About Me

Hi, I'm Jesse

I'm an IT Automation Project Manager by day, but this hub is all about my life on the run here in Clayton, NC. I initially created this site to keep all of my pacing calculators, custom weather scripts, and bookmark links in one easy-to-reach place.

My Health & Running Journey

As of Summer 2025, I was in my mid-40s, 6' 1", weighed 227 lbs, and hadn't run at all since high school. In August of that year, a small medical scare landed me in the ER, which forced me to take a hard look at my overall health and fitness.

I started with my diet. As a very picky eater, I found Quest Nutrition products to help maintain a high-protein, low-calorie deficit. The results were immediate: I dropped from 227 lbs to 199 lbs by mid-September, and hit 189 lbs by the end of October.

By mid-November, down to 186 lbs, I decided to take things a step further and bought a treadmill. Having never really run before, I gave it a try and covered a 5K in 36 minutes. I had no idea if that was "good," so I did what I always do when I find a new interest: I dove headfirst into the research. I consumed YouTube videos, read up on running science, and started jogging two to three days a week at a 12-13 minute pace.

By the end of 2025, I was down to 180 lbs—a weight I hadn't seen in 10 to 15 years. I became fascinated with the data, using my Garmin and intervals.icu to track everything. I built up to 15 miles a week and could hold an 8:30 pace for a couple of miles. I also learned the importance of the 80/20 rule, discovering that running longer and slower actually builds better long-term performance than going all-out every day, and I started incorporating supplements to help with my training.

Hitting the Pavement in 2026

I decided 2026 would be the year running became a main hobby. On January 10th, I ran my first 5K in Princeton, NC, finishing in 26:42. It was a huge accomplishment, and it's also where I met folks from the Clayton Area Runners. Seeing my potential, I bumped my training up to 5 days a week, including 8-10 mile weekend long runs.

By the end of February, I weighed 175 lbs—I couldn't even remember the last time I was at that weight. I was logging 25-30 miles a week and running regularly with the local club in Clayton. I also discovered that HOKA shoes fit my feet perfectly. By March, my rotation had grown to seven pairs, relying heavily on the Mach 7s for daily miles while rotating others for speed sessions and race days.

On March 7th, I tackled a hilly 5K in Wendell Falls, NC. Despite the tough elevation and temperatures creeping into the 80s, I crossed the line in 24:21, finishing 12th out of over 100 runners. The progress has been incredibly rewarding. Currently sitting around 170 lbs, I feel so much better overall.

Looking ahead, I'm signed up for more 5Ks and a 10K this fall. I even recently completed a 13.1-mile training run in about 2 hours and 15 minutes. Not bad for a first try! Let's see where 2026 takes me—a formal half marathon might definitely be on the calendar before the year ends.

Official Race Results

Life Off the Road

When I'm not logging miles, you can usually find me and my wife Elizabeth traveling the country in our RV. We love exploring parks and spending time outdoors with our two dogs, Aiken and Corona. It's a constant balance of training and traveling, but we make it work!