JR ran at UMass-Amherst for one year before transferring to Wentworth Institute of Technology, which does not have a running program, and where he rowed crew for 3 years. After graduation JR worked in Boston and trained sporadically with the Greater Boston Track Club. He has recommitted himself to running, and intends to run some big PRs with GRC. JR works in project management at a regional construction company.