Runner Profile
Noah Billings
Age: 15
Job: Student, Yard Work for Serenity House Network
Hometown: Rochester, MN
Running mantra: I don’t really have a mantra, but there are a few songs I sing in my head that motivate me while I run – One Way or Another by Blondie, I Need a Hero by Bonnie Tyler, Couldn’t Get it Right by the Climax Blues Band. I like those songs because the beats match my cadences and because they rock.
How running has changed me:
Running is a constant reminder to me that endurance is the most important skill in life. Much more important than talent or luck.
Why I joined RRC:
I participated in the All Comer’s Track Meets and as I got more competitive in triathlon I used Soldiers a LOT. When the city was going to change the track I saw the great work done by the Rochester Running Club. I also know lots of fast runners who are active with the club like Mitch Felton and Andy Becker.
Why I run:
I started running because I wanted to be a great Triathlete. I got pretty good at it. It was work to run when I first started. I remember when I was 8 I told a race volunteer that my heart was going to explode. Now, I love running. It’s a way to loosen up, relax, and explore.
When I run:
My favorite runs are at sunrise or sunset. I tend to be faster in the morning, but evening runs are an amazing way to close out my day. An evening run and a hot shower is a great recipe for good sleep. I usually run twice a week because I balance swimming and biking during Spring, Summer, and Fall. During the winter I usually step back from running because I am on the Rochester Nordic Ski Team
Where I run:
I live in a grove area surrounded by farmland. I love running the gravel near my house and watching the sunrise or set with the barns and silos in the sun’s silhouette. I do my speed work at Soldiers Field Track. I like to go at night and turn the lights on. It makes me feel like a superstar.
When I run, my must have:
I take my phone for music on gravel runs, my inhaler (especially if it is allergy season). I carry it all in a race belt.
My running goal:
I would like to complete a 5k in less than 18 min. I can do a 5:18 mile, but I can’t maintain that speed for as long as I would like.