Ht: 5-11 Wt: 178

DOB: May 25, 1986 In: Warren, Ohio

College: Michigan.

Football Inspirations: “Probably Jerry Rice and Charles Woodson.”

Nicknames: “People call me Rio, obviously for Super Mario.”

Hobbies/Leisure Activities: “Play video games, I like to read Sports Illustrated, shoot around, I love basketball, I like to shoot around basketball a little.”

Favorite Movies: “Life – Eddie Murphy and Martin.”

Favorite TV Show: “Martin.”

Musical Tastes: “Lil Wayne and Young Jeezy.”

Last Book Read: “Can’t remember the name of it. I had to do this essay in college.”

First Football Memory: “When I had four touchdowns against Madison, Ohio, back in high school – Shawn Crabel’s team. He plays for New England, went to Michigan.”

First Job: “I worked for the Scrappers, it’s a baseball team. I would be at the concession stand.”

First Car: “GL 550 Mercedes Benz (white).”

Favorite Meal: “Chicken.”

Favorite Breakfast Cereal: “Cap’n Crunch. Berries.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Vanilla.”

Pre-Game Feeling: “Just butterflies, every game, whether it’s a sorry team or not.”

Favorite Web Site: “You Tube.”

Favorite You Tube Video: “Tight Eyez – he’s a dancer, Cali, out west.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Just putting on a Giants uniform, just believing that I’m here, not believing that I’m going through this experience.”

Most Painful Moment: “I got hit in practice my last year at Michigan, when I was a junior. I got hit by Ryan Monday, he plays for the Steelers, he got drafted last year. I thought I broke my jaw. Couldn’t eat for a couple days.”

Favorite Uniforms: “Giants. The red jerseys.”

Funny Football Memory: “It was a game in eighth grade. It was loud. We played in the stadium – Paul Brown Stadium. It was packed. We came out at halftime like the kids did, of a Browns game. I was in motion. I thought he said, Hut. I took off running, I turned around and the rest of the team is still right there, in their three-point stances [smiles]. And everything felt kinda stupid.”

Funniest Giants: “Jonathan Goff. Jonathan Goff being himself. He’s funny. He don’t even know but he’s funny [smiles].”

Toughest Competitors Encountered: “That I played against? Probably AJ Hawk. He be everywhere where the ball be. He be right there.”

Favorite Players To Watch: “I like Ahmad Bradshaw run the ball. Because he still already to the ground, hard to tackle. He run the ball hard. He’ll make you miss or he’ll run through you. Pick their poison, whatever they want. Get shook or get run through.”

Last Vacation: “Last summer, went to South Carolina. Went to Myrtle Beach.”

Interesting Fact: Mario ranks #4 in Michigan history with 27 TD catches, surpassed only by Braylon Edwards (39), Anthony Carter (37) and Desmond Howard (32).

People Qualities Most Admired: “I like to see people who keep it real. Just up-front, honest.”

DOB: Sept. 27, 1983 In: Edmonton

Ht: 6-foot-4 Wt: 215 pounds

First Hockey Memory: “In Canada, it’s just kind of something you grow up with. I remember being a little kid and going home and skating outside, that sort of thing.”

Hockey Inspirations: “I was a Detroit fan growing up so I liked Steve Yzerman.”

Last Book Read: “Into The Silence.”

Current Car: “Is a Chevy pick-up.”

Nicknames: “I don’t have too many. ‘Bo,’ that’s the obvious one.”

Greatest Sports Moment(s): “Probably won a couple of world championships, played in one of the Olympics. So that’s probably the highlights.”

Most Painful Moment: “Haven’t had too many. Broke my foot one time, that was my worst. (Who shot it?) Brent Sopel I think.”

Favorite Uniforms: “Chicago.”

Closest Hockey Friends: “Probably Steve Montador, he’s playing for Chicago right now.”

Funniest Players Encountered: “Sean Hill was a funny guy. Jamie McLennan.”

