I just realized that I never posted about this! I got to meet Apolo Ohno! I also got to ask him a few questions too. I asked on Twitter and Facebook what people wanted to know, so here are his thoughts, ideas, and ramblings (and some of mine).
First, yes, he is just as cute in person as he is on TV. He is one of the most real and one of the nicest celebrities I have met.
Food
Apolo’s favorite Subway sandwich (for those of you who don’t know, he is a celebrity spokesperson for them) is Honey Nut Bread with Double turkey, chedder cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, pepper, spinach, oil, and vinegar. He also is trying to get Subway to add some gluten free menu items. His favorite splurge item is ethnic foods.
Life Lessons
He believes in balance — everything has to be in balance.
His one piece of advice: There are many life lessons to be learned through sports.
In 1998 he didn’t make the US team. However, that gave him the drive he has today. Everything happens for a reason. We don’t control if we win or lose, but it is how you handle that.
Running/Athletes/Sports
His favorite running weather? Crazy weather! He likes to run when it is crazy hot or crazy cold.
His opinion on why athletes seem to do so well on DWTS (Dancing With The Stars)? Athletes are very use to being coached. They are use to schedules and training. Hollywood celebrities — not as much.
He runs 40 miles a week.
His nutrition changes depending on what sport he is doing. While training for the marathon (he just ran in Chicago’s), he gets to eat more carbohydrates. When skating, he has no to low carbohydrates. His normal weight is 160 lbs. However, his race weight is 141-142 lbs.
He only started training for marathon running in June. His goal time is 1 hr 45 minutes for the half marathon.
In speedskating, his longest race is only 2.5 minutes. So yes, marathon running is completely different. His training had to be customized to him. His trainer had to retrain him. He had to learn that “it’s okay that people pass you”.
What surprised me the most is how Apolo told us how sports saved his life. As a child, he did swimming, basketball, football, and boxing. In 1992, he saw speedskating in the Olympics. He tried it and thought it was fun, and he happened to be really good at it. At 14, he was recruited for a program. At that point in his life, he said he was a “bad” kid. He hung out with bad kids and did bad things. (And if you don’t believe people can change, I hope his story changes his tune). Now, this program he got in, they had made a special exemption to let him in. His dad dropped him off at the airport. Instead of getting on the plane, he called one of his friends and lived on his friends’ couches for around 2 weeks. The program then called his dad and were like “where is he?” Needless to say, his dad tracked him down and was not a happy camper. He then drove him to airport again, walked him to the gate, walked him to his seat, and flew with him. He made it to the program that truly saved him. He said it wasn’t easy. However, speedskating completely turned his life around. At 14 years old, he was #1 in US. 15 years later (at the 2010 Olympics), 70%-80% of the judges were people he has skated against over the years. (Now, how weird would that be?)
I had such a great conversation with him, so I have teamed with Subway to give one of my lucky readers a $25 Subway gift card. Here’s what you need to do:
I learned that he loves the Honey Nut Bread Sub!
Great Interview…. No Suprises though 🙂
He is a real inspiration for being determined
He runs 40 miles a week.
Apolo is a dynamo. I learned that he just ran a marathon. So much energy!
I learned His goal time is 1 hr 45 minutes for the half marathon.
flychild7(at)gmail(dot)com
In 1998 he didn’t make the US team. However, that gave him the drive he has today. Everything happens for a reason. We don’t control if we win or lose, but it is how you handle that.
I was amazed that after 15 years his judges were former competitors
I was surprised He runs 40 miles a week
I learned he runs 40 miles a week.
gefr71@gmail.com
I was surprised he weighs 160
I was surprised that he was in trouble as a kid. I'm glad he's sharing his story, it easily could help an impressionable teen today.
I'm surprised that his longest race is only 2.5 minutes! Wow!
pkbw28 at gmail dot com
I can't believe he runs 40 miles a week! That's insane!
I learned he is a very interesting person and a new sandwich idea, his fav sounds yummy! Thanks! 🙂
I was surpised he likes to run in either really hot or really cold weather
i was surprised that his race weight is only 141-142 pounds
nblexp ( at ) gmail (dot) com
I learned that his longest race was only 2.5 minutes
I was surprised to read that he was a bad kid
I'm surprised he runs 40 miles a week
At 14 years old, he was #1 in US.
I never realized what his background was. He is an impressive man to have overcome his bad start.
He loves to run in crazy weather and seems to succeed at it.
I learned that he was a bad kid
apollo enjoyed success at any early age
I was surprised at the wide range of things/sports that he has participated in!
I learned that he likes to run in hot or cold weather. When it is too hot or cold, I prefer to stay inside. I am glad that he is a nice celebrity!
Never heard of him but he sounds like a nice guy. I'm not suprised that sports saved his life when he was young. It has saved lots and lots of kids
i did not know that his nutrition changes depending on what sport he is doing
surprised that he was a "BAD" kid
That He runs 40 miles a week, dang!
I love that I learned how driven he is. He seems like a great guy!
I'm always impressed by anyone attempting Marathon running, especially after being an ice sprinter.
I was surprised to learn his race weight is 18-19 pounds lighter than his skating weight.
nuttrition changes as to what sport he is doing- interesting
tcogbill at live dot com
He likes to run when it is either really hot or cold.
