Gary Parks: Athlete Interview with Coach Paul Duncan

I got a chance to chat with another member of the National Guard Marathon/Endurance Team today. Gary is a Army National Guard Solider out of Indiana. He’s awesome, check it out.

Paul: Start off by telling us a little about yourself? What part of the country do you live in? Are you married? Kids?
Gary: I live in Camby, IN which is located 15 minutes South of Indianapolis. I have been married for almost 4 years to my wife Alexandria. I have 2 boys, Roman and Boston, ages 3 and 2 and another boy due in March.

Paul: You are on the National Guard Marathon and Endurance Team! How long have you been with the team? Tell us a little about how that program works?
Gary: This is my 2nd year trying out for the marathon team and my 2nd year making the team. This is the 1st year for the Endurance Team tryouts and was able to qualify for it as well. The marathon tryouts are held on the first weekend in May every year in Lincoln, NE. The top 20 males and top 15 females make the team. The endurance team tryouts is an obstacle course/ACFT hybrid course and is held in September. The top 20 males and top 15 females make the team. Once you make either team, you get to travel on Military Orders all over the country and race. If you make both teams you are guaranteed a race 11 months out of the year. The marathon team and endurance team alternate each month with races. If you are on the marathon team you can run a half marathon, full marathon, or endurance race depending on the venue options. On endurance team race months we participate in Spartan races.

Paul: How long have you been a runner? When was your first marathon?
Gary: It really depends on what you consider a “runner”. I ran track in high school for 3 years only so that I didn’t have to get a job. I think my best 2 mile time was 13:15. I didn’t actually enjoy running and become, what some would call good, until I joined the National Guard in 2011. When you are forced to run everyday you either embrace the suck and run faster or dread it and complain, I chose the former. But I did not start taking running seriously and incorporate it into my daily routine until 2016. My first marathon was in 2014 and I ran a 3:27.

Paul: Tell us about your personal Records? Marathon PR? Half Marathon PR? Etc..
Gary:
Marathon: 3:10:39,
Half: 1:28:15, 1
0k: 41:31,
5k: 18:52,
1 mile: 5:29.

Paul: Tell us about your love of the sport! What makes you continue to strive to be a better athlete and runner?
Gary: Running has changed my life. I use it to relieve stress and reflect on life. It gives me a sense of purpose and belonging especially now that I am on the Marathon/Endurance Team. What makes me strive to be better is the people that I surround myself with. My teammates, friends, and family all push me to do my best and not cut corners. I have a group chat with 4 of my best friends that we call “The Accountability”, where we text/screenshot our daily workouts/runs on there everyday to keep each other motivated.

Paul: Do you have a coach? Would you recommend readers hire a coach?

Gary: I do not have a coach but if I did, I would chose Coach Paul Duncan Jr.

Paul: As a running/triathlon coach, I focus hard on managing race day fueling and pre race nutrition. Do you feel this is an important element to your race performance? How do you approach fueling during your training and racing? Are there any products that you recommend to the readers?

Gary: I never focused on race day or pre race day fueling until I made the marathon team last year. I just didn’t know what would work for me and was too nervous to experiment. So really up until last year I would not eat anything before a half or full marathon. That method has since been to be found suboptimal. Thanks to Paul and his advice I have found that just like my good friend Kenny, a Cinnamon and Sugar Pop-tart hits the spot. I also like to drink a half cup of coffee and maybe 8oz water. The day before a race I will drink a pedialite and many gallons of water throughout the day ensuring my pee is always clear. I will typically have a pepperoni pizza for dinner and an ice cold lager to wash it down with.

Paul: Tell us about equipment-Running Shoe of choice?
Any other running gear you would recommend?
Gary: I discovered this past spring that Saucony Triumphs are my feet’s best friend with a curex insert. In regards to running clothes I can’t say enough good things about Baleaf. They are the cheapest most comfortable running brand I’ve worn and is available on Amazon.

Paul: How do you approach your training? Do you follow a strict training schedule? How do you balance your training with work, family, etc...?

Gary: I keep my training pretty loose. I have always told myself I want running to be fun and be something I look forward to during the day. If it becomes more like a job or I force myself to stick to a strict training schedule it would lose its luster. I tend to run between 25-40 miles a week. The most I have ever ran in 1 week is 50 miles. I like to run 5-8 miles 3 times a week, 1 sprint workout day, 1 10+ mile day with either 1 or 2 rest days. I am able to get my runs in either first thing in the morning or directly after work. My wife and kids come with me to the park and play at the playground while I run most days, it works out really well. If my wife wants to run or the kids don’t want to play, I am stuck running, pushing the double stroller.

Paul: What's the deal with the ShotGun Pocket shirt?
Gary: Shotgun Pocket Shirt *pending trademark, is a creation that I envisioned and brought into fruition through reasons of practicality and ingenuity. It was the summer of 2017 and I was on vacation at our lake house down in southern Georgia. To preface, my mother Jessica, who is a part time, at home seamstress, was making a quilt for a family member using old t-shirts. I have always appreciated having a pocket on my t-shirt and I just remember thinking to myself, “but whys there only gotta be one”? It was at that moment I took off in the car and went to the closest store that might sell T-shirts and it was a dollar general. I bought a pack of grey T-shirts and my mother cut out 9 pocket squares using the fabric she had on hand and we created what is now known as The Shotgun Pocket Shirt. The name itself was not christened until a year later when I was out shooting my shotgun and didn’t have a convenient place for my slugs. I put that pocket shirt on and it made my life so much easier plus it cut my reload time in half. Contact me for more information!

Thanks Gary. Looking forward to seeing you at the next race!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Paul Duncan is a full time military recruiter, USAT Certified Coach, QT2 Systems Level 1 Coach, and OutRival Racing Level 3 coach. For coaching inquires, click HERE.

Paul also competes in triathlon and running events in his spare time.

70.3 PR (4:24:26)
140.6 PR – (9:51:53)
Half Marathon – (1:24:21)
Marathon – (2:57:27)

Follow me on INSTAGRAM @paulduncanjr