Mike Cotterell
Cotterell joined track in the 9th grade as an excuse to hit on a girl. His early track career was notable, winning the mile in 8 dual meets and earning freshman district honors in the 800 and 4x400. (His success with the girl was less notable.) He left the team when he decided he’d rather spend money taking girls on dates than buying running shoes.
Twelve years later, Cotterell decided to run a marathon as his New Year’s Resolution. Content just to finish, he was stunned to break 3:30 on 12 weeks of training. He attempted a second marathon 12 weeks later where he PR’d by over 20 minutes, qualifying him for Boston. The success led him to end a 9-year clove-smoking career.
Cotterell relocated to DC from Philadelphia in 2008. He improved over the next two years but remained blissfully unaware of team training. A couple down marathons led him to think he had peaked. Around this time, there were several chance encounters with the Red Fox on the Capital Crescent Trail. Each time the Fox urged him to hit the track with the team to improve. Further reinforcement by Karl Dusen and Dirk DeHeer sold him for good. Eight months of team training would lead to a half-marathon PR of over 3 minutes and a marathon PR of over 10 minutes.
Cotterell lives in Bethesda, Maryland. A member of the 50 States Marathon Club, he has run marathons everywhere from Alaska to Alabama. He is a passionate Philadelphia sports fan and a jazz piano connoisseur.
Twelve years later, Cotterell decided to run a marathon as his New Year’s Resolution. Content just to finish, he was stunned to break 3:30 on 12 weeks of training. He attempted a second marathon 12 weeks later where he PR’d by over 20 minutes, qualifying him for Boston. The success led him to end a 9-year clove-smoking career.
Cotterell relocated to DC from Philadelphia in 2008. He improved over the next two years but remained blissfully unaware of team training. A couple down marathons led him to think he had peaked. Around this time, there were several chance encounters with the Red Fox on the Capital Crescent Trail. Each time the Fox urged him to hit the track with the team to improve. Further reinforcement by Karl Dusen and Dirk DeHeer sold him for good. Eight months of team training would lead to a half-marathon PR of over 3 minutes and a marathon PR of over 10 minutes.
Cotterell lives in Bethesda, Maryland. A member of the 50 States Marathon Club, he has run marathons everywhere from Alaska to Alabama. He is a passionate Philadelphia sports fan and a jazz piano connoisseur.
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Personal Bests
13.1 – 1:16:25 (PDR 2010) 26.2 – 2:37:36 (Chicago 2010) |
Goals
2011 – the year of the sub-2:30 marathon Break Charlie Ban’s record for holding breath underwater |
