My mom is great and I make sure that we pray together before every race. She helps me put everything in perspective and remind me of the real reason I run.

Most people don't think about plyometrics when they think about powerful strength. But I do lots of them to build mine.

I spend around two and half hours on the track every day running and another 2 hours in the weight room lifting weights with my strength coach.

I'm really laid back but I still like to dress up sometimes.

I feel like my whole life only tennis.

I find interesting characters or lessons that resonate with people and sometimes I write about them in the sports pages, sometimes I write them in a column, sometimes in a novel, sometimes a play or sometimes in nonfiction. But at the core I always say to myself, 'Is there a story here? Is this something people want to read?'

There was a long stint during my childhood after I gave up on being a pro football player - we're talking sixth grade here - that I strongly considered a future writing and drawing comic books. I have been making stuff up ever since.

At 17, I already had responsibility because I took care of my family, but in the football I was young; I wasn't experienced or the captain - I was just in the team.