Joe LaMonte began running competitively in 1996, switching from soccer, after extensive redistricting in Howard County decimated his high school soccer team. After a moderately successful high school career, Joe was a lazy, out of shape disaster for his first two years of college after an ill timed case of mononucleosis prevented him from walking on to his college's cross country team.

In 2000, Joe began training again. In the fall of 2000, Joe walked on to his college's cross country team and remained a member of the cross country and track teams for his final three years of college. After graduating, Joe continued to train hard and improve throughout his time in graduate school at the University of Michigan. That improvement continues to this day. The steady progress Joe has experienced as his training base increases continues to drive his distance running ambitions.

Joe is a die-hard fan of Michigan sports, especially football and basketball.