Toughest Competitors Encountered: “There’s different guys who do different things. There’s a lot. There’s not too many guys who you would say aren’t. To get to this level you have to have some sort of drive.”

Strangest Game: “Nothing too crazy. I’ve had a couple of pretty lopsided games where the score got out of hand, but that’s about as crazy as it gets. One of my first years we lost to Washington 12-2 I think. That was the worst beating I’ve ever been a part of.”

Favorite Sport Outside Hockey: “Baseball.”

Funny Hockey Memory: “Lots of stuff, like every day. If you’re not laughing and you’re doing this then something’s wrong. But nothing really stands out. Lots of stuff.”

Last Vacation: “Went to Nepal last summer.”

Favorite Player(s) To Watch: “Crosby. Corey Perry, Getzlaf, those guys in Anaheim, they’re good. The guys in Detroit – Datsyuk, Zetterberg. In defenseman – I appreciate guys like Nick Lidstrom, those sort of guys.”

Personality Qualities Most Admired: “I guess honesty. And good-natured people.”

Ht: 6-foot Wt: 197 pounds

DOB: January 24, 1979 In: Mississauga, Ont.

Early Hockey Memory: “Getting dressed in the car on the way to the rink because we were always late. So I was that kid that had to put on his skates and skateguards in the car and walk into the rink, right on the ice [smiles].”

Nicknames: “TK.”

Hockey Inspirations: “Wendel Clark, my older brother (Chris).”

Last Book Read: “I’m reading the Bible right now.”

Current Car: “Ford Fusion Hybrid (platinum).”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Playing in the playoffs was probably the most fun.”

Most Painful Moment: “Every time I got sent down.”

Favorite Uniforms: “I like all the Original Six sweaters.”

Favorite Arena: “Montreal.”

Closest Hockey Friends: “A bunch. I played for a bunch of teams. So it’s a bunch of guys, too long a list.”

Funniest Players Encountered: “Probably Colby Armstrong, Marc Bergevin, Chad Larose.”

Toughest Competitors Encountered: “Iginla. (Why?) I don’t know, when he gets that look in his eye, it’s scary.”

Most Memorable Goal: “Playoff overtime winner game one against the Flyers, second round.”

Embarrassing Hockey Memory: “When I was like six, I was a goalie and there was a bird in the rink. And I was watching the bird and the team shot and it went in.”

Favorite Sport Outside Hockey: “All sports, soccer, baseball, football.”

Strangest Game: “I played in the exhibition game at the MGM Grand in Vegas. Avalanche vs. Kings. When a sheet of glass was broken and Jeremy Roenick started to dance disco at center ice [smiles]. You can find it at You Tube.”

Last Vacation: “Probably Muskoka, Ontario.”

Favorite Player(s) To Watch: “Matt Stajan and Tim Jackman.”

Personality Qualities Most Admired: “Honesty, trust.”

Ht: 5-11 Wt: 147

DOB: April 26, 1983 In: Philadelphia, PA

First Boxing Memory: ”It goes back…probably watching Oscar De La Hoya or Mike Tyson when I was little.”

Boxing Inspirations: ”Joe Frazier. I grew up in Joe Frazier’s gym. Marvis Frazier. A lot of guys at Joe Frazier’s gym when I started boxing when I was 15. Showed me how hard to work and what it takes to be champ.”

Nicknames: ”My nickname is Machine Gun, I threw a lot of punches in the amateurs.”

Favorite Movies: ”Braveheart, Apocalypto.”

Last Book Read: ”Had to be The Juicing Bible book. Nutrition.”

First Job: ”Had to be handing out pizza brochures to houses around the neighborhood.”

First Car: ”Buick Century 95 (gold).”

Current Car: ”Ford Edge 2008.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: ”Chocolate.”

Greatest Sports Moment: ”Greatest moment of my career so far…pulling out the win in my first fight with (Jesus) Soto Karass (at Cowboys Stadium in 2010).”

