Interview with ASICS GTC-ELITE's Mark Leininger

Mark recently joined the ASICS GTC-ELITE program after a collegiate career at American University in Washington, DC. In his first competition as a GTC member he won the Michelin Memorial 5K with a time of 14:54. The next weekend he won the Maggie Valley Moonlight Run 8K in a course record of 25:08. He led both races from stat to finish. He will be competing in the USA 20K National Championships in New Haven, CT on Labor Day.

Q: Why did you decide to join GTC-ELITE?
ML:  I wasn’t ready to give up running yet and I was looking for a new experience.  GTC –Elite offered a great opportunity and support that could help me reach my goals and live in a new place.  

Q: What is your favorite aspect of being in Greenville? 
ML:  I enjoy being in new places and meeting new people, the culture is different from what I am used to up north.

Q: Have you discovered a favorite coffee place?
ML:  No I have not tried any coffee places yet.

Q: Favorite meal that you prepare?
ML: I usually don’t spend that much time cooking so I just make things that are fast and simple.  Probably chicken, rice, mixed with some sort of vegetable. 

Q: Favorite restaurant in G’ville so far?
ML:  I recently went to a restaurant with some teammates called Gringo’s, a Mexican place I thought was really good. 

Q: What is your  favorite running event?
ML: Probably the 1500 meters.

Q: What is your favorite sport other than running?
ML: I like watching football, go Giants!

Q: What was your best finish in your conference championship during college?
 ML:  2nd in the 5,000.

Q: Favorite workout session?
ML: My favorite workout we have done so far is the 1 x 1000 followed by 200’s because I like feeling fast.

Q: Which is your least favorite workout?
ML:  Steady state runs because they feel like they take forever.

Q: All time favorite movie?
ML:  It’s hard to say especially with new movies always coming out but I do know all the lines from Gladiator, so it was probably my number 1 at some point.

Q: Favorite musician?
ML: The Red Hot Chili Peppers. 

Q: Favorite running place in Greenville so far?
ML: Tuxedo up in North Carolina  and Parris Mountain State Park, I like getting on soft surfaces and they both have great scenery.

Q: How much do you run each week?
ML:  Somewhere between 85 and 90 miles.

Q: All time best song?
ML:  Not sure, it’s hard to pick a number 1.

Q: Favorite desert?
ML: Probably ice cream, favorite flavors change daily.

Q: Favorite breakfast?
ML: Breakfast from a diner, usually the special that includes everything.

Q: Tell us the funniest thing that ever happened to you on a run.
ML:  I had a teammate in college that was bitten by a squirrel…

Q: Tell us what type of employment you are looking for in Greenville?
ML: Anything.  I have a degree in Business Administration and Masters in Health Management, so something related to that would be nice. 

Q: Where did you go to college and how did you like it?
ML: I went to American University, I really enjoyed living in DC.

Q: What do you like best about GTC-ELITE?
ML: My coaches and teammates are great and all the support that is given to us.  I am grateful for the opportunity to pursue something that I enjoy.

 

 

 

 

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