Raleigh Staff Spotlight

Meet Your Raleigh Staff.

The Raleigh team knows how to adapt and train in any situation, no matter what mother-nature throws at them! Training on everything from the flats of the green way to the hills of umstead - this crew can pretty much tell you "yeah, we've been there." And yes, that includes "open water" swimming your way out of a flooded parking garage!

	Paul Savage Raleigh Store Manager Joined TrySports: September 2011 Favorite Race: White Lake International and Greenville Duathlon Favorite Post Race Meal: Turkey burgers and grilled corn Favorite Running Shoe: Asics Gel Nimbus 11, 12, 13... Most Memorable Momemt/Achievement: Racing 2011 US National Duathlon Championships and qualifying for the US National Duathlon Team at the World Championships in Gijon, Spain. Unfortunately, an injury derailed my participation this year. Best part about working at TrySports: Getting to spend time with people who have committed to having fitness a part of their life and to helping them find their inner athlete.
	Susanne Sullivan Assistant Store Manager Joined TrySports: July 2008 Favorite Race: Prefer Triathlon; sprint, olympic, half-iron distances, but want to try a full. Run; half marathon preferably Favorite Post Race Meal: Depends on the length of the race. After my half-iron, anything! but really like a good burger Favorite Running Shoe: Asics Nimbus Achievement: Placing 2nd Open Masters at my first Half-Iron at White Lake 2009 Best Part About Working at TrySports: Being able to work and learn in the sport that I love and being able to help others with their training and knowledge.
	Beth Currie Local Marketing Manager Joined TrySports: May 2011 Favorite Race/Event: My favorite race is the Chicago Rock and Roll Half Marathon. This was my first half marathon! I ran this race with my 2 childhood best friends (we are talking elementary school best friends). We all came to love running in college despite living in 3 different states! The Chicago Rock and Roll Half Marathon seemed like the perfect race for us. Who doesn't love running with bands playing to help you along the way? Good music, Good friends, and 13.1 miles completed, I can't wait until we do our next race together! Favorite post race meal: Hands down a Banana with Almond butter. And I love peanut butter! So anything with peanut butter including reeses is the best after any workout! Favorite running shoes: I love my Brooks Ravenna. The first time I tried them on I felt like I had a spring board on the bottom of my feet! Most memorable moment/achievement: My most memorable moment by far was cheering for the UNC basketball team at the 2009 NCAA National Championship. This may not have been a race, but it felt like I had just completed a marathon when we won. Best part about working for TrySports: I love working for TrySports because I have the opportunity to work with people that have a passion for any type of sport or physical fitness! TrySports is a great place for people to reach their goals. As the marketing manager, I have the ability to help people accomplish these goals! Getting to wear running clothes to work is not a bad perk either!
	Brian Fowler Member Help Executive Joined TrySports: February 2011 Favorite Race/Event: It's a toss-up between a 10k, Half and Full Marathon in regards to what my favorite distance over which to compete would be. Each of those distances give you a chance to learn something new about yourself if you're willing to push yourself far enough to do so. As far as particular events go, one of my favorite events that I have recently completed is the Palmetto 200 Relay, a relay that starts just outside of Columbia, SC and runs all through the afternoon, night and following morning to the finish in Folly Beach, just outside of Charleston . I was part of a 6-man Ultra team that competed in (and won!!!) this event and over the span of 24 hours I had to run six times for a total of 35 miles. Neither of the two marathons I've ran before were as hard physically and mentally as this. I loved it and can't wait to go back next year to defend our crown!! Favorite post race meal: First and foremost there are two things I want after a race: a big glass of chocolate milk (for recovery) and a chai latte with soy to break my traditional week-long pre-race fast of caffeine. After those I either crave something breakfast-oriented (pancakes!!), a juicy burger or pizza to pack all of those calories right back on!! Favorite running shoes: For training I'm a huge fan of the Mizuno Wave Rider and Brooks Ghost. They're both great lightweight trainers that give a uniform feeling all around the foot from heel to toe with good bounce and response. I alternate these shoes throughout the week. I am also becoming a fan of the Saucony Kinvara. They are a minimalist shoes, offering just enough cushion while giving you a very personal feeling with the road or trail. I HIGHLY recommend breaking these shoes in over one or two shorter runs a week for three or four weeks before putting them in your cycle of shoes or using them exclusively. The reduced cushioning and minimalist structure force the stabilizing muscles in your calves and shins to work harder than they do in regular training shoes and you can set yourself for straining those muscles if they haven't had proper time to acclimate themselves to the extra work. What is your most memorable moment/achievement: 1999 Southeast Regional Cross Country Championship. I had been battling shin splints over the course of my freshman year at Barton College and we were one of the favorites to earn a spot in the NCAA National Championship Meet. I knew I would finish as our #5 guy due to the injury and that it would be up to me to push through it and help us secure that spot. I gave it all I had and despite a scare after being passed in the final stretch by a group of runners from another team we found out we had earned a spot in the National Meet. All my life people had told me I either couldn't or wouldn't make it to that level. I did. Best part about working for TrySports: To me the best part is being able to meet new people every day that are doing something they enjoy. Everyone has a story, whether it be how they started and completed a Couch-to-5k program, how they just started running to lose weight and improve their fitness or quality of life, or how they finished an Iron Man or qualified for the Boston Marathon and there's a certain way they light up when they're telling it that makes you feel the excitement for them.
	Laura Berry Member Help Executive Joined TrySports: May 2011 Favorite Race/Event: My favorite events are everything from the 10k-marathon. Favorite post race meal: My favorite post race meal is pancakes and coffee. Favorite running shoes: I've run in Asics since I started running, but I love my Nike Lunar Racer flats. Most memorable moment/achievement: I recently ran in the New England Relay with 11 other people, where we ran 223 miles in 6 states. It was exhausting, but it was an incredible experience that I would love to do again. Best part about working for TrySports: The best part about working for TrySports is meeting and building relationships with the customers and staff. I also like helping the half marathon training group and am excited to see their progress over the next 18 weeks!
	Dwayne Dixon Part-time Member Help Executive "I am a senior at NC State University studying Public relations. I love playing hockey, doing triathlons and going out and having a good time with friends and family. I have been doing triathlons for a couple of years and love every minute I am out there. My goals are to eventually do an Iron Man in another country, preferably South Africa as I was born there, and to be overall winner in one of our local races. I love helping/educating people about running, cycling, and swimming and enjoy being social."