On getting older
First off, congratulations Joe for an excellent run in Boston. 3:15:41 is good anywhere, but with the big crowds in Boston, that is very fast.
I’ve always known the older runners in the Rapid City area were special, but as I travel around, it becomes even more apparent. In my travels, I often run races, and usually do fairly well in my age division (54). The one place I don’t fare very well is at home. Last year I ran a 5k in RC and finished 3rd overall, but second in my division. Randy Ericksen is a continuous thorn in my side. I’ve beaten him once, when he jogged and took video. He isn’t really what you expect to see when you think of awesome runner, but under that barrel chest beats a 200 hp heart.
Gary Haven is 57, and I rarely defeat him. Right now he is training for this summers Badlands Primal Quest. Most people are contemplating retirement when they reach his age, he is looking for the next big athletic challenge. Last spring Gary and Randy went to Colorado and ran a hill race. The race consisted of running up a ski slope, then riding the tram back down. This circuit went on for several hours. Wow!
Roger Heacock is another older guy who makes most younger runners look slow. While he doesn’t run as many miles as some of us, his talent and tenacity keep him close to the front in races. I’ll be glad to see Roger and Gary turn 60 in a couple of years, so I don’t have them in my age group. Fifty-nine year old Wally Little Moon is another runner I will not miss in my AG. While he doesn’t look all that impressive, I wouldn’t really know, I usually only see him from behind.
There are many other “Master” runners in the Black Hills worth taking note of. We seem to have more than our fair share. While I cannot name all of them, I would be remiss if I didn’t add Amy Yanni, Lorna Squyer and my hero, Elaine Doll Dunn to the list. I really don’t mind running against them however, they have their own age group and gender to contend with.
Oh, and my last race . . . a 5k in Monroe, WA was a 20:43, I finished 1st in my age group, and 2nd overall. Sometimes I really miss all those “OLD” guys, and sometimes not!
gary
April 24th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Gary made a mistake - I think that was Chris’s time he was referring to. I was not in Boston this year. It is my goal to one day be standing there at the start line. I had a good couple of years running the marathon up until last year, with a string of bad luck and poor planning which led to many disappointingly slow times. Most of it was from training for a 50-miler. I trained my body to go slow and conserve energy for the long run and not keep up a 7:15 pace for 26.2 miles. As I said from previous posts, I have found a routine that seems to be working by cutting out the “junk” miles and opting for quality workouts. This year challenge is work which is keeping me from getting to the faster courses like Ft Collins, Fargo or Brookings. I’ll continue to work on my speed for this year into next and get a fast one is next spring which will hopefully be BQ for me.
Gary - I can only hope I can run as fast as you “old” guys when I get to be that age. Heck, I’m barely in front of you as it is and I’m always behind guys like Haven and Walley.
April 27th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
Joe, thanks for the clarification and Gary, thanks for the congrats. Boston was a surreal experience. I thought I could run it faster, but I think I gave it all I had that day while still being able to enjoy the experience. And, a week later, my quads are still feeling every step of that course….it’s not an easy one.
Joe, I think you’re right in saying that it’s a matter of what your focus is. For me, the focus has been Boston for a few years. I had planned on running the Lean Horse 50 miler last summer, but decided to concentrate on the BQ first. Now that that’s out of the way, I’ll be doing Lean Horse this summer. I would guess that when you focus on faster marathon times, you’ll get there. I’ve run Brookings, Fargo and Fort Collins and all are great races. For me, Brookings and Fargo would be the ideal BQ courses (although I wasn’t going for a BQ when I ran them and I actually did it in Missoula). The downhill in Ft. Collins tore me up but everyone’s different. Now, I’ve got to try and train my body to switch from running 26.2 relatively fast to learning how to cover 50 upright. I guess that, goal-wise, we’re in boats going the opposite direction.
And definitely don’t feel bad about losing to Wally and the other “old” guys. I’ve taken my licks, frequently, against him, Kip and other Master’s runners in the Hills. And, a guy I know (from California) won the 50-54 AG at Boston this year with a 2:43. I will likely never run that fast at any age! Speed is relative….take what you can get when you can get it!
May 4th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
Hey…anyone coming down for the Bolder Boulder? I haven’t signed up for a time yet and was wondering if anyone I know might be here for the race. I’d be in the 60-70 minute groups. Thought maybe there was a chance to run with someone I know from “back home.”