Runners World
the Longer Online Interview
David James Elliot
Actor, 43, Los Angeles
by: Susan Pocharski
Are you familiar with Runner's World?
Oh yeah, I've been a runner my whole life, pretty much.
When did you first start to run?
I was a track and field guy growing up in school, but I started running seriously right out of theater school. I got interested in conquering the marathon, so I kind of set up my own marathon, being ignorant of the whole deal. I had a friend bike beside me and I ran 26.5 miles under a great deal of pain and misery because I really hadn't trained much for it. But I set the date and I just gutted it out, you know? And then I started running with some friends and when I got here to L.A., we ran a lot. It's always been part of my regimen. And then we decided we wanted to run an official marathon, so we read some books and we started logging in 80, 90 miles a week, and I ran the Lake Tahoe Marathon [the second one; 1996]--that's my first official marathon and it was unbelievably brutal: I showed the night before and tried to acclimate to the altitude; but I ran it, I ran it in four hours. But I never really felt like I could breathe fully; and I actually ended up running a couple of extra miles, because I went a mile in the wrong direction. They had these big arrows pointing to the left at mile 25, and I thought that's the way you went. I got about a mile down the hill; someone was coming backing saying, 'You're going the wrong way!' So I really ran about 28 miles in four hours.
Tahoe was in October and I ran the L.A. Marathon the following March. I did it in four hours. I hadn't really run since I ran Tahoe. My friend was training for it and he asked me if I'd do it with him and I said, 'Okay.' So I ran it and I felt great. I did well. And then I started thinking, 'You know, I'd like to do a marathon in a faster time.' I started spinning--I thought maybe I'd do some cross-training. So I started doing spinning classes, and then I entered a triathlon. My publicist, oddly enough, was involved in the Malibu Triathlon for Pediatric AIDS. And it sounded like a short distance to me--you swim a half mile, ride 18, and run 4 miles. She said do you want to be part of a relay and just run one leg? And I went, 'No, I'll do the whole thing.'
I could swim, I hadn't really swum before--but I just assumed that I was a good swimmer. And that led me to hooking up with a trainer in L.A., Gary Kobat, he's quite a proficient athlete and trains a lot of guys (Jim Carrey, Will Ferrell), and he talked to me. He taught me about nutrition--I had never really done any hill work, and we hadn't been doing any track work. I had just been logging in the miles. So in order to do it faster, Gary put me on a program and we've been sticking to it. Our long-term goal is to do the Ironman in Kona, Hawaii.
When are you hoping to do that?
I have my sights set on October. I wanted to do it last October, but work got in the way. So I'm shooting for this October. And I've been training to run Boston. I just did a half marathon as part of my training in Phoenix--I had a blast there, I really loved it, and ran really fast.
Have you run New York?
I've met the people from New York and tried to do New York. I was going to do a half-Ironman in San Diego in November, but with the fires...exerting yourself in that area would have been a bad deal. So, at the last minute I said, Gary (cause Gary knows the head of the New York Marathon) call him--I'm going to be in New York that week. CBS was doing an anniversary party so I thought, fine I'm going there--hell, I'll run the New York marathon. But Gary couldn't get through to the guy. He bumped into him in Phoenix and was surprised and swore that would never happen again and that I could run New York next year.
What's your training regimen like right now?
Right now I'm running every other day. I'm on a program. Let me look at it right now. I do one six mile, then two eight miles and then I do my long run on Sundays--I'm running twenty on Sunday.
Are you doing weight training?
Yes, I do weight training. One of the reasons I got into running was because of my job--I have to stay in shape. I find it is a lot easier to motivate myself if I have a long-term goal. I've got a buddy at work here--his name is Kevin Compari--and he and I run. We're both going to run this marathon together; we ran in Phoenix together. So I've got a pal sharing my misery at the end of a long day when we go for a run.
So you run after work?
Yes.
How do you stay motivated when you're so dog tired at the end of a long day?
It's so much fun. When we did Phoenix we just had the best time. And we continue to better ourselves--our times keep getting better. We're just trying to beat the reaper.
So your friend works on the show. What does he do?
He's the soundman.
What's your pace during your training runs?
We average an 8-minute mile. We were around 8:15 when we were doing Phoenix. It's been a learning experience for me, because what happened was at mile 9, I blew a calf. I had a real diminished electrolyte count and I got a major cramp in my calf. We were flying, I was doing so great--and then BAM! It was like blowing a tire. I was like, 'OWWWWW'. Then I hobbled and jammed down about 9 GUs. It was disgusting. When Gary handed me a tenth one I was like, I can't. I couldn't face another GU. He just said wash it down with a lot of Gatorade. And by the end the calf was working itself out. And then I was fine again two days later. I was back on my running schedule. So I'm learning about electrolyte intake and how to set up races, and what are the best supplements for me. I'm reading the magazines, I'm listening to my trainer, and I'm learning by experience.
So you're doing sprint work, too?
Yes, we do the track once a week. We run hills--a seven-percent grade that's a mile up--once a week. Then we run a long run one day, and I throw in some runs during the week. That is the ideal schedule--but occasionally work will have its way, and then I can only squeeze in a run at the end of the day.
It sounds like you never skip a run if you can help it.
That's exactly what I'm doing. I'm not skipping anything if I can help it.
Where do you like to run?
