He sure is a runnin' fool ...

This is the third in an ongoing series of short profiles highlighting an ardent local running enthusiast. Up today: MARK CARBONE, store manager at both of our city's Charlotte Running Co. locations. He moved to the area from Brooklyn, N.Y., two years ago.


Age: 36.
How long I've been running: Running-running? Heck, all my life.
What I love about running: The solitude.
What I hate about running: Not having multiple surfaces to choose from. I'm not the type to drive somewhere to go for a run, so I don't like not being able to run on any surface -- one day trails, one day concrete, one day beach ... that kind of thing.
Current running shoes: Four different shoes in the rotation: Mizuno Inspire, Saucony Triumph, Mizuno Wave Creation, New Balance 1063s -- all women's models in size 9.5.
Women's models? Women's models are narrower, provide a softer feel, and just feel more comfortable. I also make it a point to defuse the idea people have about the color of a shoe -- they shouldn't care what it looks like. Function over looks. I'm writing a book about all this.
Do you have a standard running route in Charlotte? Countless routes right out the front door. Never a standard.
Do you prefer to run alone or with a group? Alone for specific training, but love running with my Charlotte Running Co. group.
Favorite annual Charlotte race: GBS/CIDP 5K (last held May 9).
Favorite distances: Half Ironman/Ironman/marathon/half marathon.
PR for those distances: 4:37/10:08/2:40/1:13.
Are you a morning or an evening runner? A.M., brother!
Advice for novice runners? Go to a specialty running store and ask a hundred questions -- you need to be well-informed. Learn to ice yourself, too.
What's next on my race calendar: World Championships 70.3 in Clearwater, Fla., on Nov. 14. (Mark qualified by posting a time of 4:56 at the Buffalo Springs Lake Half Ironman in Lubbock, Texas, last weekend.)

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Know of another running fool? Tell me about him or her in an e-mail to tjanes@charlotteobserver.com.