Chris Hegg might be 60 years old, but he runs as fast as most good 20-year-old long distance runners. Hegg is attempting to race his way into a top five state ranking in the 60-64 year old age category this year and with one race to go has a good chance to make it.
About the time most of us will be reaching for our second (or third) helping of Thanksgiving vittles, Chris Hegg will be crossing the finish line of a 10K (6.2 miles) race and then will wait to see if he made it into the top five of his 60-64 age group in Minnesota for the 2012 year.
If he does, it will be an admirable feat gained through grit, determination and a lot of dedication to a sport that doesn’t always offer much recognition.
Always a strong runner, as he aged Hegg noticed he was getting closer and closer to the top competitive runners in the state.
“We all get slower as we age. I just happen to get a little less slower then some of these guys that were way out of my league when we were younger,” Hegg said with a smile.
Speaking of his youth, when Hegg was a “kid” he was a competitive runner and bicyclist, but like most of us a fork and a spoon came between him and his running shoes and bike, and by the time he was 38 he was a little bit on the roly-poly side of things.
“I returned to running in 1990, 30 pounds overweight at age 38. I gradually got to be reasonably competitive in local races, and developed my basic training philosophy and strategies.
“Coming into 2012, I had my weight down to my high school weight of 170, was injury free, and moved into the 60-64 age group. I talked to Jarrow [formerly Bill] Wahman of Austin Jarrow in Duluth, who sponsors the Northwood’s Minnesota team. I joined their team, and he mentioned the Minnesota Runner of the Year program.
“There are about 120 total certified races at 12 different distances, two-thirds of them 5Ks. If you make the cut-off times you are on the list. About 200 guys in my age group are on the list.
“You can score in up to five different distances, 10 points for the best time, 9 for 2nd. … Prior to this year, I had only made the lists a couple of times, and only scored in the mile.”
This year everything has changed, and Hegg is in line to become one of the top five runners in Minnesota in his age group. A great feat in a state known for putting out top national and international age group runners like the late, great Dr. Alex Ratelle of Grand Marais and Edina.
“This year I am 4th in the mile with a 5:54; 3rd in the 5K at 20:29 and 5th in the half marathon at 1:34:32. Overall, I’m tied for 5th. I can still squeeze in a 10K, and should score well if the weather is decent,” Hegg said.
The 10K Hegg is pointing to is the Drumstick Dash in Anoka and will be held on Thanksgiving Day. One of the last workouts Hegg is doing to get ready is to run 5×1 mile intervals at 6 minute 55 second pace with 3 minutes rest. A tough workout for anyone of any age.
Throughout the year Hegg said, “I generally train 10 months of the year, [cross country] skiing in January and February. I’ve added more biking to offset the ravages of old age. I also swim, weight lift, stretch and do core work most mornings.
“I do more hill and trail running in the summer, prepping for the Bix 7-miler (in Iowa) and the Fisherman’s Picnic trail run, then more speed work with the kids in the fall, racing the mile and mostly 5Ks. I average 25 miles a week throughout the year, running four days per week. One long run, about 10 miles, one speed or hill session, and a couple of easy 5-mile runs.”
When Hegg refers to the “kids,” he is talking about the Cook County High School (CCHS) boys’ and girls’ cross country runners and track team, which he helps coach with April Wahlstrom.
“I was recruited to coach the revived cross country team in 1999 when CCHS joined the Polar League. I restarted the track program in 2003. Plus, I coached the ski team for three years, for a total of 27 seasons so far.
“I’ve found my basic program works well for the kids, getting good results and fewer injuries. We’ve had runners at state nine years in cross country, two in track, and two of the years I coached skiing.”
However Hegg does in the Drumstick 10K, he will have had a great season of running. And as the other runners in the state know, the older Hegg gets, the more the gap narrows between them.
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