Ken O’Day

 

 

 

What is your HE-Artist talent or skill? Please describe.
I am a competitive triathlete and duathlete. I compete mostly in sprint distance races in the Tampa Bay area, but I’ve also done Olympic and half-iron distance events. For the past three years I have been recognized as a USA Triathlon All-American and in 2012 I was the Florida regional duathlon champion.

 

How long have you been doing this?
I have been competing in triathlons for the past three years. However, I have been an avid cyclist and casual runner for about 25 years.

 

Why did you start doing this?
I entered a 5k running race just to see what time I could do it in and got 3^rd in my age group. I caught the bug and started doing more races. Since I also enjoyed cycling I thought I’d give triathlon a try, but first I needed to learn how to swim. I practiced for 6 weeks at our local pool but in the race I mostly dog-paddled through the half-mile swim and yet somehow managed to get 5^th place in my age group.

 

What makes you love doing this?
I love training with my friends, being fit, and the thrill of competition. I also love the challenge of trying to master three very different sports.

 

What is your current job?
I develop health economic models at Xcenda. I like the challenge of economic modeling – it’s like solving a puzzle – and I like the practicality of how it can be used to inform decision making. I also like learning about health economics, epidemiology, statistics, decision analysis, Excel, and a wide variety of disease states.

 

How long have you been working in the field of health economics and outcomes research?
I have been working in the field of health economics for almost 10 years. Before that I taught philosophy at a few different universities.

 

 

And now a few questions just for fun!

 

 

1. What was your favorite food when you were a child?
   Captain Crunch cereal.
2. What’s the #1 most played song on your iPod or musical device?
   Ryan Adams, Magick, my pre-race favorite.
3. What sound do you love?
   The sound of the wind whispering through the pine trees in our backyard.
4. If you could throw any kind of party, what would it be like and what would it be for?
   A mountain bike retreat in the Utah desert, drinking beer around the campfire with friends.
5. If you could choose anyone, who would you pick as your mentor?
   I can’t pick just one, there are so many amazing people to learn from.
6. If you could witness any event past, present or future, what would it be?
   I hope to be alive to witness the first human land on Mars. I’m in awe of the Apollo program and this would be even more amazing.
7. If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet?
   I’d love to sit down in a pub with Bill Bryson and have a few pints, he always makes me laugh.
8. What was the first thing you bought with your own money?
   Some cool wheels for my BMX bike.