Most Painful Moment: ”Breaking my ankle. Jumpin’ over a tree when running. I had to walk back for a mile.”

Funny Boxing Memory: ”Can’t think of one right now.”

Do You Have An Embarrassing Boxing Memory: ”Not that I know.”

Favorite Boxers To Watch: ”Nonito Donaire. Seems like he stays in very good shape. His power is unbelievable at the weight that he fights. His reflexes and quickness are very good.”

Favorite Sport Outside Boxing: ”I like basketball and football about the same.”

Which Fight Were You At Your Best: ”My sharpest performance had to be – I forget the guy’s name. My first fight when I fought in Las Vegas (KO 1 Gilbert Guevara in 2007).”

Strangest Fight: ”I got my hand caught on the rope one time. And got an eight-count from it. As an amateur.”

Toughest Opponent: ”Had to be Soto Karass. Just wouldn’t stop coming.”

People Qualities Most Admired: ”Honesty. Humbleness. Loyalty.”

Ht: 6-foot Wt: 212 pounds



DOB: Dec. 8, 1989 In: London, Ont.



First Hockey Memory: “I remember I was really, really young. I loved the game of hockey, but I wasn’t very good. I remember looking up at the clock – I wasn’t a good skater – and looking up at the clock, kinda wanting to get off the ice. Just because I couldn’t keep up with the other guys. (How old were you?) Probably three. I started playing when I was really young, with the late birthday, so I was three years old.”



Hockey Inspiration: “You know, I don’t really know how I got into hockey. As a young kid, I guess my parents – I just picked up a stick and was playing in the basement all the time. And no one in my family had previously played, so, just watching it on TV. And the other kids in the neighborhood playing was kinda how I picked it up.”



Nickname: “I’ve had ‘Doughnut’ before, ‘Dewey’ and obviously ‘Doughts.’”



Last Book Read: “Oh, that’s a tough one…last book would have been wherever Grade 12 was. So maybe three years ago and I have no idea what it was called.”

First Job: “Paperboy, some fliers in my hometown in London, Ontario.”



Current Car: “Range Rover and Mercedes CLS63.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Definitely winning the gold medal (2010 Olympics).”



Most Painful Moment: “Probably being defeated in the playoffs last year was probably one of the most painful moments just because we thought we had the team to beat that team and we didn’t come through.”



Most Memorable Goal: “My first ever goal in the NHL (vs. Colorado in 2008) was probably my most memorable. A goal I’ll never forget. I remember like it was yesterday.”



Favorite Sweater: “I like the Blackhawks uniforms a lot. I think they’re really nice.”

Favorite Arena To Play: “Probably Montreal.”



Closest Hockey Friends: “I developed a lot of friends in junior, stuff like that. But definitely Wayne Simmonds, he was my roommate for two years, now he got traded. Definitely my best buddy in hockey.”



Funniest Players Encountered: “We’ve got some funny ones on our team. Matt Green is funny. I’m trying to think who else…I’ll just say Matt Green.”



Toughest Competitors Encountered: “Sidney Crosby probably. Zach Parise. He competes really hard.”



Embarrassing Hockey Memory: “I remember when I was really young coming out for the starting lineup kinda thing – barely able to skate out to the blueline. I guess you could throw that out there.”



Favorite Sport Outside Hockey: “Soccer.”



People Qualities Most Admired: “Just have a lot of fun, honesty, trust. And just straight shooters.”

DOB: n/a In: Wroclaw, Poland

Early Tennis Memory: “When I won my first tournament, when I was six-years-old. It was a little, small tournament, not a big deal. After I won that I wanted to keep playing more, bigger tournaments. That’s how I got into tennis because I just love winning.”

Tennis Inspirations: “It would be Sharapova, Serena and Monica Seles. I just love the style they play. They hit flat and hard, very, very tough mentally and physically. They are my inspirations and they still are.”

Nicknames: “Mar.”

Favorite Movies: “Troy, Shudder Island, Meet The Parents, any movie based on Steven King books.”

