short Term Goal:
Stay Healthy

Long Term Goal:
Place in the top 25 at USATF Cross Country Championships in 2008. Qualify for USATF in the 10k. Run a Half Marathon in under 1:10. Run under 14min. 5k and under 29min in 10k.

Justin joins the racing team after completing a very impressive college career at Indiana State. His ability to handle the 5k and 10k in college sets him up for a bright future in the Marathon and Half Marathon Distances. He will be competing this winter at the Club Cross Country Championships with Big River.

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Favorite Movie: Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Favorite Place to Train: Babler State Park and Castlewood Park

Favorite Breakfast Cereal: Smart Start

List the Most Played Song on Your Ipod/Radio: Two Step (Dave Matthews Band)

Who's Better Superman or Batman: Superman

Fact or Fiction, the 80's rocked? Fact!

Short Term Goals:
Compete for Big River at the USA Cross Country Nationals XC Meet

Long Term Goals
Break 15 min for the 5k, 32 min for the 10k and 2:50 in the Marathon.

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Favorite Movie: No favorites but like the classic comedies...Trading Places, Blazing Saddles, Strange Brew, etc.

Favorite Place to Train: Creve Coeur Park/Katy Trail

Favorite Breakfast Cereal: Cereal would just dilute the coffee.

List the Most played song on your Ipod/Radio: None in particular. Most played bands are Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beastie Boys, and Linkin Park.

Who's Better Superman or Batman? Batman

Fact or Fiction, the 80's Rocked? Fact

Short Term Goals:
Get back to running competitive open times. Sub 2:35 marathon.

Long Term Goals:
Maintain competitive open times into the masters age divisision.

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Favorite Movie: I would say "Forrest Gump" but that spawned the whole "run Forrest run" thing, so I'm going with Pulp Fiction.

Favorite Place to Train: Castlewood/Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Favorite Breakfast Cereal: Well I don't eat it anymore but I've got to give Cocoa Krispies the nod, because really, who could pass up the chocolate milk at the end

List the Most Played Song on Your Ipod/Radio: Right now, "Rag and Bones" The White Stripes

Who's Better Superman or Batman: Did Superman need a sidekick, well there you have it.

Fact or Fiction, the 80's Rocked? The 80's did not rock, but my knee high socks with the stripes did.

Interesting Fact About Me: I've lived on the Big Island of Hawai'i for the last two years working on a project to help the recovery of the Endangered Palila bird. The project is over and I'm back in St. Louis to apply for graduate school. Hawai'i was nice but it's good to be home. Oh, and I have a third nipple.

High School Accomplishments:
State Qualifier Cross Country 1999 (41st place)

College Accomplishments:
6 time NAIA All American:
2001 3rd - 4x800m
2002 5th - distance medley (indoor), 6th - 800m (outdoor)
2003 3rd - 1000m (indoor), 4th - 800m (outdoor)
2004 3rd - 1000m (indoor)

Short Term Goals:
Remain healthy and run well through the XC season.

Long Term Goals:

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Favorite Movie: "It's a Wonderful Life"....gotta love George Bailey!

Favorite Place to Train: Paw-Paw Trail on SIUE Campus

Favorite Breakfast Cereal: Tricks

List the Most Played Song on Your Ipod/Radio: "Mighty to Save"

Who's Better, Superman or Batman: Superman hands down

Fact or Fiction, the 80's Rocked? Fact

Short Term Goals:
In 2009 PR in every distance from the 3k to the Marathon

Long Term Goals:
complete an Ironman and run a sub 2:30 marathon

Interesting Fact About Me: My wife and I have the same
Birthday, but hers is 7 years before mine. oh I like older women.

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Favorite Movie: I'm gonna cheat and choose two -- Caddyshack and Groundhog Day. I figure it's okay, since they both star Bill Murray and a large rodent.

Favorite Place to Train: trails, ideally in the mountains. Some of my best runs have been in the White Mtns of NH and the Blue Ridge Mtns in NC and VA. I'm always on the lookout for good trails around here.

Favorite Breakfast Cereal: this answer is going to expose me as an old man -- my standard breakfast cereal is a mix of Trader Joes high-fiber, granola-ish cereals, topped with nuts and some dried fruit.

