Life Member
Bill Kowalisyn will be 71 years old April 3, 2004 but his two sons and four grandchildren don't ask about his health anymore. They ask how far I've run on a certain day or how many miles I've trained in a week," he said. An inspiration to masters runners - those over 40 years old - Kowalisyn started running in 1977 at age 56. "I didn't have any health problems and wasn't overweight," he said. He was just trying to get in shape for a mountain hiking trip with his sons out west. I never expected to run.
I just started out walking and jogging to build up my legs." On a backpacking trip in Wyoming, which was rated "severe," the guide told Kowalisyn it was unusual to see a parent with his sons from the Midwest not hold back in the strenuous attempt."I felt good after that trip that I could do it and started jogging with some friends who later formed the Calumet Region Striders Running Club," he said. Entering his first local race at 57, Kowalisyn won a trophy and was the oldest male runner. "I noticed I was feeling better about myself and running was a good outlet,"he said.Kowalisyn was always involved with sports with his sons, playing baseball, tennis, golfing or bowling. He retired 11 years ago as a metallurgist from International Harvester. "My dread is having to freeze in this easy chair," he said. "I don't want to be an armchair loafer. I want to keep people interested in running, and when I tell people how old I am they say I am an inspiration to them."
Kowalisyn has 125 marathons under his belt and well over 500 races, averaging at least 40 a year. As one of the original members of the Striders, he said he loves the camaraderie with the other runners, and a group of Striders always goes to breakfast together after a race. His wife, Shirle, is a strong supporter and has been membership chairman for the Striders for four years. Kowalisyn's best marathon time was 3 hours and 24 minutes in Cleveland, and his personal best is 19:43 in the 5K (3.1 miles) and 40:43 in the 10K (6.2miles). He usually runs 23 miles a week in the winter and averages around 40 the rest of the year.
He ran the Chicago Marathon last Oct. 27 and then the Columbus, Ohio, Marathon on Nov. 10, placing third among men 70 and older. A high school football knee injury acted up in the Chicago Marathon at about 16 miles, he said, and traveled to his hip during the Columbus Marathon two weeks later. But he prefers to let it heal slowly. "He's easier to live with having the injury than if he had surgery and couldn't run," said Shirle. "I don't consider myself a racer because I come home with a trophy," Kowalisyn said. "I'm a finisher, and I like to run so much, I don't mind being last."
Kowalisyn weighed 165 pounds when he started running and was 5 feet, 9 inches tall. A gradual loss has brought him down to 140 pounds at 5-foot- 8. Being a goal-oriented person, Kowalisyn said he hopes to do a mini-triathlon some day and looks forward to running with his four grandchildren. His advice to people who want to start running is to begin by doing a combination of walking and jogging. When breathing becomes easier, increase your speed and distance, he said. Get long, slow miles in to build up your leg muscles and joints, and start slow. "Don't race right away and don't plan a marathon the first year," he said. "Enjoy it, be injury-free and don't get so tired that you will quit. Bill Kowalisyn of Hammond, has run in 21 Rotary Rambles, a feat it accepts with great pride!
Contact info:
Phone: 219-933-6317