Here at runladylike.com, Fridays are all about sharing the inspiring stories of fit people who motivate all of us to be better tomorrow than we were yesterday. My Friday FITspiration series profiles runners, triathletes and casual exercisers who are making choices every day to be as healthy as they can be – in both huge ways and through simple, small victories. Their stories are about the journey of transforming from ordinary to extraordinary each and every day.

As May draws to a close today, I’m really excited to introduce you to Jerod Honrath, a detective with the Dallas Police Department who has been running since he started working with the police academy 15 years ago. I was introduced to Jerod through my role as a Brooks Running Run Happy Ambassador. Jerod is a Brooks I.D. member. Brooks I.D. stands for Inspire Daily, and the program includes more than 2,000 members who are active in their running communities – winning their age divisions, accomplishing their personal goals, pushing their own limits and encouraging others to do the same.

And inspiring is exactly what Jerod is. This month he finished his 54th marathon in Fargo, North Dakota, and has 9 ultra-marathons under his belt. [Wait until you see how many marathons and ultra-marathons he ran last year alone!] And holy smokes is he FAST! *Picking my jaw up off the floor!*

How long have you been running, and what inspired you to start?
I’ve been running heavily since 1998 when I gained employment with the Dallas Police Academy. My inspiration to run more seriously came from my first Patrol Sergeant, Mr. Curtis Goodwin. He met me for runs around town and introduced me to the world of racing. I ran my first half marathon in 2000, and quickly decided to tackle a marathon next. Curtis trained me and we met for long hot runs in the middle of summer at midnight sometimes. We ran step by step for the entire 2002 Chicago Marathon and finished together. To this day, even though he is now retired, he is one of the first people I send a text message to after each race. I have been so very fortunate to have him as a friend, former sergeant in the police department and my true running inspiration.

Finish this sentence: I run because   ___________________.
I run because it relaxes me and has allowed me to see so many great places around the world.

Running has given you a chance to travel the world. Where are some of your favorite places running has taken you, and what is your favorite destination race?
Some of my favorite places where I’ve run or raced include:

• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Sendai, Japan
• Sydney, Australia
• Vancouver and Montreal, Canada
• Hastings, Great Britain

In the United States, my favorite destination race is the Whistlestop Marathon in far northern Ashland, Wisconsin. This trail race along an old railroad of dirt and gravel is easy on the legs, flat and the entire city and its people were so amazing and super excited to be a part of the event.

My favorite destination races overseas were the Sendai Japan Half Marathon and the Sydney Austrailia Marathon. In Sendai, I represented the City of Dallas and the Japanese American Society as an invited member to run this classic and prestigious event. Dallas is one of 6 sister cities to Sendai, Japan, and each city sends one male and one female each year to run this invite only half marathon. I was so very fortunate to be selected in 2008 after an extensive interview and application process. The marathon in Sydney was also special for so many reasons, including finishing at the Sydney Opera House, running in Olympic areas, and of course, that super long flight to get there.

What is your favorite race distance? Why? If you’re comfortable, brag about your race PRs.
My favorite race distance is the marathon. I like it because it usually shows off a good portion of the city where I’m running.

My PRs are …

• Half marathon: 1:25:00
• Marathon: 2:54:25
• Road 50K: 3:43:16
• Trail 50-mile: 8:39:18
  

  

What running/racing accomplishment are you most proud of?
The running accomplishment I’m most proud of is running 17 marathons and 3 ultra-marathons during 2012.

What goal do you most want to accomplish in 2013?
I’d like to set a new PR at the Berlin Marathon in September.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to start running or who thinks they can’t do it?
Start off slowly by picking a local 5K. See how that race and experience goes. Then, decide if you want to do a 10K. The key is progressing slowly and always RESPECT the distance and race!

What is your running mantra?
Outlast them all.

What running gear do you never run without?
Brooks Running Cascadia shoes.

What keeps you hydrated and fueled the best?
I generally never take gels or gus. I always research what fluids will be at the aid stations of whatever race I’m doing and train with that a month prior if time allows between races. The key is to get the body acclimated to the type of fluid that will be offered.

What’s on your iPod right now?
All 80s music, however I never run with that in my races.

What is one thing most people would be surprised to know about you?
I played college hockey and used to weigh 190 pounds.

What are your 3 favorite running blogs or Web sites?
www.brooksrunning.com, www.athlinks.com and marathonguide.com

If you or someone you know would be a great candidate for Friday FITspiration, email me at runladylike@gmail.com.

Want more FITspiration? Check out these recent FITspiring stories!
Another Brooks I.D. member shares her journey of running with asthma
From 240 pounds to 2:57 marathoner
A runner’s journey to her first marathon

Jerod is part of the Brooks Inspire Daily team. What actions – big or small – do you take on a regular basis to inspire daily? What runners inspire you?