Dave Teague

Dave Teague, former Hamline All American runner passed away this week after a short bout with cancer.  A 1975 grad, he was MIAC cc champ in 1975 with a 25:52.  His Hamline track times ranged from a 4:18 mile to 14:36 5k.  I only knew him for a couple of years, but he was a better person than runner.

When I started running track meets in the mid eighties, I had no high school or college background.  I wasn't familier with track manners, and didn't know most of the top competitors. Most ran on teams and were a bit cliquey.  Some of them were not to kind to the new guy at meets. 

Ed note: I may have casued some friction by:
1. shoving guys out of my way when boxed in
2. throwing an elbow in the ribs when a competitor run too close to me
3. punching a fellow runner aas we tumbled to the track together, he had spiked me from behind

Dave was well liked and respected by all.  He didn't run for a team, yet all knew him by name.  He was still racing the mile at age 32, when most guys retired right after college.   He was always kind and encouraging to me.  By watching him glide in and out of situations, I learned the art of track racing with a bit more class.

He actually took me under his wing a bit and encouraged me to shoot for the state age record of 4:17 for men aged 25-29.  When I ran a 4:16, Dave was there to hug and congradulate me on the feat.  He had too much class to mention the record I broke was his.

The next week, I cheered him on as he cruised thru six laps at 4:12 mile pace.  He did fade the last quarter, but still ran a fine 4:18 to set a state record for men aged 30-34. We talked about how it was great to be friends, and how records were made to be broken.   Dave was so right, as my buddy Pete Kessler, topped my mark a year later.  And Dave's fine time was clipped by when I turned thirty. I'd assume it's been eclipsed a few more times by now.

I caught  Dave on a run that next year;  he had pretty much quit racing.  Work, injuries,  and I assume family obligations.   He gave me two tickets to a Theater he managed.  I was going to bring my new bride by sometime and then go out after to catch up on old times.  I never used those tickets and have not seen him since.  I had a full time plus job, a new bride, and soon a son on the way.  I missed out on getting to really know him as a person. 

Now that I'm in my mid fifties, the things I cherish the most are the friendships I've made over the years.  Fast times will fade as you age, but your friends last a lifetime.  Next time you race, embrace your  rivals.  Talk to your fellow runners, listen to them.  Take them out for coffee or a bite.  Do that warm down together, and laugh a bit. " Your only dancing on this earth for a short while".  Don't be left with two unused movie tickets.

Maria Hauger XC champ

Attended State CC meet last Saturday expecting to see three sure things. Monticello wm and Stillwater mns team take the team titles. And Maria Hauger repeat for her third title.

As I watched Maria Hauger get passed in the last 800 meters, I couldn't but think what a geat champion she's been, and how a close 2nd wouldn't tarnish her legend.  Then Maria refused to lose, and clipped her arch rival  at the finish.  What a great champion she has been.

 I really hate comparisons, but I think her stats compare favorably to some other multi year cross country champions in the last 20 years.  All are great runners and champions, how do you compare these fine athletes in cross country only. Different classes, courses, and distances, but all four of these women refused to fold in big races.
Maria Hauger
year                  grade                 place         distance
2011                  11                     1st         14:04  4000m
2010                  10                     1st         14:18   4000m
2009                   9                      1st          14:40  4000m
2008                   8                      9th           14:49 4000m

Kara Wheeler
1995               12                       1st           14:53   4000m
1994               11                      2nd           14:10   4000m
1993               10                       1st           11:42    3200m
1992                 9                       2nd           12:02   3200m
1991                8                       3rd             11:11   3200m

Carrie Tollefson
1994              12                         1st          14:09      4000m class aa
1993              11                         1st          11:42      3200m class a
1992               10                        1st           11:49      3200m class a
1991               9                          1st           10:48      3200m class aa
1990              8                           1st??
 Elizabeth Yetzer
2005             12                          1st           13:59      4000m
2004             11                          1st            14:28     4000m
2003             10                          2nd           14:21     4000m
2002              9                           4th            15:20      4000m
2001              8                          5th             14:48       4000m
2000              7                          3rd             14:55      4000m

Ode to Barney

Back in the early to mid eighties, I ran with a fun bunch of guys called the Road Warriors.  The highlight of our week was the Wednesday night run at the lakes in Minneapolis.  About twenty guys would show up in race flats, lie about how we were going to run easy that night, then take off at race pace.  That was followed by beverages, trash talking, and pizza at Rocky’s in Uptown.