Last Book Read: “About a year ago – The Last Symbol by Dan Brown.”

Current Car: “No, never had one. But I’m hoping it’s gonna be a Maserati someday [laughs].”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Macadamia and white chocolate.”

Greatest Sports Moment (so far): “This one is hard…right now I’ll say winning the National Indoor because it was totally unexpected and it’s the most recent. And also competing in the junior Grand Slams and winning two WTA $10,000 Futures tournaments (in Poland and Holland).”

Most Painful Moment: “There are a few. But I think having to miss the match in the third round of the Australian Open juniors. I was playing really well but I injured my knee in the second round but I kept playing. I won the match but the doctor said I couldn’t play the third round match. My flight was in a week so I had to watch all the players get to play when I could walk barely. I was wishing I could play.”

Toughest Competitors Encountered: “I remember the match with Ana Ivanovic in Junior Fed Cup. It was a great match, we played in Czech Republic. No one expected me to win. She had two match points but I came back and managed to win. I think she double-faulted on the first match point. It was a very important match, it was the decisive match to qualify for the Fed Cup European Championships final eight. Also Denise Dy who played for the University of Washington. We played three times and each match was about three hours. She’s really tough mentally and physically.”

Favorite Sport Outside Tennis: “Basketball and swimming. I’m not good in either of them but I really enjoy playing basketball and I follow swimming.”

Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “I remember there was a doubles match at Orange Bowl under 18s in Miami, Florida. I played doubles with Nicole Vaidisova. We were supposed to be a decent doubles team – she was really good, tall. I was excited and we were playing first round on center court. We were winning easily, like 6-1, 3-0. Then on a point, I was behind the baseline and the ball was going out but I hit a swing volley and we ended up losing the point. I started to think about it during the match. After that point I froze and we ended up losing the match. We shouldn’t have lost that match. I don’t know what I was thinking to hit that swing volley, I guess I just wanted to play so well, maybe I wanted to impress. She ended up winning the singles.”

Best You Ever Felt On Court: “I think I played my best tennis during the National Indoor. I feel my best when I’m 100% healthy. At National Indoor, from the first round to the final, I felt like it was my tournament. I felt the best.”

Favorite Players To Watch: “Rafa, Roger. I used to like Safin a lot, he was very fun to watch and never boring. Because you never knew what his attitude would be. Serena – I like her tennis but she’s moody sometimes. I talked to Sharapova once at the French Open, she seemed nice.”

Funny Tennis Memory: “One was after the match point, I was so exhausted because it was like a three hour match, I forgot what the score was. My opponent was ready to play the next point. Somebody on the side of the court was like, What are you doing? You won the match, get off the court! It was an important match – the European Championships under 14s, so we didn’t have any linespeople. I went back to pick up balls to serve and then I realized that I had won the match [smiles].”

Why Do You Love Playing Tennis: “I think because I love competition and fighting. And I love winning. I love to be the best. By winning matches in tennis is like the best feeling ever. If I lose, I want to play the next tournament. Tennis gives you the opportunity to feel winning and I love it.”

Funniest Players: “I watch a lot of tennis on The Tennis Channel. Sometimes when they show the older matches, I think John McEnroe is pretty funny. I saw Novak Djokovic at some of the junior tournaments when he was 15-16. People thinks he sometimes shows off, the way he plays with the crowd. But that’s the way he is. He’s fun for sure.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “Honesty. I really admire people who are honest to your face and not faking anything, and are 100% honest. Loyalty. And mental toughness.

Status: Head coach of the Syracuse University basketball team. You can wager online betting on NCAA basketball action at click here

Ht: 6-4 Wt: 205

DOB: Nov. 17, 1944 In: Lyons, N.Y.

Childhood Heroes: “Jack Nicklaus, Henry Aaron, Jim Brown, Ernie Davis.”

Hobbies/Interests: “Golf.”

Nickname: “Bobo. P.J. Carlesimo calls me that one. I don’t know why.”