Most Played Song on Ipod: Mitch Hedberg, who's admittedly a comedian, not a musician. I listen to my Ipod mainly on the Metrolink, so I loaded some comedy CDs to keep a smile on my face during the mass transit experience. It helps me get my own seat -- nobody wants to sit next to the guy who bursts out in laughter for no good reason.

Superman or Batman: neither. I'm a Spiderman guy. Superman is such a do-gooder -- the whole "Truth, Justice, and the American Way" shtick sounds more like a politician than a butt-whooping superhero. And don't get me started on Batman -- he hangs out in a cave, has a thinly-veiled pedophilic tendency (what is the story with him and Robin?), and defeats the bad guys only because of technological superiority.

Fact of Fiction, the 80s rocked? I don't feel qualified to pass judgment on the decade as a whole, but I can assure you that I rocked during the 80s, and somewhere in my parents' attic there are several pairs of MC Hammer pants to prove it.

High School Accomplishments: XC - 3-time all-conference, 1-time regional qualifier in Southwest Ohio; Track - 2-time all-conference, 2-time regional qualifier

College Accomplishments: member of 4 conference champion teams (1 XC, 1 indoor, 2 outdoor)

Short Term Goals: run sub-2:40 at Chicago in October; run a sub-16:00 5k either on the roads or indoors this winter.

Long Term Goals: first of all, stay healthy and keep running as a part of a balanced life. But more performance-related, I want to improve all of my college-era PRs on the track and roads!

Long, long, long term goal (circa 2060): stay in good enough shape to escape from my nursing home.

Interesting Fact About Me: the spell-check function in Microsoft Word suggests "Gluteus" as the correct spelling of my last name.

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Favorite Movie: tough one but I like the Departed and Gladiator... both great flicks

Favorite Place to Train: although I have had the great opportunity to run in nearly all 50 states and Europe in the summer of 2007, I enjoy the trails of Stoney Creek Park (where the Hanson's group trains) in Michigan as well as Castlewood park in Ballwin

Favorite Breakfast Cereal: with the military I don't have the opportunity to have a hearty breakfast anymore but I absolutely LOVE steak and eggs after a long run or hard workout in the morning... this is not a cereal I know, but if they made a steak flavored cereal I would be all over it

Most Played Song on IPod/Radio: Black Lab -- See the Sun, a great uplifting tune I listen to every morning to get me going

Superman or batman: I prefer batman since he does it with kickass gadgetry and awesome fighting skills

Fact or Fiction 80's rocked: well of course I was born during that time, FACT

Short Term goals: run sub 1:50, sub 3:50/4:05, and break 15 in the 5k (road or track). Keep in great shape while still maintaining all the military training possible the Army gives me

Long term goals: sub 4 mile, make an olympic trials in some event, run for WCAP

Interesting fact about me: I enjoy a good beer mile whenever possible

High school (De la Salle Collegiate, MI):
800m 3x MHSAA all-state outdoor track and field (6th, 7th, 1st)
4x800 1x MITCA all-state indoor track and field (2nd)

College (West Point, NY):
5x patriot league champion
4x all-IC4A

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Favorite Movie: This depends on the genre…Comedy: Dumb and Dumber - Drama: The Shawshank Redemption - Chic Flick/Musical: Across the Universe

Favorite Place to Train: Although I could never train there; running around New York City and Central Park after the 2008 Men's Marathon Olympic Trials was really cool.

Favorite Breakfast Cereal: Quaker Oat Ohs!

List the Most Played Song on Your Ipod/Radio: Lake Pontchartrain by Ludo

Who's Better Superman or Batman: In the past I would have said Superman; however, with the movies “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight”, I have to go with the Batman.

Fact or Fiction, the 80's rocked? I was 6 when the 80s ended

Short Term Goals: Break 4 minutes in the mile, Qualify for the USATF nationals in the 1500m

Long Term Goals: Qualify for the 2012 Olympic Trials, Run a sub-14 5K

Interesting Fact About me: I am lactose intolerant. However, I didn't fully discover this until junior year of college. This made for some interesting runs after drinking boost energy shakes or eating cheese stuffed pasta. I also spent hours laying in the fetal position in my living room after eating the Peanut Buster Parfait from Dairy Queen. (Those lactose pills definitely don't work)

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