Ric Munoz, Los Angeles

In early 1995 when this Nike commercial was broadcast Ric Munoz was suddenly cast into the public eye. It was a memorable commercial for two reasons -- it was a public announcement of someone's HIV status, and this HIV positive individual was an athlete -- in some people's minds a contradiction in terms.

In a recent interview with L.A. Sports Profiles, Ric told a reporter, "If there is any way I would like to be viewed in the HIV community, it's as somebody who says, 'Don't sit at home, get out there, go for a walk. If it's a block or 10 blocks, do something.' It's not that hard. I've heard there are people who just shut down after getting the test results, after finding out they are HIV positive. They just stop. They could have been the most active, vibrant people ever seen. It all just disappears. That is a real tragedy." He now says. "If you've got a challenge, you have the option of letting it enervate you or inspire you to go beyond it -- not just with HIV but any challenge in your life. I have a friend with full blown AIDS and almost no T cells who runs five marathons a year with a catheter in his chest."

Recently The Body chatted with Ric. Born in El Paso, Texas in February of 1958, he has lived since the age of six in Los Angeles. He graduated from the University of Southern California in 1978 in Journalism and currently works as a legal secretary. He began running in May 1983 and has since run 81 marathons. In 1995 alone he ran in the marathons of: San Diego, Long Beach, Los Angeles, London, Boston, Pittsburgh, Grandma's (in Duluth, MN), San Francisco, Silver State (in Reno, NV), Montreal, Portland, Santa Clarita, Sacramento and Huntsville, Alabama. Marathon times: Previous best: 3:20. Present best: 2:44

1. Were you a runner before you tested positive for HIV?

Yes. I started running at age 25 in May of 1983. I tested positive in January 1987. By December 1983 I ran my first marathon (that's 26 miles, 385 yards).

2. How did your test result effect your running?

It did not affect my running at all.

3. Were there any questions relating to exercise and HIV that you asked your doctor?

No. I simply told him I was a long-distance runner. If he had objected to that I would have found another doctor.

4. What's your workout schedule like now?

I try to run at least 10 miles every time I run and I try to stay in the 70 to 80 miles per week range.

5. Do you keep any particular diet?

I follow a vegetarian diet. Absolutely no animal flesh and no dairy except for cheese.

6. Recount your experience with the Gay Games.

I was a Gay Games II and Gay Games III running the marathon in each. I experienced the first DNF (did not finish) of my marathoning career at Gay Games IV. I look forward to the Gay Games Marathon because I get to compete against a lot of people I know personally or by name.

7. How did it happen that you appeared in the Nike "Just Do It" commercial?

The head of advertising at Nike, Joe McCarthy, instructed Nike's ad agency to search for a HIV Positive runner. In their research, the agency found me via a story that had appeared in The New York Times about HIV Positive participants in Gay Games IV.

8. Did anything interesting happen to you after the ad ran? Was anyone in your life surprised when they saw the commercial?

Nothing happened that surprised me except maybe the 75% approval rating the ad received from the people who got in touch with Nike to express their opinion about the ad. A few people -- mostly individuals I hadn't seen in years -- were surprised when they noticed the ad on television. I had told most of my friends in advance so all their surprise came when I told them that Nike had called me in the first place. I have no family so there was no reaction from that quarter.

9. What do you recommend for people who would like to begin exercising?

My recommendation to newcomers to exercise is usually limited to the following advice. Find something you've had a natural interest in but haven't gotten around to trying. And when the plunge is taken, go into it very, very gently and slowly work up from there. For example swim for 15 minutes instead of 60, run for 10 minutes instead of 20, etc. Make sure your body adapts easily to the introduction of an exercise program and keep in mind that it is a shock to your system that will gradually go away.