NOVA Team Profile: Justin Buenaflor

PRs
5K: 20:12
8K: 35:48
10 Mile: 1:12:24
Marathon: 3:56:47

NOVA President  Justin Buenaflor
photo courtesy Justin Buenaflor

Justin began his running journey in high school when, as a freshman, he needed to do something to keep him busy until the spring tennis season.  He signed up for cross country in the fall and indoor track for the winter.  He instantly fell in love with running, and although he was never particularly great at it, what he lacked in talent he more than made up for with his leadership skills. His junior year he was elected Captain of both teams and remained so through his senior year.  Through college and after, Justin continued running for himself to stay in shape.

When Justin moved to the Arlington, VA Area and began working for an Environmental Consulting firm he was pushed by his sister (who works for the same firm) to run the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler with the corporate team. The race again ignited his passion to run.  Justin loved the local running scene and he began to take running a little more seriously as his times began to drop. One of his fellow running co-workers, Dave Wertz, told him of a local running club in which he was a member, and said that if Justin wanted to improve, that was the place he needed to be.  Justin was initially intimidated by the idea of joining the club because of Dave’s amazing PRs and thought that everyone in this club must be equally amazing and/or intimidating. After three months of nagging, Dave was able to drag Justin out one Tuesday evening in December 2010.  After a few 800s that Justin struggled through, leaving him exhausted and questioning why he put himself through that kind of torture, he went home and immediately jumped on Active and registered to be a member of NOVA.  

Fast forward three years, Justin is now in the 2^nd year of his Presidency with NOVA and still loves coming out every Tuesday to torture himself on the track.  He is in better shape now than in his younger years and is ripping apart PRs he set as a 16 year old high school kid.  Justin loves the camaraderie and support from NOVA and enjoys being President. He sees his role as a small way to give back to the Club, its members and its Coach that have all done so much for him over the years.