Seth Kalish

​About Seth

 

I was born in Washington and grew up in the city attending DC Public Schools. Except for college, and briefly London, Dublin, and Provincetown, I have lived in DC my whole life. I attended Oberlin College, Ohio, where I majored in creative writing. My passion for design led me into a career as a graphic artist where I now work as an art director in The Washington Post's Advertising Department. I joined DC Front Runners in 2002. Over time, I have come to depend on the camaraderie and healthy competition of the Front Runners to keep me inspired and to make me a better runner. Serving on the Board and exercising my creativity on the club's T-shirts, Pride floats, and other endeavors has been a truly rewarding experience.  I'm very proud to be part of this great athletic and social group and am grateful for all the friends I have made.  

 

 

 

​Questions



Congratulations on winning the t-shirt design for the 2012 Cherry Blossom Ten Miler. How did that happen? I submitted a design last spring when I saw on their website that they had a competition. My concept had an Asian look given that it will be the 100th anniversary of the cherry blossoms being given to the city by Japan. It took a lot more time than I thought because I am a bit of a perfectionist. When I heard it was accepted, it was really thrilling. Seeing my design on over 10,000 t-shirts is going to be incredibly gratifying.

 

Why did you join Front Runners when you did? I had been running on my own and didn’t feel a strong need to run with a group. Then two of my good friends moved away to different cities so I felt a small void. The other factor was happening to bump into Taneen Carvell, the Front Runner Coordinator at the time with whom I had previously worked, who suggested I come.

 

When you became Coordinator in 2007, how did it change your view of the club? I saw myself as a delegate for new people joining or visiting more than I had before. It also made me reach beyond my own circle of friends within the group and get to know more walkers and runners. I wanted them to know that they had someone in the leadership to share ideas with or give feedback to. Front Runners has always had a consensus-based leadership and I wanted to continue that tradition.

 

As a DC native, what is the biggest change in the gay scene you have noticed? By the early 1990s when I started exploring the scene, it had already transformed a lot from my childhood in the 1970s when Dupont Circle was its core and people were sort of ghettoizing themselves in one neighborhood. That process has continued as the city has grown more visibly prosperous.

 

Is the gay scene more visible? In some ways it is more homogenized. When there was a small neighborhood with lots of rainbow flags and Lambda Rising it was more visible. We’ve lost some of that. But it’s a sign of progress that people don’t need to demark bars as much with a rainbow flag.

 

Why do you always have a pained expression in race photos? Because I’m feeling that face. The combination of straining as hard as I can to keep up the pace and breathing as hard as I need to means that I can’t relax.

 

You can’t fake relaxed-ness? Only momentarily. I want to see the finish time more than the photograph. I can always smile once the race is done.

 

What is your most cherished memory of Front Runners? Probably the Pride celebrations. For the last four years I’ve been heavily involved in designing, constructing and accessorizing the parade float. For the last two years, the addition of a dancing troupe with intricate choreography has brought it together in a way that allows a large number of members to enjoy representing the club to the community. We also get great feedback from the parade spectators.

                                                                                            

As Race Co-Director, have you any new plans? Last month, we launched an on-line submittal form as a new way of collecting race results from DCFR members for the annual Race Circuit. This is an improvement I've been wanting to bring to the process for a long time. The race circuit is a very nice structure and I wouldn’t plan on changing it much. The tweaks that it needs are determining what races to keep and what ones to add.

 

What running goal do you still have? Without a doubt qualifying for a Boston marathon. Twice I’ve come within two minutes: 3.20 from my age group. I would still like to get sub-3.20 even if I cross an age threshold where I qualify at a slower pace.

 

You work in a very famous journalistic institution, The Washington Post. How is that? It’s an institution that I’m proud to be part of. I’ve been in the marketing section for eight and half years. It’s a very interesting place to work, just knowing that I’m in the building with the journalists that are covering the big stories of the day.

 

What’s your favorite Front Runner route? I like Teddy Roosevelt Island. It’s this great treasure hidden in the city that most people have seen but have never been on. When I’ve gone through, I’ve seen deer and woodpeckers and other wildlife.

 

And your least favorite? Nothing comes to mind. Massachusetts Avenue is a physical challenge because of the hills but while I may not be in the mood for it sometimes, I know it’s good for me.

 

You’ve a little fascination for maps. What’s that all about? I like old maps of ancient places or very stylized subway maps of different cities. I like the visual representation of information and the creative choices that go into how to interpret information.

 

If you were to design a logo for yourself, what would it be? I’m sure I would struggle for hours and hours trying to come up with one. Perhaps because I’m a Leo, I could imagine a stylized version of a lion – in gold.

   

 

EDITOR’S NOTE:  It’s a wrap! After publishing over two-dozen member profiles, we are stepping down. The profiles will continue in 2012, so check your weekly e-news for further details. Thanks for reading! -- Brian and Marcel

 

Interview by Brian Beary, Design by Marcel Acosta

December 2011