feature story / 35 know if it’s because we’re all not just bankers wearing khakis and loafers without socks.” In addition, Watt’s 6-year-old daughter is loving Tuscan Elementary School, where she began kindergarten last fall. She’s especially enjoying her teacher, Mrs. Sinclair. “Our daughter is fully reading. It’s just amazing how quickly it all happens,” he says. Although running has been pri- marily a solitary endeavor for Watt, he’s begun training with Maplewood neighbor Michael Steiner. “I’ve never really had a running buddy before,” he explains. “I have gravitated in my life towards solo act kind of pursuits.” In 2015, the two met at the North Jersey Pride Run in South Orange. “Mike is an excellent guy,” says Watt. “When we first met, he was just getting into running. Since then, he’s come on like wildfire...he is just crushing it.” The Maplewood streets have not al- ways been kind to Watt. In addition to struggling with the uneven sidewalks as well as the pitch-black nights, he suffered a bad ankle sprain last year while running on Summit Avenue. “I learned the hard way – you can’t run around here in the dark. I stepped on a stick and heard the snap when I came down on my ankle. It’s the worst in- jury I’ve had in 25 years. Of course, I finished my mile. And I didn’t take a day off.” How is Watt going to celebrate the huge milestone on February 22, 2019? He plans on heading down to Baltimore to run with his long-time friend Pete Stine. “Pete showed up un- announced in Brooklyn on the twen- tieth anniversary run,” says Watt. “He coordinated with my wife and showed up with a trophy he made. He did that day’s run with me. It was a true friend’s gesture.” While he’s certainly focused on con- tinuing his daily running streak, Watt has other quirky stats that he’d like to improve on. He’s participated in and organized a series of Beer Mile events, a race that involves, well...a combina- tion of speed drinking beer and run- ning. Ever the statistician, Watt cites details about his best beer run. “It may be the running achievement I’m most proud of. My drinking time was 1:15 and my running time was 5:51,” he says with a big smile. “It’s an amazing, strange, and fun experience. I highly recommend it.” Donny Levit is a writer, journalist, and Maple- wood resident. He ran the New York City Mar- athon in 2002 and is the author of Rock n’ Roll Lies, 10 Stories. Follow him on @donnyreports. Watt is both guitarist and musical director for the Tony Award-winning singer and performer Lena Hall Watt White (bottom right) at a Beer Mile event he participated in and organized. Supporting the individual & creative growth of each child within a Jewish setting REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR PRESCHOOL. Call for a tour. Toddler Time • Preschool • Extended Day • Summer Camp Please contact Carol Paster, Director, at the Preschool Office 973-763-4600 • cpaster@tstinj.org www.tsti.org • 432 Scotland Road, South Orange