Early Basketball Memory: “The high school coach (Dick Blackwell) used to take all of us sixth graders to have a practice for five hours on Saturday mornings. He wanted to have a good team. We lost four games in six years. We had a good group, we knew each other well.”

First Car: “1958 cream-colored Ford Thunderbird convertible. With red seats. I rode it into the ground. We used to go to practice with 12 guys in it.”

Favorite Movies: “Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid, westerns.”

All-Time Favorite TV Shows: “Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law.”

Musical Tastes: “Bruce Springsteen. I saw him in concert in Syracuse. I liked him. He’s got tremendous energy. He’s a great performer.”

Favorite Meal: “Veal, fish.”

Favorite Breakfast Cereal: “I don’t eat breakfast.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Chocolate.”

Pre-Game Feeling: “Not too much. Just try to get relaxed. Get ready. Think of some of the little things we’re gonna try to do. Try not to get too uptight over it. What is this? Some kind of offbeat psychological profile [smiles].”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Well, you know, if you win the National Championship, that’s the only thing. There’s nothing that can top that (defeated Kansas 81-78 in New Orleans in 2003).”

Most Painful Moments: “Oh, I think in ‘87 when we lost to Indiana. We had a good chance to win the game and it just slipped away at the end. So those are always … when you lose the National Championship, that’s pretty painful [laughs].”

Toughest Competitors Encountered: “Oh, I don’t know. There’s a lot. Everybody’s fierce. There’s a million, they’re all very fierce. Off the top of my head … Chris Mullin of St John’s. He just wouldn’t let us beat them. He was that kind of player. Patrick Ewing. Gerry McNamara.”

Funniest Person I’ve Encountered in College Hoops: “Abe Lemmons.”

Favorite Vacation Spot: “Bermuda.”

Favorite Athletes To Watch: “Jack Nicklaus. Tiger Woods. Wayne Gretzky. Michael Jordan. Steffi Graf. Deion Sanders. Derek Jeter. Emmitt Smith. Jerry Rice. Muhammad Ali — my favorite boxer of all-time. Sugar Ray Robinson — the best fights I ever saw were Robinson with Carmen Basilio, ‘The Onion Farmer’ from Canastota, N.Y., home of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “People who really dedicate their lives to helping other people and charitable causes. There are people who do that without asking for or receiving anything. Those are the people you have to admire.”

Future Ambition: “I’d like to play on the Senior Golf Tour, but I know I’m not good enough [smiles].”

DOB: October 16, 1992 In: Annandale, Virginia

Early Tennis Memory: “That would be hitting at my local courts with my mom. I’d go out maybe three times a week; I’d just enjoy hitting the ball. I remember I’d be out there an hour-and-a-half and enjoying whacking the ball around.”

Tennis Inspirations: “Probably Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Just really enjoy watching them compete and how they handle themselves on the court. I think they’re great role models and sportsmen to represent the sport of tennis.”

Nicknames: “Usually Mitch, The Machine, Robo Frank — those are the three.”

Favorite Movies: “Probably Batman: The Dark Knight and Old School.”

Last Book Read: “Right now I’m reading Rafa. I actually like it a lot. Really interesting. I’d recommend it for anyone to read.”

Current Car: “I don’t have a car. My sister and I share a Camry.”

Greatest Sports Moment (so far): “That’s a tough one… probably getting to compete at all four of the majors in juniors. Getting the chance to see what it’s like to experience the highest level of the sport, not only as a junior but from a professional standpoint.”

Most Painful Moment: “I went to the [2010] Australian Open for juniors and lost in the third round 8-6 in the third set, to the guy who ended up winning (Tiago Fernandes of Brazil). To have that 26-hour flight back to think about the match, that was obviously a tough one to drop.”

Toughest Competitors Encountered: “I would say probably Denis Kudla is one, I mean, he’s a really tough competitor. Second I would say…maybe Jack Sock. I think he competes well. I’ve seen him come back from a lot of tough matches.”