I run near the water, part of it takes me down by the water. I run through Santa Monica. Depending on what distance I'm going that day--I work in Valencia, so I have some runs here that I do. But on the weekends, the long runs, or if I'm at home, because I live in Brentwood, I'll run down into Santa Monica and have various distances set up depending on how far I'm going that day. Plus I have all the accouterments: I have a GPS watch so if I want to do twelve I'll just run six out and then back. It's a great watch. It gives you your pace, distance--you never have to worry what your averages are. I wear a heart monitor too. It's so beneficial for your training. I do a VO2 Max test. I'm getting into the science of it. It's been great.
What's VO2 Max Test?
It tells how your body deals with oxygen. It tells you what your potential is. And then your mind is not beating you. The guy who did mine said, 'Man, you've got the heart of a twenty year old.'
Let's talk a little about your mind beating you...cause sometimes that can be the toughest part of your run. How do you deal with the days when, mentally, you're just not there.
This is where for me, the heart rate monitor kicks in. I know, from experience and running with Gary and through the training, what I can sustain for long periods of time. You know, if I get my heart rate up to 165, I'm good for a long time. So I can deal with my head that way. I go, yeah, you're telling me that we need to stop, but I know, because we've already done it so many times before, that it's a lie. So it really doesn't beat me. The hardest thing for me is running on the treadmill. If I'm outside running, part of the motivation is, I've got to get home. On the treadmill, I'm wrestling with my head the whole way. If I'm doing a long run--if I decide to do 15 miles on the treadmill--that's a battle royal for me. Around mile 9 my heads say, 'You know, you don't really need to do 15 today. You can get by with 9.'
In those instances, do you listen to music or are you watching TV at the gym?
I don't listen to anything. What I do is I go through a series of affirmations that I learned years ago. I got into this whole thing where I wanted to deprogram all the negative programming I experienced growing up. So that's why I take that time to undo that. Running is a meditation for me. So I've never ever had headphones. I tried them once and I ended up chewing the inside of my mouth. I came back from the run and was bleeding on the inside of one cheek. I just can't do that.
What are some of the things you're telling yourself in this series of affirmations?
I'm affirming that...I won't tell you what they are. But they're all positive affirmations. I have a few of them. I can mix them up. I'll tell you what one of them is...I hesitated in telling you because I don't want to come across as a religious zealot, but I use the 23 psalm because it is all encompassing--I'm not a rabid Christian or anything, but I'm a spiritual guy.
I think a lot of people can relate to that, to have a mantra. Does running help in your work life, too?
It helps in my energy level--my energy levels is much greater if I stay training. I have a clearer head, and I'm just a healthier person. It reflects in all aspects of my life--at home and at work. I get my demons out on the road--or I leave them there.
What do you run in?
Do you know what I run in mostly? Asics and Brooks--those are my favorite shoes. Nike said they're sending me some stuff, so they may not like it if they read that. I know Nikes are, kind of, okay for a shorter run. Maybe they'll surprise me. I'll wear them all. Reebok has a new running shoe they gave me that I actually like.
I used to run in shorts but now I'm running in tights--I like them, I really feel they support the whole leg and they're really comfortable to run in. And I like the long sleeve micro-fiber shirts, they're awesome.
What do you eat or drink before a run? What's your routine there.
I use Gatorade often--half Gatorade, half water. I use glutamine. I use GU--that's my favorite. I take that one every run. That's my lifesaver. That stuff is the best ever. I'm thinking of the post-workout stuff...what is it, it's brilliant. It really aids the recovery. It's a powder. It's really nasty tasting--I mix it up and jam it down.
What's your favorite part of a run?
I love hitting the wall. When you get out there, three quarters of the way in. I love that. I really love running. It's the greatest. On a long run...if I'm doing a 20 mile run--around mile 16, 17. That's the best time for me.
What's your least favorite part?
The beginning. The first mile I just hate.
How has running changed you--physically, mentally, spiritually?
You know what running has done for me...every time I win, every time I've finished the task I've set before myself, I get to win one more time. You know, all my pals that I've run with over the years--my training partners--running has helped us in every other avenue of our lives. Win there--then we can win at other things. You just get used to achieving your goals. It's been beneficial on that level.
How do you feel when you have to skip a run. How does your body feel?
I feel a little sluggish, and then the next time I run, it's a little agonizing. That's why I really try to stick with the program. If for one reason or another I've been unable to run for five or six days, that first run is a drag. The one after is great, but that first one kind of blows.
What do you think running has taught you about yourself?
You know, it's taught me that things that seem hard are not always that hard--put one foot in front of the other and you'll get to the end. And not to listen to your head. To quiet that negativity that seems to just be part of being a human being. Running has taught me if I put one foot in front of the other, I will get to the place I'm going.
Is this something you want to keep doing for the rest of your life?
I've been doing it this far, yeah, I would like to, so God willing--that's my goal, for running to take me right to the end.
What would you do if you couldn't run?
I don't know. I wouldn't be the same guy. I hope that doesn't happen. I've been through injury and I've felt like, Oh God, does this mean the end? And I've been depressed. So it's just a part of me--it's a part of who I am.
Have you've had to do physical therapy? How bad have the injuries been?
I've had some injuries where I've had to deal with a piriformis syndrome for a while, and I've just had to find new ways around it--ways to massage and therapy things. So it's just an ongoing battle. I always assume that every athlete is nursing some sort of injury. So that's how I look at it--in the end, injury is just another obstacle that we need to get around.
Do you run when the show is on location?
It's a great way to see the sights. I get to see areas most people don't get to see cause they're driving in their car.
Is there a memory that sticks out for you?
If I'm in an area for a long period of time, I just really feel an attachment to that place--probably more so than the rest of my family who don't run. When I was in Australia, I got to run through Sydney everyday and I really got to see the city and explore. I just have a fondness for all those areas, you know.
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