John Strand
Eisenhower Marathon feature

Marathon runner John Strand is the fourth person in the world to run a marathon on all seven continents, and he will be running in the Eisenhower Marathon March 29 in Abilene, with a runner No. 8 identification tag.

"I just enjoy running," Strand said.  "I'm meeting people at every marathon and these are people who are going through what I'm going through.  I enjoy getting to know them, and we see each other at various marathons throughout the year."

Strand, age 68, has almost met the 50-states mark, as Kansas will be the 46th state in the United States, and the 88th marathon, in which he has run.  Strand's first marathons were run in 1989 in California, Moscow in the USSR, and New York. 

"The marathon in Moscow was the perfect time to be an American in Moscow,"  Strand said.  "The Cold War had just ended and they loved us then!  One person wanted to buy the shirt off my back, and so I sold it."

After running five marathons that first year, Strand continued running and within five years had run in 15 marathons including ones in Anchorage, Alaska; London, England; Honolulu, Hawaii; and Gold Coast Australia.

Within the next five years Strand had finished marathons in the Antarctica, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and East London in the Republic of South Africa.
He has also run in Beijing, China; Cozumel, Mexico; Vancouver, Canada; Dublin, Ireland; Havana, Cuba and Berlin, Germany.

"In Buenos Aires I hit the 20 mile mark and I was dieing.  So I ran into a store, bought a can of Pepsi and headed on my way,"  Strand said.  "The sugar and caffeine were what I needed and I picked up my pace and went on."

Strand's finishing times vary from 4 hours, 4 minutes and 56 seconds to 8:54:20, with his average time per mile varying from 9 minutes and 21 seconds to 16:01

"My goal is to run in 100 marathons,"  Strand said.

The last two years Strand has followed a training pattern that includes running 18 miles weekly.  Strand, a prostrate cancer survivor, knows how to face difficult times.

"I have run marathons so often that I know what to do when I hit difficult areas,"  Strand said.  "Quite often I start slowing down around 18 miles, and I have to make allowances for that."

Strand advises new marathon runners to run it for the enjoyment of the race.

"New marathoners often think it has to be a life or death situation and that they have to beat a time they have set for themselves,"  Strand said.  "I tell them not to try to kill themselves by going too fast.  It is OK to walk during a marathon"

Strand will be traveling to Abilene from Orange, Calif., for the 7 a.m. marathon start which will be located between the Eisenhower Center and St. Andrews Church on south Buckeye.

"We are thrilled with the runners who are coming into Abilene from all over the United States," local Red Cross director June DeWeese said.  "We are hoping the public will come out to cheer runners and especially to cheer John Strand #8."

A spectator's map will be included in area newspapers in mid-March showing various locations where the public might gather to watch runners, including Rural Center school grounds and Brown Memorial Park, among others.

For additional information about the Eisenhower Marathon, contact the Dickinson County Chapter of the American Red Cross, 263-2341.