Chuck Williams

Get-to-Know Me:

• Nickname(s) -
      CoCo LaFaTain, Reverend Boob J. LaPetimame, Fontella "what-a-fella" Exavier Cougat,Jerome Flatbush, Rap Scallion
• Date of Birth -
      What exactly are we looking for here, the DOB of what?  The Ford Motor Company? Simple, Thursday March 17, 1911.  58 degrees, slight northwest breeze at 8 mph.  Mrs. Ford left to go goose hunting as Henry was tinkering in the basement.  While assembling fresh cupcakes right out of the basement furnace HF figured the same process may work quite well for various dishes.  Subsequently the noodles found trouble with over-heating and a lack of water in the furnace so he decided to try the same idea on cars.  henry  made a fine car but never cooked again.
• Training Distance -
       When you say "training", this would suggest that I am "training for something".  Let's break the word down." TRAIN" is another word for choo-choo, or, thing pulling your caboose. "ING" meaning my old neighbor growing up, Jeff Eng also pronounced "ING" but with a different spelling.  So that leaves us with a choo-choo possibly carrying an old neighbor of mine under a different spelling.  As far as "distance" goes I will say ....a great deal of distance.  I feel this is better than saying no distance at all.  To sum up, we have a choo-choo carrying my old neighbor under a different spelling a great distance.  Now what this has to do with my running habits is anyone's guess.  Lets move on.
• Years Running -
      Nearly 400 years my people ( the LaFaTains that is) have been running from "the man", and we're getting pretty fed up!
• Favorite Locations to Train -
      Well this is rather simple, anywhere where wild animals are  not seen attacking said runners.  Like Bob Barker says "Remember to spay and neuter your wild animals ".
• Favorite Race -
      Once I was sitting at the intersection of Baxter and Clayton, you know right next to the old Shell Station.  Along side of me pulled up a 1988 Pontiac stationwagon.  We gunned it at the green light, I turned left (once again at the old Shell Station), I am pretty sure he went straight.  40,000 run Boston every year but only one Old Shell Station at the corner of Baxter and Clayton Race!  Now that's Elite Status!
• How you got started running -
      Funny story actually.  I was out one beautiful Spring day just enjoying the weather and doing some bird-watching.  I was getting a little annoyed because inside the Schnuck's grocery store at Manchester and Ballas I was having very little luck spotting much of ANYTHING remotely close to a bird.  Oh sure there were a few rather confused Blue-Beaked Crust Owls hanging out in the frozen foods but other than that I saw squat!  As I strolled through "breakfast cereals, coffee, and wing nuts...I'm sorry what was the question?
• Favorite foods -
      My people feed off the good nature of loves and lost loves.  Not to mention anything with a "flake" base, with the exception of pinto bean flake pie, but I'm sure I'm not the only one, right?!
• Favorite movies -
      Only hard core movie buffs even know this but there was a time before silent pictures that the mystery of sound was not so elusive.  This was a time when sound was abundant but not always at the same time as the picture.  This was a magical time for the industry as folks would pour into the local theatre on a Saturday afternoon and LISTEN to their favorites like "The Drunk Avenger", and cowboy flics like "The Western Way, with Horny Pete".  I love to listen to these classics on my new VHS Beta system, sounds even better than vinyl!
• Best experience through running/Triathlon -
      Haven't had one yet but I did have a great experience at the "Parking Expo 07".  Car parkers from at least 3 states came out to try new models to park.  Convertibles, family cars, and various hover craft were scattered over a gigantic 50 foot parking lot, just south of the Big Lots on Forsyth.  I didn't get to actually park any cars but I did enjoy a lovely Greek salad.
• Running/Triathlon traditions you may have -
      Nothing out of the ordinary really. I will typically get up 20 minutes before the start time.  Have a hot bowl of beet stew with a couple of shots of any clear liquor.  After breakfast I like to fall into a trance-like state for about 30 minutes.  (Come to think of it I should be getting up earlier).  Hyper-ventilation soon follows due to time constraints.  I run to the race site which is usually a good distance in my car so you can imagine how far I have to go on foot.  It gets even worse when I race out of state.
• Craziest moment through running/triathlon -
      "Cry Havoc And Let Slip The Appropiate Dogs!" - This was inscribed upon the buttocks of a young lady runner in front of me the last Spring.  I generally thought this was indeed "crazy" as I read it over and over, mile after mile through the swamps of the Gator Bite 13K.  It truly makes you wonder about the sanity of some people.
• Most exotic running location you've been to -
      I don't think we need to get dirty about this, sicko!
• Favorite cereal -
      A combo cereal works best for me.  I have some vintage "Quisp" and "Quake", both Post cereal products, from 1971 stored in a broom closet in my basement.  I may have a 3 cups of each blended with some nice chutney beans and some 30 weight all-weather motor oil.  Works better than ruffage, if you know what I mean.
• Favorite ice cream flavor -
      Clear...I make my own in my bathtub once a year, goes great with fresh baked toothpaste.
• Prefer trails or roads? -
      I prefer trails when it comes to shopping.  I enjoy hiding, sometimes for hours at a time, in a shopping cart collector out in the middle of the parking lot just waiting for my chance to POUNCE!  Like most people the roads are much more comfortable when swimming.  That's right, I'm a multisporter!
• Triathlete - favorite event -
      The "Run For Your Life While Wearing A Hat That Looks Like Have Deer Antlers On in the Middle Of Hunting Season Triathlon".  I always thought the bike portion of this race would throw the hunters off but they're not the brightest bunch.
• Triathlete - How did you transition to the multi? -
      In a word, with cat-like precision.  Funny story actually....It was spring and the flowers were blooming and the mulch was stinking up the place.  I was outside watering my driveway, oh wait a minute, that's my "how I ran up a $52,000 water bill story".  Actually I don't have a multi-sport story.  I was just tired one day and I thought I would just cheat by biking the next few miles.  Then someone yelled "get that damn multi-sporter who coincidently waters his driveway off the course!"  Voila!
• Triathlete - prefer open water or pool? -
      Heating open water can be tricky, for cooking or swimming.  Of course a pool can be so useful.  Maybe you ran out of space in the cupboard and you are left with 23,000 cans of lima beans.  Or possibly you want to do a little planting.  A pool is a great place for flowers or a few acres of corn/tobacco.  On the other hand the open water can be used as a great second garage so its a tough decision.  Go with your gut on this one and always wear leg-warmers.
• Contact Information -
      chuck@fleetfeetstlouis.com