That his longest speedskating race is 2.5 minutes shocked me! I would've thought at least 10 minutes! You learn something new every day!
I learned he started at age 14!
In 1998 he didn’t make the US team.
vmkids3 at msn dot com
I didnt know he liked crazy weather. crazy hot or crazy cold.
I learned that as a child, he did swimming, basketball, football, and boxing
Couldn't believe he started off as bad, dishonest kid, headed in the wrong direction. Glad he changed!
I learned about his weight – so interesting! and that's awesome that he runs 40 miles a week
I was surprised that sports saved his life
I learned that he's real and down to earth.
He believes in balance
I was glad to learn that Apolo is encouraging Subway to add more gluten-free items – that's great!
I learned He likes to run when it is crazy hot or crazy cold.
I learned he likes to run in extreme temperatures.
I learned that he runs 40 miles a week.
austma7@aol.com
I learned that he was a troubled kid whose life was turned around by sports.
I learned the Apolo’s favorite Subway sandwich is Honey Nut Bread with Double turkey, chedder cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, pepper, spinach, oil, and vinegar. Now that is one I never tried but sounds good!
he believes in Balance, didnt know that
I learned that sports turned his life around. Love stories like this as it makes you realize that you should never give up on any child as there is something that may turn there life around.
I learned that at 14 years old, he was #1 in US. I didn't know he started that young
I'm surprised that he likes running in crazy weather. I'm not an athlete, but I wouldn't run outside when it's blazing hot or freezing cold.
Thanks for the giveaway!
I was surprised that he went through a "bad kid" phase.
He runs 40 miles a week!! Who does that! WOW!
I learned it's important to set goals like in the Apolo Ohno interview.
What a interesting interview, I didn't know he was going down the wrong track before he got into speedskating.
It was the running in crazy weather thing that caught my attention. I live in Texas and I don't know how anyone runs when it is crazy hot!
I'm surprised he likes to run in extreme weather. Not me!
The difference in weight depending on the sport is astounding!
He runs 40 miles a week! That sounds crazy! I also love that he didn't make the team at one point, but he kept going! Always great to see people rewarded like that 🙂
I learned he runs 40 miles per week.
he believes in balance
stanleybilly(at)bellsouth(dot)net
I learned he runs 40 miles a week..wow!
I'm surprised that he was a bad kid.. He seems so disciplined that it's hard to imagine!
Fs4Sarah at gmail dot com
I had no idea he was training for marathons…. but I've always been a big fan of his speedskating since I saw him compete in the 2002 olympics and loved it! It's really an exciting sport!
I was surprised to see how much his race weight is different from his normal weight.
HE RUNS 40 MILES A WEEK
I learned that the longest race is speedskating is only 2.5 minutes!
What surprised me from the interview is that he was #1 at age 14!
Katharina angelsandmusic[at]gmail[dot]com
Didn't realize he didn't make the 1998 team.
I didn't know he was a troubled teen and that speed skating turned his life around.
I learned that at one time he was a "bad kid". This surprized me.
I learned that while he is an incredible athlete, he's crazy enough to want to run in extremely hot weather! Makes me hot and irritable just to think of it!
I learned that he likes to run in crazy weather – and I have to agree, I performed best when I was in track and field practice I performed best in scorching heat
Thank you for hosting this giveaway
Louis
pumuckler {at} gmail {dot} com
When skating, he has no to low carbohydrates? Really? Hmm. Very interesting!
i learned he is completely insane! running in crazy cold or crazy hot weather? o.O nuts!
I learned his normal weight is 160 lbs.
He runs 40 miles a week!
I'm surprized he was a bad kid. Thanks for the giveaway.
He is trying to get Subway to offer gluten free food choices.
He runs 40 miles a week! Wow, I can't even imagine that.
tdlsfm(at)gmail(dot)com
He runs 40 miles a week…good for him…that's crazy!
I learned that Apolo Ohno runs 40 miles a week. I can't imagine running that much!
Wow – he runs 40 miles a week!
I did not know that he didn't make the team in 1998!
I learned he did bad things when he was young,
lnb1191(at)aol(dot)com
He did bad things before speed skating.
lnb1191(at)aol(dot)com
I didn't know that he was into marathon running.
how sports saved his life
The bad kid stuff surprised me–
He runs 40 miles a week!
I learned that he only starting training in june – wow
i like that he believes in balance-I do as well.
I didn't know what Ohno's favorite sandwich was!
I was surprised to find out he was a "bad" kid!
ljatwood at gmail dot com
I was surprised to learn that he started speed skating at such a young age- 14 yrs old and he likes to run in extreme weather.
I learned he runs 40 miles a week. Wow!
I was quite surprised to learn that in speedskating, his longest race is only 2.5 minutes. That's fast!
I learned that he like running in crazy weather – when it is crazy hot or crazy cold.
His favorite splurge is ethnic food.
I learned his favorite subway sandwich is Honey Nut Bread with Double turkey, chedder cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, pepper, spinach, oil, and vinegar
I was definitely surprised to learn that he likes to run in extreme weather!
I was surprised to learn how short speed skating races were.