Runner Profile: Max Lockwood Getting Faster

Most runners reach the upper ranks of the local racing scene after running competitively through school. However, Max Lockwood has followed a different path to his success – he only started to race after turning 30.

Max grew up playing basketball and tennis and did not participate in any organized sports during college. When Max moved to DC, he took up running as a means to meet people. He started by joining Phil Fenty’s Sunday morning runs in Rock Creek Park, and early success caused him to train more methodically the last two years.

Max now trains with Ben Cook and Wilson Komen on their C&O Towpath tempo runs, and his racing times have dropped dramatically. For example, in Sept. 1999, Max ran a 37 min 10K, but he has lowered his time to 33:45.

Max prefers running over other sports because it is easier to fit the training into ones life. Max finds that running allows one to escape into the trails at one own pace. “In my 30’s, I find running to be absolutely enjoyable. In my youth, I didn’t enjoy it that much.” Max finds running to be liberating and “does wonders for my brain.”

Max ran the 2004 WaWa Hartwood 10M in 55:42, and finished 2^nd at the Belle Haven Half Marathon in 1:16:18. Max’s near-term goals include running the Arizona Rock ‘n Roll Marathon in January 2006 to qualify for the Boston Marathon, which he hopes to run in under 2:35. Max’s goals include a 32 min 10K and is shooting for a 54 min Cherry Blossom 10M.

Max works as a program analyst in the Dept. of Interior and gets to travel to the Western States. He finds that running provides him with a tremendous boost of energy, confidence and appreciation for the importance of outdoor recreation.

Max notes that Washington DC has the best support for runners of any city its size, and finds RacePacket to be “very useful.”