Publications & Sites 
Personal trainer prepares for Prodigy 5K
Fro left, Joe Miller, Nathan Winquist, Jonathan Kaya, Monte Haney and Jason Guevarra jog around an indoor track. | Jon Langham~for Sun-Times Media
James Miller
Age: 30
Marital status: Single
Education: Working on associate’s degree at Triton College. Certified personal trainer, served eight years in U.S. Air Force.
Article Extras
Updated: December 9, 2012 6:14AM
RIVER GROVE — For several months, a group of Triton College students have been motivating each other to reach the finish line.
The finish line comes at the end of the Prodigy 5K Run and Walk on Nov. 10, with the race starting at Winston Plaza in Melrose Park. It is hosted by the Prodigy 2020 Foundation and sponsored by Triton College.
Race proceeds will support educational and economic resources for military veterans to help in their transition from the battlefield into civilian life.
U.S. Air Force veteran Joe Miller, 30, served during the Iraq War. He saw a flier promoting the event and, after checking out Prodigy 2020’s website, www.prodigy2020.org, he was ready to go.
Miller is working on his associate’s degree at Triton and is a certified personal trainer. He is also secretary of the Triton Personal Trainer Club and enlisted some of the members to sign up for the race.
Q: Why did you want to become a personal trainer?
A: I was an orthopedic technologist assistant doing casts and splints, assisting in surgery and trying to go to school full-time and it was taking forever. I wanted to do something that would give me more flexibility. It’s really what I love to do, so why not do it as a profession?
Q: What do you love about it?
Q: Do you ever get bored with your job?
Q: What is your favorite cheat food?
Q: What’s the worst kind of food to eat?
Q: What advice would you give someone trying to get in shape?
Q: What do you like to do for fun?
Q: What is your ultimate goal?
A: Own and run a business, get my doctorate in physical therapy and indoctrinate my training into it. I don’t see a lot of people doing it now, but I see it growing.
