For anyone who has ever faced a health scare and needed to consider a new life of diet and exercise, John Notte feels your pain.
When he was in his late 20s, Notte had to undergo hernia surgery. (He refers to himself as “overweight” at the time.) But Notte, senior sales manager for Insight Beverages, Lake Zurich, Ill., surprised himself later in life by embracing running as a passion, taking to organized trail runs and marathons as a true hobby—with his biggest accomplishment being the 50-mile John F. Kennedy run that starts in Boonsboro, Md. Here’s how his love for running evolved:
Q: So how did you get started?
A: I started walking as a way to lose weight after hernia surgery. I worked up to doing a Fourth of July run and eventually did a 5K, then a 10K and then a marathon relay. When I started working with Sheetz, there were a lot of people who did trail runs in the woods.
I found trail running much more fun. I loved being outside. There’s a lot of stream crossing, hills, scenery. Now that’s mostly all I do.
Q: Most people don’t like to exercise, let alone run for extended periods. What do you like about it?
A: It’s an outlet. It helps me manage day-to-day stress and strain. The only other place people find that—the ability to turn your mind completely off—is with deep sleep. You focus on the ground and the surroundings, the sun, the scenery, a deer …
Q: So you obviously prefer running outdoors as opposed to training in the gym.
A: I run year-round but supplement it in the winter on a treadmill and on a stationary bike. But yes, outside is better and better for your performance. Inside, you can’t simulate the hill climbs, and most runners will say you can’t find your stride on a treadmill, especially someone with a long stride. It’s more unnatural, with speed controlling you vs. you controlling the speed.
Q: What’s your running schedule like in a typical year?
A: My target is to run a few half-marathons—13 miles—along with other marathons, the longest being 30 miles. A year before the day of the race, I begin a regimen of training, running, biking, cross-training and lifting weights. Then as a race gets closer, I ramp up. It’s mostly mental endurance, having the mental capacity to block things … to get lost in the action, find that quiet place where you put … one foot in front of other.
Q: How do you stay dedicated?
A: The most important part is goal scheduling. There are a lot of structured plans online, but I’ve always done my own thing. In terms of staying dedicated … it’s semi-addictive. You get that runner’s high, so when you miss a run and you’re not releasing endorphins, it’s frustrating.
Q: Can you talk about the gear you like to have on when you run?
A: I train on time, meaning I know that after a certain amount of time, it’s probably 13 to 15 miles depending on terrain. It’s good to have a watch but also good to log miles and log your training. With shoes, it’s good—at least for the first time—to go to a running store and get fitted. Some of them put you on a treadmill and make suggestions based on your stride. Fueling is important, too. Hydration is good on long runs. One of my favorite meals before a 20-mile trail run is a piece of salty cheese pizza, beef jerky and a carb gel—the one I like is called Honey Stinger.
Q: Any advice for people starting to run later in life?
A:I say start off slowly. I started with walking. And I think an important part is to build a community. You can make friends and have people to share the run with. That’s a powerful motivator.
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