Favorite Sport Outside Tennis: “Definitely football, to watch and play.”

Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “I remember being in Mexico [at the 2008 Yucatan World Cup] and I was playing well, I made a good run to the quarterfinal. I played the No. 1 seed in my first-ever night match. And I really got beat easily by this guy in front of like a thousand people. It was quick. It was on TV. It was pretty embarrassing for me. (Who was the opponent?) Guillaume Rufin. He’s 170 [in the world] now. So maybe he was a good player.”

Best You Ever Felt On Court: “I was playing Evan King in the finals in Carson (2009), and we were both playing well. I felt I could not miss a ball. I felt amazing, really enjoyed that match. That’s the one that sticks out in my mind the most.”

Favorite Players To Watch: “Federer, Nadal. I like watching Murray, I think he constructs the game very well. He plays different than everyone else. He really slows the match down. I probably have a little of that in me, so I really enjoy watching him play. (Women’s player?) It probably was Justine Henin. I felt she played a real all-court game, constantly out there fighting for points. I felt she worked really hard to get her success.”

Strangest Match: “I was in Brazil [at the 2009 Banana Bowl]. My first-ever match on red clay. I was down 6-1 5-1 and 40-15 against this Austrian dirtballer [Tristan-Samuel Weissborn]. I came back and found a way to win. That was the strangest match, just to have everything turn like that. (How did you turn it around?) He was crushing me in the stadium. He had two match points. On the first he tried to hit a winner that missed. Then he tried to kind of toy with me and I ended up passing him. I thought, Okay, there’s no way I’m losing, he’s not even locked in here. I ended up playing really solid. Just got like really locked-in mentally and physically, willing to be out there as long as it took.”

Why Do You Love Playing Tennis: “I really enjoy the sport itself. It has kind of a mystique to it. I just always enjoy hitting the ball, how the players move and compete. There’s a lot of stuff going on with the players. Yet they’re so focused and tunnel-visioned in on the match.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “In general, I like to see toughness… The willingness to learn. I like people who are willing to experience what’s around them, to see what’s out there. People who try to care and help each other. That’s what we’re here for.”

Scoop Malinowski created the Biofile interview in 1992. He is the author of “Marcelo Rios: The Man We Barely Knew” which is now available at Amazon.com.

Ht: 5-11 Wt: 172 pounds



DOB: Jan. 12, 1988 In: Hearst, Ont.



First Hockey Memory: “Just being in the basement with my dad and playing some hockey and just playing a lot of hours with that.”



Hockey Inspirations: “My dad inspired me a lot when I was a kid. He helped me a lot with my game and he enjoyed it a lot too. I think, when I played junior, Benoit Groulx was my coach who pushed me to get a lot better. I was lucky to have a lot of good coaches when I was younger, too. So a lot of people inspired me.”



Last Book Read: “Josh Hamilton’s from the Texas Rangers.”



Current Car: “Right now it’s a Camaro (gray).”

Favorite Meal: “Grilled cheese.”



Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Chocolate.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “When we were going to the Stanley Cup final.”



Most Painful Moment: “Minus-6 against Ottawa.”



Favorite Uniforms: “Flyers (laughs). The Winnipeg new ones are pretty cool.”



Favorite Arena: “Montreal. The fans are pretty loud there.”



Funny Hockey Memory: “Scott Hartnell, when he threw his glove with five seconds left in the game. And the guy had a breakaway after. Three years ago.”



Closest Hockey Friends: “On the team? (Yes.) Matt Carle and James van Riemsdyk.”



Funniest Players Encountered: “Aaron Asham and Scott Hartnell.”



Toughest Competitors Encountered: “Good question…I’d say Mike Richards. (Why him?) When the game’s on the line, he shows up. Just his will to win is pretty amazing to watch.”



Most Memorable Goal: “Game 3, Stanley Cup final.”

Strangest Game: “Loss, 7-0 to the Rangers. Just a weird game, nothing was working.”

Embarrassing Hockey Memory: “That minus-6 was pretty bad.”

