JOHN O’BRIEN
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Age: 52
Number of years running: 31
Location: McDonald, TN
Occupation: Entrepreneur / business owner
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Favorite trail race(s):
Rock/Creek StumpJump 50k and the Lookout Mountain 50-miler
Favorite trails to train on:
Big daddy, Lookout Mountain and Raccoon Mountain
Favorite trail running shoe(s):
Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultra 2 for training and Salomon Speedcross 3 for racing
Lifelong running goals:
To keep running competitively in ultra trail events and to complete a 100-mile course. Also to continue excelling at long course triathlons, qualifying for the world championships in the half Ironman in Vegas and the full Ironman in Kona .
Biography:
I’m an obsessive compulsive double A personality that focuses on a passion and pursues excellence in that area regardless of the endeavor. In my early years it was sports. When I began my career, I was a workaholic, and jumped up the corporate ladder becoming President of a Billion dollar company with 20,000 employees at age 36. I now own 25 small healthcare businesses and enjoy being an entrepreneur.
In the last 5 years I’ve been pushing myself to be more competitive in long-distance triathlons, and am faster today at 51 than I’ve ever been. I’ve qualified and raced in 2 half ironman world championships and 1 ironman world championship in Kona in the last 3 years. My secret is training with the fast young guns, John Wiygul (22) Patrick O’Brien (19) and Matt Sims (37) Training is painful, but it gives me an edge come race day. I am relatively new to trail running (5 years) and the single track trails in the Chattanooga area are incredible.
I’ve completed over 10 50k’s and 2 100k’s We are blessed to live in such a great community and to have Rock/Creek promote and support all outdoor activities including our race team.
2012 Season summary:
N/A
Volunteered for the Southern 6k and the Chattanooga Mountains stage race and a major sponsor of the Lookout 50 mile trail race
Proudest running accomplishments:
Boston marathon, 2 ironman 70.3 world championships, ironman world championship Kona, and my first 100k trail race.
Planned races for 2013:
TBD
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