Height: 6'1½"
Weight: 158lbs.
Birthdate: 9/6/84
Favorite sport other than running: Basketball
Favorite team: Gators, of course!
Biggest influence on your life: My coach (James Travieso) and my parents. SH: I have been running since I was in the 5th grade and decided to do middle school track, then in 7th grade I went out for cross country, but I really didn't take it too serious until I got to high school.
JB: For younger guys who look up to you, what is the best advice that you could give them?
SH: Don't be afraid to put in the milage. If you want to be a good runner you have to be consistant with your training and work hard everyday. You dont become a state champion overnight. You have to start putting in the milage and avoid missing days and it will help you a lot. Steadily increase your milage and you should see improvement every year. Don't be afraid to work hard.
JB: What kind of shoes do you train in and what kind do you like to race in?
SH: I like to train in Asics 2080's and Asic ds trainer lights and i like to race in Kennedy's.
JB: How often or how many miles do you run in a pair of shoes before getting a new pair?
SH: We have never really charted our miles. I guess when they start getting worn out badly on the bottoms I get a new pair.
JB: Do you take any kind of vitamins or nutrition supplements?
SH: No, but I try to eat a balanced diet.
JB: What is your routine like leading up to a big race? What do you eat the night before? And do you have any superstitions?
SH: I think every runnner has superstitions before he races. I eat spaghetti the night before
I race and also eat it two nights before. I make sure I do what my coach wants. Usually I
warm up for 10-15 min do some form running get my self mentally ready and go out and do it.
I always warm up in the same basketball shorts underneath my warmups and I just try to follow my routine to a T.
JB: What kind of weight training do you do?
SH: I lift light weights about 3 times a week. I also do a lot of push ups and situps to have good core strength.
JB: You are bigger than a lot of runners out there, do you think that is a strength or a liability?
SH: I think it is a strength. It hasn't hurt me so far. I know some poeple may be turned off by a bigger runner but I know I am never going to be built like a Kenyan so I try to promote my own bodies strengths.
JB: What do you think the biggest weakness is in your game, and what have you been doing to work on it?
SH: I try to increase my overall speed. I do a lot of form running to try and help it and I also do striders after my runs to try to improve it.
JB: If you could meet any one person alive or dead, who would it be?
SH: I think it would be Frank Shorter because he was the last American to win a gold medal in the Marathon and he also trained in Gainsville for a while.
JB: What is your favorite 80s cartoon and your favorite 80s movie?
SH: Umm ..... I like Rocky that movie rocks and pumps me up. I don't really watch cartoons but if I had to pick one it would be Scooby Doo.
JB: Okay, thank you very much for your time, Steven.
SH: Thanks a lot Jason. Flrunners has done a lot to promote and improve distance running in Florida. I hope the younger runners continue to keep Florida distance running on the rise. Good luck everyone, work hard, and Go Gators!!!