Meet John Glover, AG 30-34 or,
I'll be fat next year, working part time at Krispy Kreme
Interviewed by J. Finch, 10/2/03

Do you know why I’m interviewing you?
    No.

It's because I hear triathletes all the time talking about how they'd love to quit their jobs and open a tri shop, and you've done it! (John owns the Extra Mile--Mt. Pleasant and the brand-new Charleston Bicycle Company, home of J & J's Tri Shop)
How do you feel doing what so many triathletes dream about?
    I have to pinch myself. I found a way to make money doing what I enjoy. If I enjoyed cooking, I'd do that. I think whatever you enjoy doing, if you find a way to make a living at it, that's great. I have access to all the neat toys.

Has your new business affected your training time?
    No, I've made training a priority. It's good for my mental health and my business. It's easier for me to recommend a product if I have experience with it. If I didn't run and try all the different shoes, I wouldn't know what to suggest to you.

How long have you been doing tris?
    In 2001, I did the New Wave Biathlon. That was my first multisport event.

Were you competitive as a kid? Did you do any sports?
    No, nothing. No team sports. I didn't play sports. I was into partying, getting in trouble, getting arrested. I didn't realize I was competitive until I started tris.

What other sports would you do if you didn’t do triathlons?
    With swim, biking and running, there's always something to do, like mountain biking or Xterra events. Maybe surfing. I have a surfboard.

Short or long?
    A long board. I can't ride the short ones!

What was your first tri?
    The Charleston Sprint series in 2001. I did the first two on a borrowed road bike that was too big for me. Then I bought a road bike that was too big for me. I finally got a bike the right size.

What’s your favorite song?
    Oh, I don't know. Anything by the Rolling Stones.

What advice would you have to give to people who say, “Man, I’d like to own a tri shop!”
    Go for it! Just move far away! Be ready to work around the clock. You have to be ready to talk about triathlon while you're training, at the races, at home (John's girlfriend is a triathlete, too). It's been a lot of fun having the bike shop and interacting with people. A guy just called; he's relying on me to do some research and get back to him. It's great to be able to do that.

What future plans do you have?
    Well, in the last 12 months, from November to November, I started two businesses, in March I did my first marathon, I had a complete tri season of about 12-15 races, including one Half, and I will start Ironman Florida in November. I'm looking forward to some time off to regroup. In the off season, I'm going to concentrate on the bike shop and clinics at the bike shop.

Thanks, John!