Greg Guerrieri has been on the run since he was in the eighth grade at Wallenpaupack, and I don’t mean from the law. Guerrieri has been involved in the sport of running since his first local 5K nearly four years ago and he has never looked back.

“It probably started back in elementary school, with the Hershey Track and Field and I found I had a little bit of talent. I ran for the school and then there was a local 5-K run down in Promised Land and I did that and did pretty well,” said Guerrieri.

The training and endless amounts of hours which he spends pounding the pavement are great for preparing for events throughout the school year, but Guerrieri also participates in races when the doors to WAHS are locked and most of his friends and other students are on the lake or swimming in their pools. Last year he placed 49th overall in the Wilkes-Barre Duathlon and was first in his age group of 15-19 year old males. He finished with a time of 1:37.15. The Duathlon consists of a three mile run, a 16 mile bike ride and then another three mile run to the finish line.

“I run Cross Country and Track and over the summer we have a training schedule that is around 350 miles. That pretty much keeps me in shape and it is something I like to do,” said Guerrieri.

When it comes time for the event to start Guerrieri does enjoy the running aspect of a Duathlon or triathlon over the biking or kayaking, “I like the running, I think it separates (the field) a little more talent-wise, The running is definitely more physically challenging.”

This year the Duathlon fell on Father’s Day and Guerrieri was back in the city of Wilkes-Barre to improve on his time, “Last year I came in first in my age group, I’d like to cut a minute off of both runs, especially the last one and I think I can gain a lot of time on the bike, hopefully cut my time by about five or six minutes (overall).”

Competing in the sport has become a family affair as Guerrieri’s father, Greg, trains with him during the summer and his brother Anthony who is 12-years-old participates as well, “My dad bikes with me over the summer and usually I’ll run. I’ve got my brother running and a little training regiment for him. He’s very good at it for his age.”

With all the time spent training and traveling from one event to another it is good to have the support of a family when times get tough. “They’re real supportive, my Dad especially, signing me up for runs over the summer, from shoes to feeding my body after I run, nutrition and all that stuff, he’s right there with all that.”

With this year’s race falling on Father’s Day Guerrieri wanted to express his gratitude to his Dad, “There’s definitely a connection there between him and me running for him. Dad, thanks for all the support and Happy Father’s Day.”