Ford Palmer (born October 6, 1990) is a professional

middle-distance runner Middle-distance running events are track races longer than sprints, up to 3000 metres. The standard middle distances are the 800 metres, 1500 metres and mile run, although the 3000 metres may also be classified as a middle-distance event. The 1 ...

who specializes in the

1500 meters The 1500 metres or 1,500-metre run (typically pronounced 'fifteen-hundred metres') is the foremost middle distance track event in athletics. The distance has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896 and the World Championships in Athleti ...

and the mile. He ran in the men's 1500 meters at the 2016 US Olympic Trials.

Running career

High school

Palmer attended Absegami High School in Galloway Township, New Jersey, where he played as a

linebacker Linebacker (LB) is a playing position in gridiron football. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage and the defensive linemen. They are the "middle ground" of defenders, ...

for the school's football team. Outside of football season, Palmer ran on Absegami's track team as an

800 meter The 800 metres, or meters ( US spelling), is a common track running event. It is the shortest commonly run middle-distance running event. The 800 metres is run over two laps of an outdoor (400-metre) track and has been an Olympic event since the ...

runner. However, after suffering a total of four concussions over the course of high school, he gave up football in order to focus on running. At New Jersey's 2009 Meet of Champions, Palmer placed third overall in the boys' 800 meter race in a time of 1:52.24, his best result in high school.

Collegiate

Palmer attended and ran track at

Monmouth University Monmouth University is a private university in West Long Branch, New Jersey. Founded in 1933 as Monmouth Junior College, it became Monmouth College in 1956 and Monmouth University in 1995 after receiving its charter. There are about 4,400 full ...

, where he was coached by Chris Tarello. After graduating from high school, Palmer's weight at one point was as high as 205 pounds. In his first two seasons at Monmouth, his training volume was considerably low at 25 miles of running per week. As a junior, a physical check-up revealed that Palmer had high blood pressure. After the diagnosis, he watched ''

Forks Over Knives ''Forks Over Knives'' is a 2011 American advocacy film and documentary that advocates a low-fat, whole-food, plant-based diet (that excludes all animal products and processed foods) as a way to avoid or reverse several chronic diseases. The film ...

'', after which he began a pescetarian diet, which he maintained for a year. Subsequently, he tried a

vegetarian diet Vegetarian diet may refer to: *Vegetarianism *Vegetarian cuisine *Plant-based diet (i.e., not necessarily stemming from vegetarian beliefs) *Veganism Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal product—particularly in diet ...

, after which he fully transitioned into a

vegan Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal product—particularly in diet—and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals. An individual who follows the diet or philosophy is known as a vegan. ...

in 2011. By the end of Palmer's senior year at Monmouth, he not only changed his diet but also lost 51 pounds and recorded a mile time of 4:00.4.

Post-collegiate

After graduating from Monmouth in 2013, Palmer began working as a

bartender A bartender (also known as a barkeep, barman, barmaid, or a mixologist) is a person who formulates and serves alcoholic or soft drink beverages behind the bar, usually in a licensed establishment as well as in restaurants and nightclubs, but ...

while training under coach Frank Gagliano with ''New Jersey New York Track Club''. In early 2014, he was close to quitting the sport as he worked some overnight bar shifts in order to support himself. He made a career breakthrough on August 1, 2014, when he won the Sir Walter Miler in 3:57.61, his first ever mile under four minutes. In January 2015, Palmer signed a professional contract with

Hoka One One Hoka One One (stylized as HOKA) is an athletic shoe company originating in Annecy, France that designs and markets running shoes. The brand first gained attention in the running industry by producing shoes with oversized outsoles, dubbed "maximal ...

. The following year, he raced in the men's 1500 meters at the 2016 US Olympic Trials, but did not progress beyond the first heat. Palmer has divided his time living with his mother in Galloway Township and his father in

Upper Township, New Jersey Upper Township is a large township in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 12,373, reflecting an increase of ...

.McGarry, Michael
"Former Absegami High School runner Ford Palmer chases 4-minute mark in mile"
''

The Press of Atlantic City ''The Press of Atlantic City'' is the fourth-largest daily newspaper in New Jersey. Originally based in Pleasantville, it is the primary newspaper for southeastern New Jersey and the Jersey Shore. The newspaper designated market runs from Ware ...

'', July 19, 2014. Accessed September 27, 2017. "Palmer's mother, Gina, lives in Galloway Township, while his father lives in Upper Township. He splits his time between both homes."

Notes

* The "i" after a result indicates an indoor performance.

References

External links

Profile at IAAF
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Palmer, Ford Living people 1990 births American male middle-distance runners Absegami High School alumni Monmouth University alumni People from Galloway Township, New Jersey People from Upper Township, New Jersey Sportspeople from Atlantic County, New Jersey Track and field athletes from New Jersey