Age: 44
PERSONAL RECORDS:
5 mile cross country 26:50 1977
10k 35:32 early 1980’s
5k 18:16 1990’s
1 mile 4:44 high school
2 mile 10:24 high school
marathon 3:15 1993 Tucson, AZ
Weekly Milage: 25-40 miles
When Did You Start Running? I started running when I was 14 and joined the Kirby Jr. High XC team in 1970.
Who Is Your Running Role Model? Who Has Influenced You
Most In Running? Steve Prefontaine....he was tough and cool so he had a big influence on high school and college runners of that era. I really liked how he tilted his head going around a curve. He was the closest thing to a pop star that distance running has ever had. I think distance running would be a more popular high school sport today if he had lived.
My parents influenced me the most by always supporting me. Dad took off from work early to see XC meets. Mom had meals available at all hours and provided snacks for the runners. My high school coach, Coach Beck, at Hazelwood (St. Louis) also was a big influence. He is now in the Missouri Cross Country Coach’s Hall of Fame. We actually did 30 440 ‘s with a minute rest in between. Amazing!
Did You Run In College Or High School? I ran Hazelwood High School XC and track. I ran XC at William Jewell College. I was 14th in the Suburban North Conference XC meet my senior year of high school. In college I was 6th in the Heart of America Conference race and 14th in our NAIA district race in 1977. We were conference and district champions that year and a big thrill was participating in the NAIA Championship meet in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It was unbelievably cold that day. Tim Schmid was a William Jewell teammate, and he is still an outstanding runner in the Kansas City area.
What Is Your Favorite Workout? My hardest workout now is 12 400’s with a minute rest in between.
What Is Your Favorite Training Route? I love running the trails at Rock Bridge State park.
Personal Info and Interests: I live in Centralia and teach at Blue Ridge Elementary in Columbia. I’m married to Julee, and we have a 15 year old daughter, Jennifer.
CTC Track Member: I think I’ve been a CTC member since 1994. My daughter has developed a love of the sport through Dick Hessler’s coaching in the CTC program. Last fall, as a freshman, Jennifer did a 23:26 5k in cross country and a 14:02 track 2-mile.