Q&A with 2019 Tom Illick Memorial Scholarship, Brendan Christ.
LVRR: What college will you attend and your intended major of study? Do you plan to run while attending college?
Brendan: I am attending the Penn State Capital Campus in Harrisburg for Civil Engineering. I am running on their Track and XC teams. I think PSUH is a great opportunity for me to run because it is a DIII school, so I can still focus on my academics.
LVRR: What age did you start running and why?
BC: I started running XC in first grade for my grade school, Cathedral School. I don’t really think I had a say in it, to be honest. My parents signed me up and shipped me off, but I enjoyed it, so it stuck!
LVRR: What is your greatest accomplishment in your running career?
BC: I had the privilege of representing my team in Hershey for the State Championships two years in a row. My junior year as a team and my senior year as an individual.
LVRR: Describe an experience where you had to “sink or swim.” What did you learn from it?
BC: Mark Magee, from Emmaus, and I had a friendly rivalry with each other over the last three years. When Central and Emmaus were running against each other at our home course, I decided to give it my all and beat him for once. I ended up at the front of the pack, surrounded by Parkland students. To my coaches’ and my surprise, I stuck with them til the very end, earning a PR of 17:27. It was at this race when I realized all I needed to do was believe in myself. My Coach, Ackerman, has been telling me that for years but I neglected to listen to him until that race.
LVRR: Who has been your most influential role model and why?
BC: My grade school coach, Mike Romanic, has to be my greatest running role model. He dedicated his time to our little XC team, even without having a kid running on it. He has been running a long time and is still dedicated enough to participating in half, full and ultra-marathons all over the country. I strive to have that amount of perseverance and dedication.
LVRR: What would most people be surprised to learn about you?
BC: I absolutely love playing Dungeons and Dragons; however, nobody else wants to play.
LVRR: What is one word you would say to someone who has just started running– whether it be a youth in the LVRR Kids Series, or an older individual- about why running is worth it?
BC: Just Believe.
LVRR: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
BC: I aspire to be an architect like Mike Brady and Ted Mosby.
LVRR: What is your favorite event to watch that you don’t do yourself and why?
BC: I always enjoyed watching the throwing events for Track and Field. My arms resemble that of wet noodles, so I am always impressed to see javelins, discuses and shot puts get thrown around.
LVRR: What are your favorite pre-race and post-race meals?
BC: Pre-race is always Baked Ziti and homemade Mac and Cheese. Post-race is a bag of Peanut M&M’s and Cinnamon Crunch Bagels from Panera
LVRR: What are three activities you enjoy doing apart from running?
BC: I am an avid outdoorsman, so I would say Fishing, Mountain Climbing, and Kayaking.
LVRR: What are three words that describe how you feel when you’re out running?
BC: Three words would be tranquil, hyper-focused and very tired.
