By Don McLean

Sharon Gerl, 69, is the best age graded runner in the Oregon Track Club Masters, overall and road race champion every year since 2012. In 2016, her 6:41.49 track mile was the best in the U.S., and 4th best on the planet. Her 21:52 road 5K was the OTCM best age grade rating (93.94%) on road races at any distance.

1. Title IX didn’t really kick in until you were 27. Tell us about your early years in Euclid, Ohio, and in college at Cornell, especially as to athletics and competition. What kept the fire burning?

I was not an athlete as a kid. Frankly, it was not encouraged at that time. I did swim, though not competitively, and was a lifeguard and rode horses. The most athletic thing I did in college was trudging across campus to classes! I didn’t start running until I was 30. Later I started doing triathlons .

2. When and how did you get started in running?

I actually was motivated to start running 39 years ago (yikes!) when I went to cheer my best friend at her first marathon. So I joined the YMCA running clinic and 9 months later I ran my first marathon. For many years I just ran marathons and threw in the occasional 10K, getting faster each year. Oh to be young again and have a PR every race! I don’t think I actually started to win my age group until I joined the SOS group and and ran with faster runners, and, that led to a 7th place overall finish at the Vancouver BC marathon and just seconds from breaking 3 hours. Then I joined Mike Manley’s training group (which Cathie Twomey Bellamy eventually took over) and was introduced to the novel idea of workouts and training. She coached me to placing 10th in the 1500 at the Worlds in 1989 (my first track meet) and, later, at the 2003 Nationals, a win in the 800 and 2nd in the 1500. Triathlons were a different story. I was winning my age group at all different levels right from the start. But the real highlight of my years of running has been the wonderful friends I have made along the way.

3. Currently, you are coached by Cathie Twomey Bellamy. What have you learned?

Training with Cathie and the Eugene Running Club provided the camaraderie and motivation to keep running. Mixing in triathlons and horses sometimes made me not such a great pupil. I have found running only a few days a week with lots of cross training works best for me (two workouts and one easy long run). And even though I have done very little track racing, I do love the track workouts that Cathie designs.

4. How long have you been a triathlete, and how has that enhanced your running? Are you more or less injured by working on, competing in a mix of disciplines?

The triathlon training has allowed me to keep a fairly high level of fitness even if I am injured and can’t run. So I come back from injuries quickly. The swimming is a counterpoint to running, relaxing and stretching tight muscles. Biking adds more aerobic and endurance fitness. The cross training has kept me healthier, if perhaps slower since biking tires my legs. Actually more of my injuries have come from riding/training the horses than from running. I lost more than a year after a horse fell on me.

5. Advice to other aging athletes, male or female?

I do know as I age I need a lot more recovery; I need to maximize my workout time. So I do very little “garbage” miles and take advantage of any recovery aids- like compression boots, fueling right after a hard workout, massage (kudos to Rich Phaigh for keeping me going all these years) and to think young and positive. It really helps when I train with faster younger runners.

6. What curious, inspiring, funny, or juicy story can you tell us about a local area athlete or coach?

Running in Eugene has been inspiring and humbling. Imagine seeing all the great runners, not just at meets but on the trails and at local races. One highlight was “running” with Bernard Legat on Pre’s Trail and him mugging about keeping up with us!

7. Diet tips? What do we have to eat or drink (or not drink) to have a shot at a 90.00% age grade?

I only know what works for me. Although not a vegetarian, my diet is heavy on greens, lean proteins, some complex carbs and ‘good’ fats. I avoid sugar unless I’m on a long ride/run. I do add a lot of supplements like probiotics and enzymes to aid digestion and absorption. I drink very little alcohol or coffee.

8. We heard you’re spending a lot of time in Palm Springs instead of Springfield only. Why?

Since I retired last year I took the opportunity to get out of the cold for the winter and came to Palm Springs – it is nice to not deal with the snow. There is not the runner mentality here and I haven’t found a training group. That means I run slow too much of the time.

9. Stuff you woulda, coulda, shoulda?

Looking back perhaps I should have taken running more seriously. It has always been more a social and fitness endeavor. I wish I had discovered the track and OTCM sooner and done more track racing. Then maybe I would not get so nervous before a track race!

10. Another CTB athlete (initials David Elliott) said he was instructed to not race seriously for a year, giving the body a chance to cruise-rest. He said he obeyed, but still beat everyone in his age grade. Will 2017 be a rest year for you, preparing for even greater success when 70?

Yes, 2017 will be a year to rest, stay healthy and dial in what I need to do to keep running into my 70s, like Dave. I am playing with a 9 day training schedule and diet changes. My focus this year is defending my National Duathlon title and competing in the World Duathlon Championships (those are run bike run events). I’ll do some fun runs and triathlons, but try not to be competitive about them.