How did you get started running?
Playing football (soccer) everyday as a kid.

When did you recognize that competing professionally was something you aspired to?
When I first moved to the United States and started training at the University of New Mexico.

When did you recognize that competing professionally was something you could do?
During the summer of 2009 when I ran 3:37 for 1500 meters and started competing against other professional athletes and beating some of them.

Favorite training venue:
University of New Mexico Track

Favorite workout:
Doing a 4-mile tempo run followed by 8 x 400 of a short rest, as it is a quick session and a great indication of fitness.

Least-favorite workout:
5 x 300m with 3 minutes of rest. I have not done it for a long time. But when I used to do that session it normally ended with me being sick.

Favorite racing venue:
Mount SAC

Is there a place where you get an extra lift or home court advantage?
During my time in college, the indoor track at the convention centre in Albuquerque was a great place to run. This was because the atmosphere is always great and I used to have a lot of friends cheering me on in the crowd. Plus I usually ran well there.

Do you have any superstitions related to competing?
I used to have a lot but not so much anymore. My main one was that I had a lucky back pack that I had to take to every race. My friend bought it for me before my first Mile race for New Mexico. I broke the school record and kept using it for every race after that. I retired the bag twice as it was falling apart but never ran well without it so kept bringing it back. I also had a lucky chain that I used to wear and give to my coach before every race; however I dropped it down the toilet directly before a race. I ran a pr in that race, but it was also the first time I had been beaten since I had started wearing the chain.

What is your pre-race / warm-up routine?
I'm currently working on a new warm up routine as in previous years I did not really do anything specific and would just make it up as I went along. Now I am going to start doing drills, and light hurdle drills before racing as I have recently started doing them for training and feel great afterwards.

Pre-race I like to sleep as much as possible. If I am racing in the evening I will wake up at around 9:30, eat some breakfast then go back to sleep for an hour. Then maybe watch TV have some lunch and then sleep again until 4 hours before my race.

Piece of your race-day kit you would never be without:
Spikes: New Balance 1000s.

Favorite meal, the night before a race:
Steak, rice and vegetables

Favorite post-race meal:
Burger and milk shake

What food or snack is your guiltiest pleasure?
Cake! I have tried to give up as a new year's resolution. I only have it on friends birthdays now. It means I won't miss anyone's birthday party this year.

Which character from a TV program or movie best resembles how you think of yourself?
Coach Franklin, my coach at New Mexico, used to call me Eeyore because I always used to be sleepy and he thought I was lazy.

What would most people be surprised to learn about you?
I retired from running for 3 years when I was 18 years old.

What activity, apart from running, best-defines 'me time' for you?
I play a computer game called Football (soccer) Manager a lot. If I have been training hard I love nothing more than sitting on the couch with a cup of tea playing Football Manager.

What person has most-shaped your career or life?
I have a lot of great people in my life and career. But my parents have shaped both more than anyone. Without their support I would not be running professionally right now.

What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?
In terms of running, I would say listen to your body. If you are tired, take it easy or have a day off. Every runner has days when they are tired.

Why do you run?
It is something I have grown up doing and I love doing. The thrill of competing motivates me every day to train and to try and push myself to the limit to try and be as successful as I possibly can be. Running has completely changed my life for the better. Running has helped my education, and introduced me to some great people.

Most embarrassing running moment:
When I was about 10 I remember getting beaten by a girl in an 80 meter race. I have never forgotten that.

Proudest running moment:
When the New Mexico Lobos won the conference champs in cross country in 2009. I have been fortunate to have some successes as an individual but winning something with some of my best friends was an amazing feeling.

Who would you most like to run with?
I'm a big fan of Eminem and know he runs quite a lot and he is from Michigan where I live.

What tips do you have for new runners?
Take things one step at a time. An old coach of mine used to say before you build a house you need to lay the foundation. Plus, try and enjoy running as a sport and get what you want out of it. I have had stages of my running career where I have run because I thought I had to, not because I wanted to and at those times I was neither successful nor happy.