Seven Questions with Joe Purpura
10/21/2008 12:00:00 AM
Oct. 21, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Rolltide.com and the Alabama men's cross country team have started a new weekly segment called Seven Questions. Select players and coaches will check in weekly on Rolltide.com and answer questions pertaining to things on and off the field. The eighth edition features junior Joe Purpura.
Rolltide.com: When and why did you start running?
Joe Purpura: I started running in the 7th grade. All of my friends at the time were soccer players and wanted to run to stay in shape. They assured me we jumped over logs and ran through rivers. To this day I have yet to do that, but it sounded fun so I went with it and kind of just stuck with it.
Rolltide.com: What are your personal goals and what are the team goals for the season? Running career goals for college and further?
Purpura: My goal at the moment would be to stay healthy for some time so I can get into shape and try to reach my long term goals. I just want to get into shape and work hard for now. As for the team, we hope to improve on lasts years' performance at nationals. I would say we can easily accomplish this feat. We have a heck of a team this year. My goals further down the road would be to just run and enjoy it. I have taken being able to run for granted many times until I got injured and realized how much I miss it.
Rolltide.com: What's your favorite race and why?
Purpura: My favorite race would have to be last year's NCAA Cross Country Championships in Terre Haute, Indiana. It was awesome to be lining up against people I looked up to in high school and even college. Some of those athletes went on to become professionals and even Olympians.
Rolltide.com: Why did you choose to come to The University of Alabama?
Purpura: I chose to come to Alabama because of Coach Walker and the Kenyans. I want to manage Kenyan athletes and become an agent some day and what better situation to put myself in than here. Coach Walker knows every manager possible and has helped me tremendously. Without him I would be lost, so I owe him for everything. Being around the Kenyans has helped me greatly too. They have introduced me to many athletes I would have never gotten the chance to meet before.
Rolltide.com: Other than running, what Olympic sport would you want to compete in and why?
Purpura: Probably boxing, my grandfather was a golden gloves winner and boxed in the marines. He was very good at the time, and competed for Italy for some time. If bocce ball was an Olympic sport I would definitely compete in that hands down. I can play a mean game of bocce ball.
Rolltide.com: Who is your favorite runner to look up to? Why?
Purpura: In terms of running I would say I try to model would be Dathan Ritzenhein. He seems to be pretty injury prone much like myself, and for him to be injured then come back so well shows a lot about the pride he has in himself, and his work-ethic. I strongly believe in those two things.
Rolltide.com: Why come all the way to Alabama from Ohio?
Purpura: Probably the same reason as I mentioned earlier. Also the weather is much better down here come the winter months. I rarely have to put warm gear on. I must say though the weather has spoiled me and made me weak, haha. I used to be able to handle the winters, but now when I go home I have to bundle up and get made fun of.
