2011 RUNOHIO Runners of the Year The following runners were chosen by the staff of RUNOHIO and its’ readers as the top runners in Ohio in 2011. RUNOHIO along with the runners of Ohio and the Midwest congratulate the following individuals for earning this honor.
Top Male Brian Olinger Top Female Emily Infield Top Male Master Thomas Lentz Top Female Master Rosalie (Cocita) Franek Top Male Grand Master Dan Bird Top Female Grand Master Michelle Rupe Top Co Male Senior Terry McCluskey and Ron Legg Top Co Female Senior Terry Mahr and Jan Selby Top Male Brian Olinger Other top male runners: Matt Folk, Dan Huling, Ryan Kienzle, Leo Kormanik, Craig Leon, Jason Ordway, Josh Ordway, Keegan Rathkamp, Ridge Robinson, and Jeff See Brian Olinger, 28, grew up in West Lafayette and graduated from The Ohio State University. Brian now lives in Westerville and is a professional athlete, sponsored by Reebok. Top 2011 Performances US Cross Country Championships 12K........................................... 36:05 Stanford Payton Jordan Invite 10K ................................................. 28:07 US Road 10K Championships........ ................................................. 28:35 London Crystal Palace Diamond League 3000 meter steeplechase . ............................................. 8:23.36 Falmouth Road Race (7 miles) ................................................. 32:16 Great North City Games (2 mile) ............................................. 8:42.15 Manchester Road Race (4.75 miles) . ........................... 21:33 USA Cross Country Championships 12km . ........................... 36:05 Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational 10km ................................ 28:07.5
Virgin and Meb Keflezighi. Pretty cool company!”
Falmouth Road Race 7 mile . . 32:16 5,000 meter - Belgium 1...... 3:32.74 3,000 meter steeple chase – London.................................8:23:36 How did you first start running? “Probably the same story as most who take up the sport....I was too small to play football, so I started running cross country beginning in the 7th grade.” How do you train and what is your favorite workout? “It’s hard to sum up in a single answer exactly how I train. Up until very recently I have always been, what most would agree was, a relatively lower mileage guy. In high school I was very naive and ran maybe 20 mile per week at most. A 5 mile run was a ‘thing’ for me back then. In college I was a bit of a late bloomer. It seemed to take a couple of years to get things figured out and learn to embrace/enjoy what real training really was all about. The last couple of years I have shifted to some higher mileage and ran my first 100 mile weeks last spring. We have discovered that I am a pretty big responder to high altitude training so I did two stints last year in Colorado Springs and am planning one for this coming March as well. It’s been very beneficial to have been with the same coach (Robert Gary) for the last 10+ years and thus my training has basically been this huge evolutionary process. Each of those years has been different than all the rest. The basic principles never really stray, but we are usually changing up some of the specifics related to what exactly it is that I am preparing for. Favorite workout: Also a difficult question. Not sure I could describe any as my ‘favorite’. When I am out there suffering I guess I never really think ‘gee this is my favorite, can’t wait to do it again next week’ However, this past summer I did 6x800 on the track with my training partner, Dan Huling, all basically between 2:00-1:58. That was probably a whole new level for me as far as a specific track session goes. I walked away that day feeling like I accomplished something pretty tough and realized I was in pretty darn good shape.”
by Matt McGowan
Brian Olinger
(Photo by Victor Sailor)
What do you like about running and racing? “The competition; whether it’s with your own self on a long, lonely tempo run or against the field in the finals of the Olympic Trials.” What were your favorite races last year and why? “The coolest venue I was fortunate enough to compete in was the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, Germany. As a Buckeye alum, you can imagine the thrill of competing where Ohio State legend Jesse Owens competed during the 1936 Olympic Games. However warming up on Hitler’s huge parade fields behind the stadium might have been one of the loneliest experiences I have ever had. The World Cross Country Championships in Spain was hands down the rawest experience I have ever had in the sport and I really hope I get to compete there again. It was my first time wearing Team USA gear and I remember getting giddy for a couple of weeks each time the UPS truck drove through my subdivision, hoping my gear would get delivered that day. I think my most impressive race this past year was probably at the Falmouth Road Race in August. I was the first American in the field, but was up there banging away with guys like Micah Kogo and Lucas Rotich for much of the race. They said afterwards my time was the 4th fastest ever on that course by an American behind Alberto Salazar, Craig
Any advice for runners who want to improve their running? “Another difficult question. Again, my career has been this huge evolutionary process and also had some pretty big stumbling blocks along the way. Even now, I feel like I am continually learning and figuring out my body and what it takes to be competitive at this level. I have been really big on recovery the last couple of years, whether its nutrition, ice baths, massage, Normatech etc., and it’s definitely made a difference, allowing me to train at a much higher level. Patience seems to be a virtue as well. I nearly walked away from the sport numerous times over the past few years after some disappointing results at national championship races. Thankfully, I have a great support system in my wife, daughter, coach, family etc. The disappointments/struggles have been useful tempering/hardening tools and have only left me more excited and hungry to achieve that ultimate goal. So I guess remember the whole thing is a process, surround yourself with good people, train hard ---race hard---recover, and don’t let one day/ single performance define you or your career. Keep moving forward!” What are your running goals this year? “To be in the Olympic Stadium in London on July 27th.” Top Female Emily Infield Other top female runners: Ann Analyak, Nicole Camp, Melissa Converse, Christina Johnston, Rachael Kinsman, Jessica Odorcic, Becki Michael, Kara Storage, Tara Storage and Katie Williams Emily Infield, 21, from University Heights is a student at Georgetown University Top 2011 Performances NCAA Cross Country Championships 6,000 meters ........... 19:44.30 Big East CC Championship 6,000 meters ............................... 20:02.20
Emily Infield
(Photo by Victor Sailor)
NCAA CC Pre-Nationals 6,000 meters ............................... 20:44.00 NCAA Track Nationals 5,000 meters................................ 15:38.23 NCAA East Regional 5,000 meters ............................... 15:55.50 Big East Championship 1500 meters.................................. 4:25.00 Big East Championship 5,000 meters ............................... 16:14.06 Mt. Sac Relays 1500 meters...4:12.04 Colonial Relays 800 meters .. 2:08.48 How did you first start running? “I first started running in grade school. I loved being active when I was younger and went to watch my sister, Maggie, at a track meet and instantly knew that I wanted to run.” How do you train and what is your favorite workout? “I ran about 60-65 miles a week in Cross Country. I did two workouts a week and a long run once a week. We did a lot of tempo runs, for distance workouts. I really enjoyed doing repeats of 1ks and 2ks because I felt this was our hardest workout and took the most mental and physical toughness. This was my favorite workout because I felt it was very beneficial to me.” What do you like about running and racing? “I love the anxious, excited feeling I get when I race. I am competitive with the other athletes but also