Last Vacation: “I went to Cabo, Mexico.”

Favorite Sport Outside Hockey: “I got a couple. I like pretty much everything. But basketball is up there.”


Personality Qualities Most Admired: “Sense of humor. Generous. And caring.”

Date of birth: Sept. 26, 1981, in Los Angeles, California.

First running memory: “Were races in the neighborhood, boys down the street. And as far as anything with a real start and finish line, I’d have to say junior high school, running the mile for PE class.”

Running inspirations: “My parents and my high school coach, Dave Delong. I think mostly family and friends and people close to me, my neighborhood girls I grew up with, influenced pretty much who I am now.”

Favorite movies: “Juno.”

Last book read: “Stolen Lives by Malika Oufkir. Before that, The Audacity Of Hope, by Barack Obama.”

Musical tastes: “I like classic rock, folk, bluegrass, Joni Mitchell, Jethro Tull, Beatles, Laurie Lewis from bluegrass.”

Favorite TV shows: “Would have to be Lost.”

First car: “1989 Toyota Station wagon. The shaggin’ wagon [smiles].”

First job: “In-N-Out Burger.”

Current car: “Subaru Outback (green). The Impreza Sport.”

Favorite meal: “Is sushi.”

Favorite ice cream flavor: “Mocha almond fudge.”

Prerace feeling: “Before the race, I just try not to get nervous at all. I think about being relaxed, in control, kind of have a mantra that I say to myself: I belong among the best, I’m confident, I’m committed, I’m a winner. And I’m relaxed. And whenever I start getting nervous, I just make myself repeat that over and over again.”

Greatest sports moment: “Winning the 5,000 at the U.S. Track and Field Championships (2010) after a year off.”

Most painful moment: “Was probably dropping out of a couple of races in summer of 2006. And feeling like I didn’t know how I’d ever pull it all back together.”

Embarrassing career memory: “In high school my senior year, I went to run a mile. I was in the starting line. And I went and ran over and everybody was waiting for me. And I went to whip off my sweats as fast as possible—but I pulled off everything—in a stadium full of people [laughs]. It was mortifying. (How did you recover and do in the race?) I won. I broke five minutes for the first time [laughs].”

Favorite athletes to watch: “Kim Smith (of New Zealand) is my favorite track and field athlete. I feel like she has a lot in common with the things I believe in. She’s got a balanced life. I know she competes clean. She believes in gradual improvement. And she never takes any of her successes for granted. And always knows things can turn on a whim. I feel like she just lives in the moment and always gives her best. She’s gutsy as hell, and I just absolutely love to watch her compete. I actually don’t enjoy watching track and field or running very much, because it’s so close to me; I can’t watch races. But there’s a few that I’ll watch, and she’s one of them.”

Last vacation: “Was to Bend to visit my mother-in-law. We floated the Chutes River on $3 inner tubes.”

Funny running memory: “There’s been a few, like just complete glee and girlhood giddiness. Running around Drake Relays with my Stanford team. We won the Drake mile relay, I believe. And we’re running around with our shorts on top of our head. We’re wearing our uniforms, but we’re running all around town in Drake with our shorts on our heads, laughing like 10-year-olds [smiles].”

Childhood dream: “When I was a youngster, I thought I’d be president of the United States [smiles].”
On entering the 2011 New York City Marathon: “I know I need to get a lot stronger, so it became obvious that I need to throw some new wood on the fire. I’ve seen the marathon work its magic on many women I admire. And I’m convinced nothing will change my physiology, stretch my mind, and freshen my perspective more than running the ING New York City Marathon.”

Qualities most admired: “I have the greatest respect for people who are doing the most with what they have, making the most with what they’re given—whatever that is. You can just tell when somebody’s doing that. And when somebody’s letting gifts go to waste.”

Favorite places to compete: “Hayward Field; Stanford University. And I like running at Crystal Palace in London.”

Husband: Jesse.

Residence: Eugene, Oregon.