Runner Profile - Edmund Burke

Meet Edmund Burke

Born: July 17, 1969

HS: Mater Dei HS, Santa Ana, CA, 1987

College: College of Notre Dame, Belmont, CA, 1991; San Francisco State University,
1995

PRs:
5 miles: 24:19 (2003)
10 miles: 49:18 (1998)
½ Marathon: 1:06:23 (2003)
Marathon: 2:21:47 (2003)

Favorite Local Races: GW Parkway 10-Miler; Alexandria Turkey Trot 5-Miler.

Favorite Local Trail: Capitol Crescent Trail

Edmund’s Story:
30 years ago, all 70 of my classmates and I (at an all-boys school in Ireland) had to run a 3-mile cross country race. Amazingly, I won. I wasn't a very good student or athlete, so when I discovered I was a halfway decent runner…I kept running! (I had never trained until a few days before the race, but after the race I ran for 120 days in a row!) That race changed my life.

Running is a generous sport. I've had the pleasure of running for Coach Centrowitz for the past 18 years (and running for Pacers for half of those years), and calling hundreds of teammates “friends.” Some highlights have been winning a Conference 10,000m in college, running a PR at the 1998 Cherry Blossom 10-Miler, and racing in the 2004 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials.

I’m looking forward to competing in local races this winter and tackling a marathon in the spring. The first 30 years have been fantastic – so I’m going to keep running!

Runner Profile - Matthew Barresi

Meet Matt Barresi

Born: Washington, DC February 8, 1983
HS: Atholton High School, Columbia, MD
College: American University, Washington, DC 2005 & 2011

PRs:
5K - 14:32
10K - 30:59
Half Marathon -  1:08:38
Marathon - 2:25:11

Favorite Local Race Course - Parkway Classic 10-Miler
Favorite Local Trail: W&OD

Matt's Story:
I started running as a freshman in high school and left my life as a competitive gymnast to become "just a runner" when I was 16.  After completing my high school career as a distance runner and pole vaulter, I walked on to the American University team.  I ended my college experience as a member of AU's Patriot League Champion, NCAA qualifying XC team and with a 3rd place finish in the Patriot League Championship 10,000m race. I continued training under AU's Matt Centrowitz after graduation with eyes on qualifying for the Marathon Olympic Trials.

I originally studied visual communication, but after 3 years in the workforce came back to AU for graduate school and a full-time position coordinating the University's faculty and staff wellness program. My wife, Joy, who I met running on the W&OD trail, and my one year old daughter, Vienna, are my biggest supporters.

My goals for this year are to get fully healthy so that I can get back on the line representing Pacers and to run a fast spring marathon.