Steve Korn, 58
Co-owner of Quancor Marketing Solutions (with my wife Marie)

I've been running for...

The past 8 years or so.

I started running because...

I needed to get my weight under control. I started walking every day, got bored with it and started running instead. I lost 20 pounds in a year! The next year I decided to try my  and at a couple of local races. I won a medal in my second race. I was hooked! I loved the camaraderie of the race and the friendly level of competition. I remember thinking that I had this  running thing down, then in a larger race the next weekend I got smoked in my age bracket. That's when I realized how much work I had to do if I really wanted to be competitive.

If I could no longer run...

Can you say "Super size me"? I enjoy cycling, so that would be my back-up plan.

My favorite place to run is...

I love running anywhere with friends. Running alone can be drudgery, especially long distances. When I'm with a group, the time and distance just seem to fly by. I'm still discovering all the places to run in the area. Rock Cut and Blackhawk Forest Preserve are two of my favorites.

My favorite thing to do after a hard workout is...

Plan out my next run or my next race. (Why don't those races work out the way I had planned???)

I like to run with...

The Y's Road Crew. They are a great group of people and Ron is a great coach and motivator. We are constantly moving, constantly working with each other to find ways to improve.

I used to be content with running 3 miles or so. A 10K was a real challenge. Slowly, I have adjusted to longer runs. I found it was just a matter of training and motivation. Now I do longer distances than I had ever thought I'd do. NO, I still don't plan to run a marathon!

When I'm not running, I like to...

Get involved with the Roadrunners. I really enjoyed my experience as race director of the 2006 Waterfront 5K and I am looking forward to doing it again this year and helping the club in any way. When I'm not running, our business takes most of my time. I try to kick back with a good book once in a while too.

I am inspired by...

People I see running who struggle to complete a 5K. Those who'll never win a medal but always show up and never think of giving up.

The local runners I admire most are...

Larry Swanson and Ron Leonhardt. They give so much time to the sport and fellow runners and never ask for anything in return.

On fun runs I need to...

Run with people who generally are a bit faster than me so that I don't get lazy. During the last mile of a race I always look for a negative split.

My greatest running accomplishment was...

Running that first mile eight years ago. It was the hardest physical thing I had done in years. It probably took me a half hour to do but when I got to the mile point I realized that I was still breathing (heavily) and the next day, the next mile, would be easier.

My next goal is...

To get my race times back to where they were a couple of years ago. I've lost a step or two and I want them back! I know what I have to do to accomplish that but I really hate to diet (LOL)

My advice to other runners...

Don't ever stop.

I plan to run until...

Ed Clucas shaves!