Instead of eating, Cannon, a 26-year-old chemist who works in Monmouth County, N.J., and resides in Haddonfield, stows away his lab coat, pants and shoes and throws on his T-shirt, shorts and cross trainers to go for a run.

But he isn't going for just a casual run - and Cannon isn't a casual runner.

Ever since he graduated from Haverford College in 2005, Cannon, a serious runner who ran the mile, 5K and cross country for Haverford's varsity team, was looking for something to keep his competitive juices flowing.

"I needed a new stimulus . . . something I could do on my own," Cannon said.

He ended up turning to his passion - running. More specific, long-distance running. And since 2006, when he ran his first marathon, the New York City Marathon, Cannon has run in events around the country.

He ran a personal best of 2 hours, 21 minutes, 22 seconds at the Houston Marathon in 2007, finishing 17th and qualifying for the 2008 Olympic Trials. He needed to place in the top three to make the U.S. team, but came up 48 places short, finishing 51st after posting a time of 2:22:23.

"It was really special," Cannon said when asked what it meant to be able to run in the Olympic Trials. "It was a long-term goal I had set for myself, and I was one of the younger competitors in the field of 120, so I really had nothing to lose. I just had fun. My family and friends were there, as well; it was just a really cool event."

On Sunday, Cannon will have the opportunity to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Trials, should he grind out the 26.2-mile Philadelphia Marathon in 2:19:00. Cannon needs to cut 2 minutes, 22 seconds from his personal best time to get there - a formidable task for even elite runners.

"I definitely believe I can do it. Maybe not necessarily at Philadelphia, but I'd like to get my time to 2:20:00 if I can," said Cannon, who would still have an opportunity to lower his time in 2010 and 2011 should he fail to do so in 2009. "It's such a long race. Sometimes your body isn't feeling great. There's so many things that need to come together to get the time I really want."

Cannon is pushing himself harder than ever. For the past 2 months, he's increased his training, by running 120 to 140 miles a week. The regiment can become taxing on his body (he had to reduce his training the last couple of weeks because of tendinitis), not to mention being mentally draining. It doesn't matter. To Cannon, it's all worth it.

"There are certainly things I don't get to do because I need extra rest. I don't get to go out at night," Cannon said. "But if you're passionate about the sport and you want to be good, you make the sacrifices."

Come Sunday, with his wife Sarah, family and friends cheering him on, Cannon will find out whether the grueling training he put himself through has paid off. *