Once in a while you would get free beverages from the guys if you had done something particularly memorable.  This could be a great race, beating a Ms. Pacman score, or by bringing some cute single girls to the run.  One Wednesday I was the recipient of a steady stream of free drinks for no particular reason. I had a solid but not great St Patricks day race, finishing just ahead of Barney Klecker, a local legend.  The free beverages kept coming. 

It was that night I learned the true secret purpose of the Road Warriors.  I had thought we were a good times group that acted like fifteen year olds.  I assumed out goal was to run sub 2:30 marathons or even to pound each other every Wednesday. I was finally a true Raod Warrior.  They whispered the groups secret pact to me. Our real goal was always to beat Barney Klecker. There were three reasons that Barney was our target.

He was a stud at every distance.  He had run a sub 4:20 mile and held the world record at 50K and 100K.  He trained like a madman and was good at every distance.

The second reason was that Barney was older, taller, and smarter than most of us.  He would crush our group, then explain why he trained smarter than the rest of us.  He did something called cross training.  While we raced out workouts in the winter, Barney snow shoed.  Even built and sold his own brand of racing snow shoes. If he hadn’t have been such a great runner, he would have been an NFL quarterback, just ask him.

The real reason Barney was our target, however, was that he had just married Janice Horns.  Janice burst on the scene in the late 70’s.  She was pretty, super nice, and beat most of the guys.  Barney swooped in, took Janice under his wing and began coaching and dating her.  The rest of the local studs never had a chance.  Barney had committed the unforgivable sin.  He stole away every ones dream girl.

(Note:  I over achieved and married a slender blue eyed beauty that ran a sub 18 minute, so I was able to forgive Barney quicker than most)

It turns out, Barney was smarter than most of us.  He would have set several masters records if not for a nasty ankle injury suffered at age 39.  He continued to coach and promote his lovely wife to the Olympics and several national teams.  Janice was among the first to be sponsored by a major company, Moving Comfort. 

Now, the Klecker dynasty lives on.  Janice and Barney have six kids, all who do multiple sports, but thrive in running.  John and Joe Klecker will be running for Hopkins at the State CC meet this weekend.  Three of the girls were all conference.  Barney will again be coaching the Hopkins team at Nike High School regions next month.  Barney has coached elite athletes, women’s groups, even walkers.  He may have stolen Janice from us thirty years ago, but he’s repayed the debt several times over. 

Barney, next time you are at Rocky’s pizza, the super slice is on me.

On The Run

Welcome to my first running blog. At times, the staff or I will give our views on new product, races we’ve run, cross country, track, maybe even music reviews. Give us some feedback on these columns or topics you’d like covered.

I watched the MIAC XC race Saturday at Como Golf Course on an absolutely perfect day for racing. Mid fifties, sunny sky, and the smell of leaves in the air. Unlike other sports, we can park for free, no admission, you can literally touch the runners. I got to run on a very giving grass surface, got my hill workout in while I watched 700 college athletes lay it on the line. Fifty year old guys like me can stride along the course and drift back to our glory days. Alumni gather round school flags and recap old times. The stories get better with age.

There is something pure about the sport of running. No officials needed, first to last runners were cheered. Only one can win the race, but who compete are winners. Just finishing as part of a team is a reward that most of these young men and women will cherish for the rest of their lives.

As for the races:
The heavily favored Ole women (ST Olaf), took it out hard and had six in the top ten for the first half on the race. Carleton’s Simone Childs-Walker led wire to wire. Alison Smyth and Rachael Klehm of Carlton took it out easy, moved up, and joined Simone for a stunning 1-2-3 Carlton finish over their cross town rival. Look for that rivalry to heat up in two weeks at the Waverly regions. Carlton ran a near perfect race to score 33 to runner up St Olaf’s 52. Can they repeat, stay tuned in November.

In the men’s race, Ben Sathre of St Thomas left no doubt as to who’s #1 in the MIAC this year. He led from the gun and ran an awesome 24:54 8k on a very hilly course. Tom Sederquist ofConcordia followed 30 seconds behind Sathre most of the race. But the Hamline pack running paid off. Devin Monson, Jack Reichert, and Ellis Richardson blew by the winded Sederquist in the last half mile to finish 2-3-4. The Hamdogs edged St Olaf mens team 45-54 points for their third title in a row. Look for this senior laden team to make some noise in November at regions. The Johnnies finished a distant third, but seem to peak to regions every year.

Your sideline reporter
Perry Bach