Dave's Bio

Run Dave Run - Those were the words echoed from my good buddy, John, in 1991 as we were leaving a 7-Eleven with a handful of burritos. Unfortunately, the cops got him, but I was able to escape. From there my running career blossomed.

I started off doing lots of 5 and 10K races for a number of years. I considered myself a social runner with no intent of actually taking it too seriously. In 1997 I got the bug to run a marathon. The ever popular Long Island Marathon? Why the Long Island Marathon - it happened to fall on my birthday. The marathon was long - 26.2 miles! I ran the first half very strong, but the second half was all about wind and hills and I barely finished. I ended up in the "I need help because I am pathetic" tent. The guy told me to never attempt running a marathon again. What a great birthday!

I quickly went back to being the social runner again for the next 7 years.

Then my friend, Craig Tufts, thought he would rub it into the young runners and try to qualify for the Boston Marathon. Us young ones would have none of that so we drew straws and I was the unlikely one to have to start training - just my luck! Long story short, I ended up running three marathons and an ultra in 2004. One of the marathons being the Boston - go young ones!

I quickly went back to being a social runner again for the next 2 years.

Then Craig said he was going to run a 50 Miler..and here we are. Except this time we are doing it for a great cause - National Wildlife Federation!

- David Strauss