LOOK AND SEE HOW THEY RAN Matt Carpenter MATT: Of course most of the time I don't have to create or imagine anything because when running in the mountains it seems as if there is always something better than I can imagine. KR Mini-Interview Matt writes: I needed my mini-bike. This thing was my freedom (until I was bad and my falther sold it). :-( KR: Which sports did you play at the age of ten? MATT: Sports? What are sports? Does climbing trees count? A few years after the age of 10 I started to wrestle, but at the age of 10 I was the guy that would be the last one picked for the pick-up baseball teams. Well, the basketball and football teams too. However, I could build my own bike at this time. I would go to the junk yard and get parts from a bunch of broken bikes and make one good one! KR: Did you participate in any training for running? MATT: You have got to be kidding. Does running away from your parents count? :-) KR: Did you run often during your playtime? MATT: Running play? Lots of games of tag, but mostly I was running into things (on that mini-bike) and into trouble! KR: How many hours did you spend running? MATT: Hours? I think minutes would be a better fit. Althought I did do my time on my bike (yes, the non-motorized one:-). Used to spend all day riding up and down the driveway and flying over a ramp and over garbage cans. FACTS BIRTHDAY: July 20, 1964 FACT MATT: Matt and his wife are expecting their first child. GREATEST ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS: Matt is the current course record holder of the Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon with times of 2:01:06 and 3:16:39. In 2001 he became the first person to win the Ascent and Marathon on back to back days. He is also the record holder of the fastest times for a flat marathon held at altitude - 2:52:57 at 14,350' and 3:22:25 at 17,060'. Art by Kristin Grade 1 MATT ON KIDS RUNNING MOUNTAINS Kids can run anywhere! Many times it is the grownups who are afraid to do things or try things. Kids don't have those fears (unless they spend too much time around the scared adults). I know of many adults who can't climb on the jungle gym in a playground but kids think nothing of it! Running down a mountain is fun for a kid and that is why if you start young you can get really good at it. The most important thing to remember as you grow up is just to keep it fun:-) LINKS DREAM BIG ROLE MODEL | Skyrunner.com | All About Matt | Matt Reads to Kids | Back to LOOK and SEE How they RAN Index