The following appeared in our 10th anniversary issue.I would like to rerun it for the 15th anniversary of RUNOHIO.

Over the years a number of runners have asked me how and why I started RUNOHIO as well as what my background is in running. With this issue I will take the time to share this information.

How did you first start running? My family moved from Hatboro, PA to Wheeling, IL in June 1965. The local park district had Thanksgiving Days races -different distances based on you age. My father took my two older brothers, Bill & Joe, and me to participate. We all placed in our age group I ran 600 yards and came in second. That spring I was involved in the grade school track program running the 50 yard dash, high jumping and long jumping. Our family was introduced to cross- country when Bill decided to try it as a freshman at Wheeling High School.

When my father went from active duty to inactive military duty, we moved to Circleville and I entered the 7th grade. That spring I went out for junior high track. I was running the 100 yards dash until my brother Bill broke the high school 880 school record. The next meet the coach had me run the 880.

What was your best college running experience? My senior year at Ohio Northern University, I was going to run the Ohio Athletic Conference 10,000 meter on Friday evening and then come back to run the 5,000 meter Saturday afternoon. To get ready for this a month earlier I ran a 10,000 meter on Friday night with teammate Mike Beecraft. We both qualified for the NCAA Nationals. On Saturday we ran the 5,000 together and then on Sunday I ran a 10,000 meter road race in town.

At the conference meet Mike and I were the underdogs to a Mount Union runner. The three of us were together for the first three miles. I dropped off the pace and had to make up 50 meters with over a mile to go which I did. Then I went on to win and Mike finished second. The next day no one thought we had a chance in the 5,000. However, Mike won it and I finished less than two seconds back.

Tell us about your Miami University running experience? I went to graduate school at Miami and ran with the men's program. They trained about 100 miles per week. This helped me increase my distance base for marathoning. I had the opportunity to run with a number of great Miami distance runners: Bryan Pownall, John Locker, Roosevelt Jackson, Brian Carleton, Mike Halibran and David Fultz to name a few. I didn't do everything they did as I trained on my own a lot but I also ran with them which helped.

Tell us about your marathon experience? "I ran my first marathon after my freshman year in college. It was on Fathers Day. My longest training run was 12 miles so I went out conservatively. I was 70th at the turn around but ran faster the second half than the first and finished 20th in 2:51. I enjoyed it so much I ran the Erie Pennsylvania Marathon two months later in 2:40.

My worst experience at a marathon was in New York City where it took me over eight minutes to cover the last half mile. I don't remember finishing but woke up in the medical tent with a medal. I still ran 2:36 but my legs were dead for months afterwards.

The best experience was my first Boston marathon in 1980. It was an extremely hot day and my goal was to quality for the Olympic Trails. I was 130th at the ten mile mark. I finished 33rd in 2:22:08 and it was my fastest time. However, Jeff Galloway who beat me by four seconds was the last person to qualify for the Olympic Trails.

While at Miami University you started the women's cross-country program. After graduate school I still wanted to train and race competitively..so I stayed in Oxford and started the women's cross country program. The first year I just put flyers up in the residence halls and contacted the women who ran track. We had 20 plus women come out and by the end of the year we had a decent team. We finished fourth in the All Ohio Cross Country Championships.

The team was a club sport through the intramural department and wasn't funded through the athletic department. So I sponsored two road races and a cross-country meet to help fund the program. The Red Brick Run is still being held.

The second year we had two runners qualify for the Association of Intercollegiate Athletic National Cross CountryChampionships in Idaho. That was an experience getting the athletes there.

The following year the NCAA took over sponsoring the National Championships for women. The women were not allowed to run the Mid American Conference Cross Country Championships since they were not sponsored by the athletic department. The team still ran in the All Ohio Cross Country Championships and again finish fourth behind Ohio State, Ohio University and Bowling Green. Miami was the only club team, the other schools sponsored an intercollegiate team. However, after the season, Title IX looked at Miami's sports program. The good news was the next year the women's cross country program was an intercollegiate program. The bad news was I didn't get an interview for the position of coach.

How did you start RUNOHIO? My youngest brother, Jeff came home from Ohio University during spring break his senior year and discovered he had Hodgkins disease. He went through chemotherapy for eleven months. The cancer is in remission and he's doing OK now. However, during his treatment I started the Circleville Pumpkin Show 5 Miler as a benefit for him. After having some success promoting this event and my dissatisfaction with the Ohio Runner, I asked Jeff (whose college work was in computers) if he wanted to help me start a new running publication.

So, at the Columbus Marathon I had flyers to subscribe to RUNOHIO with the first issue to come out in March 1989. I didn't know how I was going to do it; but I thought I could market it and figure out how to do it later. However, when I got home from the expo that night I had to go to the hospital where my father had had a heart attack and passed away that night. At first I was going to drop the idea of RUNOHIO but my brother and I went forward with the idea.

In three months we had enough subscribers to pay to print the first two issues. Jeff still helps with RUNOHIO and he and I recently started a computer finish line company (Run Time Systems). My mother also helps with RUNOHIO as she does a lot of the proofing and taking information to our typesetter who lives nearly.

What is the hardest part of RUNOHIO? Some days I wonder why I am doing it and how I will get the next issue out. Plus, at times it is difficult getting results from race directors.

What are the positives of doing RUNOHIO? Being able to put something back into running and working with my family.

Also, I have been able to be involved in running even if I am not racing. One of the best experience of covering running was when my brother, Jeff, and I were able to cover the Olympic Track & Field Trails in Atlanta. I was able to get a photo pass and sat in lane 5 for most of the track events including Michael Johnson's World record. Plus, I was able to get into the infield to take pictures of Bob Kennedy's 5000 meter win and Mark Croghan and Robert Gary's 1-2 finish in the Steeple Chase. I feel this issue with the Trail's pictures and quotes was RUNOHIO's best issue to date.

What changes have you noticed in running over the years? The biggest change from when I first started running is the increase of women runners and masters runners. I also think there is a lot more information and equipment available to runners so they can run better. I can remember racing a cross country meet on Wednesday and Saturday in college because we didn't know any better. Also, a parent made us wind pants because you couldn't find running apparel 20 plus years ago.

When I first started running road races, they were all sponsored by running clubs and runners. There are a lot more races around. However, at times the sport of running is prostituted to be a benefit for someone or something and the runners aren't the main concern of the race.

Besides putting out RUNOHIO what else do you do? I teach and coach at Bishop Watterson High School where I serve as their public relations director. I also help direct a number of road races. One of my favorite races to direct is the COLUMBUS 10K as I work with the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department and it is held the same weekend as the Columbus Arts Festival. Plus, two years ago I got elected to the Granville Village Council and was recently appointed by council to the vice-mayor position. (I now serve as the Mayor of Granville).

I also help advise and coach a few athletes out of school.

Matt McGowan all time personal best:

Mile 4:21 5km 14:28
5 mile 23:57
10km 29:42
15km 46:14
10 mile 50:07
Half Marathon 1:07:01
Marathon 2:22:08