As part of my new web series, The Role Model In You, here is my most recent interview. The Role Model In You series discusses how individuals were influenced as a child to lead a healthy lifestyle. It covers who influenced these individuals, the changes they made in their life to be healthy, and the message they would like to convey to the youth of today. Our guests include doctors, soccer stars, Super Bowl champions, entrepreneurs, celebrities, and just regular people looking to share their story. I hope you enjoy it!
1. Your name, title, and age? What do you do (or did you do) for a living?
Reid Mumford, professional cyclist for six years. I currently ride for Optum Pro Cycling presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies.
2. Who was the person that inspired you as a child to eat healthy and stay fit? What was their relationship to you?
I became interested in racing bicycles while I was in junior high. My older brother, Jason, rode a lot and I got interested in cycling because of him. As I became more involved in racing, my mom, Susan, helped me to start eating better. I remember us experimenting with new recipes and reading sports nutrition books together.
3. What did they do to inspire you?
My mom has great enthusiasm for trying new things. We saw eating right and improving our nutrition to help improve energy and sports performance as a fun experiment and something we could do together.
4. How did their lesson change your life?
It’s been a natural progression. As cycling took over my life, eventually becoming my job, I spent more of my energy and time dedicated to staying fit and improving my strength and endurance through training and nutrition. The original influence of my family helped to point me in the right direction from the beginning.
5. Do you convey their message to kids in your life presently?
Now that I have children of my own, nutrition and getting outside together are very important parts of our family. We try to limit junk food and emphasize good, wholesome foods with our kids. I look forward to starting or ending my training rides with a hot lap with my 3-year-old son around the neighborhood. We have a good time racing around the neighborhood together.
6. What would be your main message to children today to lead healthy lifestyles?
Kids, get outside and have some fun! There are so many great adventures to be had out there in parks, on bike paths, trails, rivers and lakes, mountains and backyards. Find something that you like to do outside and do it.
7. Do you have a web site you would like to promote?