Former American record holder in marathon dies at 55

Pat Petersen - one of the all-time best. I received an email this week from a friend of Pat Petersen, the Long Island, New York-born marathoner who held an American record and finished in the top five at the New York City Marathon three times in the mid-1980s. Petersen died this past spring from pancreatic cancer at age 55 after being diagnosed just six weeks earlier. At the 1989 London Marathon, he ran 2:10:04, at the time the American record on a record-eligible course.

Petersen was part of the second generation of modern American marathoners. Their predecessors in the 1970s and early 1980s - Frank Shorter, Bill Rodgers, Alberto Salazar - typically ran faster, won more races, and drew more attention during the first Running Boom. “As such, Pat never got the due that was his,” said running broadcaster Toni Reavis. “I saw him as a fighter and a grinder who got the most out of his abilities.”

I met Pat and his running buddies at the Shamrock Shuffle 15K that I host every year in Rehoboth Beach. For several years, Pat and his running friends would choose a race and take a road trip to compete and spend the weekend. Pat told me the Rehoboth Beach trip was one of his favorites. At the 2013 Rehoboth Beach 15K event, Pat finished second overall and was the top master finisher in 56:24 to average a 6:29 pace at age 54. Pat Petersen was one of the all-time best!

Over-40 Elites

Competitor.com writer Kevin Beck featured Cape Henlopen graduate Sonja Friend-Uhl in his article Over-40 Elites. Friend-Uhl, a 44-year-old mother of two, has earned a slew of masters titles and set numerous records since joining the 40-and-over ranks. Despite focusing on traditionally age-unfriendly events such as the 1,500 meters, she shows few signs of slowing down, and echoes many of her peers’ sentiments.

“The source of my motivation to continue to train and race as I age is really no different than it ever has been,” says the Nashville-based athlete who set an American outdoor mile record (4:45.68) in June to go with her indoor mile AR of 4:44.81 from 2012. “It’s that insatiable, never-ending quest to find the best in myself, to do better than yesterday or last season - or maybe even better than ever.”

While she acknowledges that “better than ever” may be out of reach at this point, she notes that it’s just as fulfilling to at least try and see what she can do and push her mental, physical, and sometimes emotional limits. “I’m proud of being a top masters runner,” she admits, “but it’s not what defines me or my goals. I am simply a runner, a track athlete, just as I always have been.” Special thanks go out to Kevin and his staff who do not forget the runners who are sometimes forgotten when speaking about the best of the best, but are still producing inspirational performances on the track and on the road.

Striders Summer End Race Preview

Fire Fightin’ 5K-Seashore Striders and the Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company invite everyone to be part of the Inaugural Fire Fightin’ 5K Run & 1 Mile Fun Walk to benefit the Capital Campaign Station 2 Building Fund. It will be held at 8 a.m., Sunday Aug. 23. Sponsors include Lula Brazil and Hooters. For more information visit http://www.seashorestriders.com.

Sundance Land & Sea - CAMP Rehoboth and Seashore Striders announce the 6th annual Sundance Land & Sea Racing Festival, to be held Sunday, Aug. 30, in Rehoboth Beach.

Held rain or shine, the event starts at 8 a.m. (packet pickup the day before or by 7:30 a.m. race day) and finishes on the Boardwalk at Rehoboth Avenue. Participants will have several race options including a 5K run, 1-mile Fun Walk, half-mile ocean swim, or Biathlon (5K & half-mile swim). Whether you’re a serious runner, swimmer, power walker, or just want to dress like a diva and sashay away, there will be something for everyone.

Upcoming Races

Saturday, Aug. 15 - Giggle Medic 5K in memory of paramedic Stephanie Callaway, Irish Eyes, Lewes, 8:30 a.m., races2run.com

Sunday, Aug. 16 - 7th Greene Turtle 5K/10K for MS, Greene Turtle, Lewes, 8:15 a.m., races2run.com

Friday, Aug. 21 - Inaugural Running of the Goat 5K, Milford, 6:30 p.m., races2run.com

Saturday, Aug. 22 - 2nd Breast Fest 5K, Dewey Beach, 8 a.m., races2run.com.