California International Marathon

Name: Michael Cook
E-mail: michael_cook@yahoo.com
Phone: 530-633-7223
Home: Auburn, CA
Age: 40
Occupation: Healthcare Software Developer
Date and name of first marathon: Napa Valley Marathon March 2002
Number of marathons completed: 41
Number of CIMs completed: 8
Marathon PR: 2:56:39
Marathon wins: 2
Marathon finish of which you are most proud and why: My first CIM in 2002 because I qualified for Boston, with only seconds to spare and had my family there to cheer me on. I learned a painful lesson of what happens when you don't pace. For days, stairs brought tears to my eyes.
Number of ultramarathons completed: 13, including the Western States 100 in 2005. Also completed an "ultra" bike ride: Race Across America 2010.
Coaching experience: Keeping myself going is hard enough. So I'd love to have a coach who would run me out of bed at 6 a.m., ride along with me with fluids and food, and could help me knock 15 or 20 minutes my from my time. But I'm still looking for an agent who could land me a contract with New Balance and Clif Bar for a lifetime supply of shoes and food (the true bare necessities of life). I've given up on a signing bonus. Just a pair of shoes and some food would be great.
Other pacing experiences: I paced the 3-hour group at the 2004 CIM where I was pleased to note that 29 runners came in between 2:58:00 and 2:59:59. In 2006 I paced the 3:10 group, and 49 runners came in between 3:09:06 and 3:10:53, with similar results pacing this group at the CIM in 2007, 2008 and 2009. I also paced the 3:10 group for the National Clif Bar Pace Team including other marathons like Denver, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Las Vegas, Marine Corps, Salt Lake, San Francisco, St. George and New York.
Other hobbies: Pushing the jogging stroller, banging on the drums, Rubik's Cubing and lots of visits to Starbucks.
Anything else you think your Pace Group would like to know about you: If you are running this to qualify for Boston, stay with the group and you'll make it to Boston. Please no cell phones. If you've got the energy to hold a conversation, dial and run with one free arm, you should be running with the 3-hour group. Lastly, unfortunately the 3:10 pace mule will not be joining us this year, so we will need to carry our own energy gels and fluids. Aid stations are located throughout the course and GU gel will be offered at 13, 20 & 23 miles so this may not be an issue for most of you.